airboatfever
Well-known member
Any of y'all heard of http://www.atk-engines.com just looking at their zz4's
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engines
- Thread starter airboatfever
- Start date
A
Anonymous
Guest
Since no one has answered your question, I guess I can offer the limited knowledge and most politicaly correct answer I can, in hopes someone else will chime in. I build "high-end off the wall" stuff and have no dog in this fight, so take it as u will.
I have heard of them as well as many other engine RE-manufacturers. I know in the past, many re-man companies had some awesome warranties (Mainly due to selling $500 engines for $1000 and the basic #s involved in that), and some even included installation costs. But an airboat is treated like a race application by most, and falls far short of any warranty once they know the application. The factory crate engines tend to fall into this treatment as well, regardless of what you are told. If you deal with a big distributor (Especially an airboat manufacturer), that either protects the secret of your application, or has enough pull through their high volume, you will get the high finger when you want to be taken care of. ATK may sell new GM crate engines, but if you are looking for a crate engine for an airboat application, I STRONGLY suggest you buy it from a airboat manufacturer (You would be very surprised at how price competitive they are, nevermind the perks). Anyone in the car business who sells you an engine, and has any understanding of the loads an airboat puts on them may take you money along with a lot of promises, but 9 outta 10 times you will be left holdin the bag. So buy from people who have your back.
Felber
I have heard of them as well as many other engine RE-manufacturers. I know in the past, many re-man companies had some awesome warranties (Mainly due to selling $500 engines for $1000 and the basic #s involved in that), and some even included installation costs. But an airboat is treated like a race application by most, and falls far short of any warranty once they know the application. The factory crate engines tend to fall into this treatment as well, regardless of what you are told. If you deal with a big distributor (Especially an airboat manufacturer), that either protects the secret of your application, or has enough pull through their high volume, you will get the high finger when you want to be taken care of. ATK may sell new GM crate engines, but if you are looking for a crate engine for an airboat application, I STRONGLY suggest you buy it from a airboat manufacturer (You would be very surprised at how price competitive they are, nevermind the perks). Anyone in the car business who sells you an engine, and has any understanding of the loads an airboat puts on them may take you money along with a lot of promises, but 9 outta 10 times you will be left holdin the bag. So buy from people who have your back.
Felber
dean
Well-known member
Airboatfever, I agree with Felber, that is why I bought my zz4 from classic. When I ordered my engine from classic I sent money order to Classic and was told the engine would be shipped from one of gm warehouses from across the US. Came in 3 days.
Their price was less than atk also but had 200 dollar shipping, kinda equal out but I wanted to spend my money with airboat people.
My stock 350 would get stuck going up my hill but the zz4 can stop and accellerate on the way up. I am very happy so far. By the time I bought the extras though I could have had a Thunder engine. If zz4 goes bad Thunder will be my next engine,although I have had no problems so far.
Dean
Their price was less than atk also but had 200 dollar shipping, kinda equal out but I wanted to spend my money with airboat people.
My stock 350 would get stuck going up my hill but the zz4 can stop and accellerate on the way up. I am very happy so far. By the time I bought the extras though I could have had a Thunder engine. If zz4 goes bad Thunder will be my next engine,although I have had no problems so far.
Dean
Waterthunder
Well-known member
Felber is right buy the motor from an airboat vendor and run his specs. There are several issues that MUST be addressed when running a crate Car motor in a airboat and only airboaters know these specs. For instance every single car motor mechanic or engine guy will tell you to run 36deg of timing on a SBC well in an airboat in most cases that equivocates to running dry only 300ft before burning a piston. Most airboaters run 34deg on boats 13ft and under and only 32deg on boats 13ft up. Just one of many differences that a Crate engine company doesn't know. I have seen ton's of auto guy's with experience build engines that didn't last an hour it's not their skill level it's just lack of experience with airboats.
Croc1
Well-known member
fever Thunders engines have 175 more HP allot more torque through out the full range and probably 100 lbs less weight. after driving his boat 6 months ago well I am going to get one !!!but my 355 HP SBC only has 200 hours on it . His shop is about 1 1/2 hours from you its worth the drive is you like engines. he only builds engines for airboats!!!
deepsea diver
Well-known member
Where do you have to go to check out one of them "thunder engines"?They sound better than warm sliced bread. I pass by Melboune all the time. Hal
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Anonymous
Guest
NAPA now carries ATK engines. I have ordered 2 so far, and got them within two days of the order. Have not seen or heard 1 single problem yet. Their line seems very complete, and availability is good (so far)