LS Motors.

[redneckflyer]

Thinking about buying an
airboat with an LS motor was wondering if anybody had any experience whether or not the electronics are a problem in salt water. Thanks in advance

 

[One Eyed Gator]

I have been running holley efi for 3 years with no issue. Ran MSD with a carb for 7years before that without any issue.

Fish the gulf most of the time.

I will say that in both cases the electronics are mounted under my seat.

 

[Aeon]

Mefi for 8 years in Salt and fresh with zero trouble, mounted in box under the seat. I'd worry more about what the internals are made of in the motor

 

[Blackcoffee]

CorrosionX

KILLS RUST AND CORROSION WORLD'S GREATEST LUBRICANT, PENETRANT & ANTI-SEIZE SAFE ON ELECTRONICS CorrosionX® is the most advanced and effective corrosion prevention compound, lubricant and penetrant in the world! Although it may look similar to other oil-based anti-corrosion sprays, CorrosionX...

www.corrosionx.com

Corrosion X is your friend. I spray the motor everywhere, keeping it off belts and off air filter. I even spray the exhaust, start the boat up and burn the oil off leaving a film maybe. The motor will stay oily. You can’t run dirt roads because sand will stick. When I get back I normally just rinse the engine with water wash the exhaust with Dawn and when dry the salt shows white on exhaust. I spray it down and it cleans it up. I only spray the engine as needed. If I ran dirt roads I use T-9 Boeshield which dries a little. I am trying this on a new engine. I still spray Corrosion X on cables and such. Your engine will get a honey color after a while but I would rather that than weathered.

 

[EastBay]

Hello,
Running GTO LS motor here in Eastpoint, Fl. No real issues...rinse it off occasionally. Headers and exhaust tend to have surface rust. Spray it down with Sta Bil Rust stopper. Use a lot of plastic UV protector on plastic covers.
Eastpoint

 

[Rick McC.]

I have two friends who’re running LS motors in their airboats, and my son is having a new one built with an LS motor.
They seem to run real good.

 

[TexRO]

I ran a chevy 396 on my boat for years with no problems. Had a 6.0 LS built with top of the line parts inside. Ran the new engine for two hours and threw a rod through the side of the engine. A lot of people swear by LS engines. I won't ever make that mistake again. If I were running in salt water it would be an even bigger no brainer. If you get a little bit of corrosion on the computer wiring and it throws itself out of tune while you are running your engine is toast. I'm going back to an old fashion carborated 396.

 

[hdsadey]

I ran a chevy 396 on my boat for years with no problems. Had a 6.0 LS built with top of the line parts inside. Ran the new engine for two hours and threw a rod through the side of the engine. A lot of people swear by LS engines. I won't ever make that mistake again. If I were running in salt water it would be an even bigger no brainer. If you get a little bit of corrosion on the computer wiring and it throws itself out of tune while you are running your engine is toast. I'm going back to an old fashion carborated 396.

Whoever built your engine apparently didn't know what they were doing! Lots of shops don't check the main and rod bearing clearances upon rebuild assuming since it ran before that it's good to run now. Especially with aftermarket cranks they tend to run on the fat side of the spec and the main bore needs to be opened up on an align hone to properly set the clearance. We shoot for .0025 at least on the mains and .002 on the rods. Just built a 5.3 for a cousin and he's thrashing it, OEM crank, Eagle SIR rods and forged pistons. I made sure the clearances we're correct, put ARP main studs in which also has a tendency to shrink the bore, again ALIGN HONING IS MUCHO IMPORTANTE!!! We have Sunnen dial bore gauges that read .0001. That said why would you settle for a 396 when a 454 or 496 weighs the same? Kinda shooting yourself in the foot by giving up cubes??????? Just asking!

 

[Aeon]

damn ill turn in my LS3 today and get a 396...... just a fyi all the LS connectors are waterproof, i run a mefi computer and its waterproof. its in a water tight box but still.

i am bored today, can you tell us more about your LS that went boom. what parts? forged or hyper? why a low ci LS?

 

[hdsadey]

I ran a chevy 396 on my boat for years with no problems. Had a 6.0 LS built with top of the line parts inside. Ran the new engine for two hours and threw a rod through the side of the engine. A lot of people swear by LS engines. I won't ever make that mistake again. If I were running in salt water it would be an even bigger no brainer. If you get a little bit of corrosion on the computer wiring and it throws itself out of tune while you are running your engine is toast. I'm going back to an old fashion carborated 396.

Ah I see from your flexplate post that your not buying a big block 396 but a Blueprint small block 396 stroker. My bad. Carry on