Pleasurecraft marine 2006 model big block GM

[John Fenner]

To start with, a couple months back, I removed broken belhousing bolts from the block, installed a rebuilt century unit, prop, all good, this is on a tour boat that ran quite a few tours after those repairs.
After that a valvetrain tick or rattle developed, unsure of the hours, was carrying great oil pressure so I know it is not lower end issue.
That said, the disassembly of this thing has been quite a chore, major wiring harness in the way just to get the intake out of the way to gain access to rocker covers and eventually heads, I'm sure it is a lifter issue.
I'm not concerned about the mechanicals or repair thereof but my goodness the rats nest of a wiring and ignition/injection system is overkill, I'd like to simplify and clean this up, heck for an mpfi system it doesn't even have O-2 sensors.
So I bow to your knowledge,,, what would be the best mpfi/ignition system to clean this thing up?

 

[One Eyed Gator]

I built a boat for a buddy with Holley Hp system, for some reason he didn't want it after running it a few time. For some reason he wanted to go back to a carb. After I set everything up, he gave me the HP system It only has 1 O2 sensor have to go to the dominator to get 2 o2 sensor.
Only issue has been a bad sensor after a 706 head cracked. I believe the HP and Dominator are fully potted. Expensive$$$

I know a few that run the terminator X and X-max don't think they are potted. Some had problems with the harness being labeled wrong and bad crimps

Also a stock harness converted to a 4 wire harness and use a stock ecm with Hp tuners or something similar.

I am far from a builder I just help a few buddies know and then and try to keep own junk running lol

I do have a complete pleasure craft service manual for that motor if you are interested (as a pdf)

If you are interest in that PM me email address

 

[Slidin Gator]

I only know Holley, there are other options. WaterThunder uses the HP.

This is a commercial tour boat, I assume it needs to run a Coast Guard certified ECU. With Holley this is either the HP or the Dominator. As long as all the sensors, pumps etc. on the engine etc. will work, you are looking at ~$3K for the HP ECU, harness's and 1 of the good NTK O2 sensors. It pushes $4K for the Dominator with 2x O2. Give them a call, talk to one of the techs and ask them to detail out a bill of materials. You can get 10% off a full kit if you are ready to spend when you call (and ask), but you should talk to some dealers like WaterThunder for possible better pricing.

I gotta warn you, it's not so easy to learn from scratch, I'm still learning the software. PM me if you want to talk with a tuner.

 

[Gary S]

Water Thunder in my shop has a Holley Sniper on it. The manual that comes from Water Thunder says to remove o2 sensors after I think its 2 tanks of fuel. Says the system learns your boat and it is programed in. If you change anything like if you repitch prop you reinstall the sensor and let the system relearn it,

 

[John Fenner]

flitner69@gmail.com
This is a factory built Panther tour boat, originally had a counter rotating belt box, has single now.
So the need for the marine approved powerplant would have been necessary for the commercial sale with HIN and FL#s from Panther.
As far as the marine status for the tour boat is null and void as it is run by miccosukee business.

 

[John Fenner]

Here is the data tag.
The heads look like old school big block once covers removed, gotta go rest my hernia from removing intake "by myself" ugh!

 

[John Fenner]

Updated post a bit.

 

[Slidin Gator]

The 811 part of the model code is 8.1 liter HO. The Sniper is a throttle body injection system and Holley does make CG certified versions. Insurance coverage on any vessel typically requires Coast Guard rated equipment, but perhaps that's not an issue for the Miccosukee.

If you want the cheapest, Terminator.

 

[John Fenner]

Thank you kindly for the input Slidin! I was initially thrown off by the individual coils and the coolant manifold between the heads thinking it was LS based.
Will update on the findings as soon as I get things torn apart.
Finding good parts to reassemble will be the chore.

 

[John Fenner]

Well, #6 intake rocker arm has a divot worn into it, valve stem has pitting so off with the heads next after a leak down test, was running good just a rattle, all of the roller cam followers looked good, felt smooth but will replace them anyway.
Oddly the valve with the worn rocker and pitting of the stem face is the only one with the umbrella seal up toward the retainer and not affixed to the guide so there is more to the story.

I gave up working on automotive stuff a few years back but here I am, lol.

 

[Gladesman06]

Those Levitator 8.1 are well known for dropping valves once the hours get up a little. They are also known for throwing a rod through the block out of nowhere. Everything is metric on them, they are heavy as hell and the parts are expensive for them. They are great running motors for awhile until they decide they had enough and just let loose. If you are going to get rid of the MPFI system then the Holley HP or Holley Dominator are the best choice in my opinion. To be honest I don't think the motor is worth putting all that into it but that's just my opinion.

 

[Slidin Gator]

Those Levitator 8.1 are well known for dropping valves once the hours get up a little. They are also known for throwing a rod through the block out of nowhere. Everything is metric on them, they are heavy as hell and the parts are expensive for them. They are great running motors for awhile until they decide they had enough and just let loose. If you are going to get rid of the MPFI system then the Holley HP or Holley Dominator are the best choice in my opinion. To be honest I don't think the motor is worth putting all that into it but that's just my opinion.

Gladesman06,

I'm grinning comparing your input on failure modes vs an engine that has served 19 years on a tour boat. By any measure it sounds like the old 2006 8.1/496 Pleasurecraft has earned it's keep.

I gave up working on automotive stuff a few years back but here I am, lol.

Fork in the road, when can you quit/retire?

so off with the heads next after a leak down test,

The best way I know of to throw a rod through a block is to put a fresh set of heads on a worn-out short block.

This customer should have a fleet. It might be time to work on repowering the fleet while hording parts??

 

[John Fenner]

Gladesman06,

I'm grinning comparing your input on failure modes vs an engine that has served 19 years on a tour boat. By any measure it sounds like the old 2006 8.1/496 Pleasurecraft has earned it's keep.



Fork in the road, when can you quit/retire?



The best way I know of to throw a rod through a block is to put a fresh set of heads on a worn-out short block.

This customer should have a fleet. It might be time to work on repowering the fleet while hording

Well it had great oil pressure, so a top overhaul should be ok.
Fork in the road,, I'm 55 going on 70.
She has a fleet of boats, a couple down including this one.
Just kind of shy of ordering online parts, shopping all day, cart full in EBAY, no trigger pulled yet, making sure it is the right stuff.

 

[John Fenner]

Ordered engine parts this morning, Autozone was easiest.
Now the fun,, spoke with owner, she wants to simplify things, go carburetor and distributor vs the mpfi, I agreed,, so I began shopping, all parts are available except 1 critical piece,,,, intake manifold, shown online all over, all back order,, even at Dart, the builder of the only unit I need, this will get interesting.

 

[EastBay]

Hello,
With a PCM engine that's your basic choice. PCM electronics?! Was troubleshooting one for several years.
Or do the whole ECM system to the Holley product.
Going fuel injection, electronics and sensors are an inportant key.
EastBay

 

[John Fenner]

Well, after a bunch of layout and machine work the intake flanges are mounted as well as the valley plate locating and boring the distributor mounting hole, now to build the plenum.

 

[EastBay]

Hello,
Looks good...continue on!
EastBay