Question for airboat engine
- Thread starter cdngary
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Slidin Gator
Well-known member
Indmar engines are based on the Ford 6.2 truck engine vs. the GM/LS. Not many Ford 6.2 boats around which is probably why there have not been any responses. The primary issue would be limited gear box options, I believe OXBox makes boxes to match the ford bellhousing pattern, perhaps others will chime in if there are any others. Otherwise you are looking for some kind of adapter kit.
As the engine is purpose built for marine applications it is likely a good candidate for an airboat, but you would probably be breaking some new ground vs. following the crowd with a GM based engine and bellhousing.
hdsadey has a geared Ford, send him a PM.
My new build for the Ford 408
Pato Sicario
Active member
I don't know much about engines in general. I'm in the LS club.
But I do own a wake surf boat (Centurion). I think you would be looking at gear reduction, not DD.
Most wake sport boats have a gear reduction so they are able to push a boat with 12 passengers, ballast and all that fun.
My 2020 Centurion has a 1.72 gear reduction. Malibu's typically run a 2.0 gear reduction. None of that matters specifically, but finding out if your specific Moomba (year and model) has/had a gear reduction on your specific engine would indicate if its built for heavy load and may be a great candidate for air boating. If you call a dealership, they call it a gear ratio.
After that I will echo Slidin Gator and Bonefish.
1-hdsadey has a geared Ford, send him a PM.
2-Call Dave at Waterthunder.
3-I would also add to call Brian at OxBox.
But I do own a wake surf boat (Centurion). I think you would be looking at gear reduction, not DD.
Most wake sport boats have a gear reduction so they are able to push a boat with 12 passengers, ballast and all that fun.
My 2020 Centurion has a 1.72 gear reduction. Malibu's typically run a 2.0 gear reduction. None of that matters specifically, but finding out if your specific Moomba (year and model) has/had a gear reduction on your specific engine would indicate if its built for heavy load and may be a great candidate for air boating. If you call a dealership, they call it a gear ratio.
After that I will echo Slidin Gator and Bonefish.
1-hdsadey has a geared Ford, send him a PM.
2-Call Dave at Waterthunder.
3-I would also add to call Brian at OxBox.
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
I would not try to DD that engine, that's a disappointment waiting to happen, it needs a gear box to make its power. The Indmar specs I find show 400-460 Hp depending on compression and tune, you are only gonna get that with a gear box. What's the price and what boat are you looking to put it on?
The boat and price are not settled yet . My old boat only had a 6 cyl corvair eng on it, it is welded alum. 5 ft. wide by 11ft long. I was hopeing to keep that length and make it 7 ft. wide. But I'm open to any help and suggestions. Thanks
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
IMO the Ford 6.2 would not be a good choice for that size hull or as a DD engine. Choked down to 3,000 RPM you will have to do some mods to get it much past 350 ft-lbs & 200 hp. That's plenty of power for that size hull, but too much cast iron. The Dodge Hemi and Ford 6.2 are lard a$$'s, pretty much explains why the LS is so popular at ~450-550 lbs.
Ford 6.2 Engine Options, Size, Specs, and HP - VehicleHistory
For an 11x7 foot hull, my go to would be a 4 cylinder aviation engine making 150-200 Hp but weighing less than 200 lbs. If you want to stick with DD automotive and low cost, you can't beat a Chevy 350, save you about 200 lbs vs. that 6.2 and would make 160 Hp or more DD.
A heavy chunk of cast iron is a great asset sitting in the stern of a Wakeboard boat, less water ballast required to get the perfect wake. On the stern of a little airboat, not so great.
Deano
Well-known member
To be blunt . . . and especially since you aren't such a die hard Blue oval fan, RUN don't walk away from that thing.
Everything Slidin Gator told you is not only correct, but possibly an understatement of the reality!
I didn't save that link, but found that a 2017 Moomba came with a Raptor 400, and pursuing those specs, I arrived at different
numbers than did my esteemed friend; that thing was only rated @ 350 hp !
Before someone with Blue Oval tattoos starts jumpin up and down, bear in mind the question was using it in it's current form.
It's a dog, a very fat one at that. Could it be built to run? Hell ya . . . but that wasn't the question at hand.
If you WERE going to pursue that, hdsadey would be your man. But I'd bet even he would say you're better off with an LS.
Realistically and Overall,
The bell housing with it, adds no value where an airboat app is concerned.
Even with a gearbox, it would be borderline under-powered and would require another hull.
And as 'Gator avoided saying, that thing would about sink what you had in mind.
I'm not anti Ford in any way, but can't find enough upside here to justify saying anything other than this is NOT a good choice.
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
Note that the LS is not recommended for DD applications due to thrust bearing failure. Great option for a gear drive.
SWAMPHUNTER45
Well-known member
Worse yet for the Ford boys is there are countless cam and lifter failures with the new “Godzilla” engine. Seems around 35k for some reason they start making metal as in the cam lobes and lifter wheels start failing.
kwanjangnihm
Moderator
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
Interesting info but not very relevant here. The Godzilla 7.3 is a pushrod engine and the model years effected (2020-2022) seem to be related to the Covid years with cams that were not properly hardened.
The 6.2 is a SOHC setup (a key reason for the massive weight) and 3 years prior at 2017. As Waterthunder has written here before, overhead cam engines make power at high RPM, it takes a pushrod setup with rocker arm ratio to open the valves quick enough to make torque in the range of interest for an airboat setup.
I don't do tattoos, I'm too hairy.
unforgiven11B
Well-known member
Just a heads up, Dave’s pretty much solved the thrust bearing issue with some wizardry. He’s got a few stout DD Ls platforms running around
Deano
Well-known member
Odd, I never really perceived you were at all a Ford guy.
I guess that just goes to show they are not the best suited where airboats vs ease of use, parts availability and expense are concerned.
I started to clarify the Godzilla reference earlier in the thread, but didn't largely because at that point it really wasn't relevant.
Additionally, I probably shouldn't have made the LS reference like I did, but had already moved into the new hull/gearbox mode.
I like to see Fords on airboats, but it is justifiably a tough sell if somebody isn't already prejudiced in that direction.
I will add that my reference to jumping up and down, and your reference to being too hairy, gave me a little chuckle.
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
When I was young I was a Chevy guy, but I got over it and became a "whatever works best" guy. In 2006 I went car shopping, I wanted rear wheel drive and a V8, the Dodge Charger was the only option. So I put 100K miles on the Hemi and hot rodded it for another 125K. At present I own 2 Fords, 2 Chevys, 1 Lycoming and 2 Hyundai's. I find the Hyundai's to be best for picking up parts for all the rest, best fuel saving's solution I have, plus I have no interest in rodding the Hyundai's.Odd, I never really perceived you were at all a Ford guy.
I will add that my reference to jumping up and down, and your reference to being too hairy, gave me a little chuckle.
Here is the 363 Dart block stroker I have going, this is an 8.2" deck height that matches the 302 I blew up last year. Given that I have 2 engines worth of Holley EFI hardware sitting here in my shop, I'm probably best described as a Holley guy. But I'm just too hairy for labels.
This is what we started with.
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Slidin Gator
Well-known member
Gary,
Here is the key point. In the automotive/truck/hauling spectrum the equation is pretty simple, (Power/Weight). The more weight you have, the more power/torque you need. The Cobra is light and doesn't need much, what it gets is another issue
On any application involving a prop, water or air, the equation becomes more complicated, (Power/(Weight^2)). In other words, double the weight/thrust requirement and you need 4x the Power.
Start back at the beginning, where do you plan to run, what are your goals and limitations? How many folks on the boat, gear etc. Give the folks here an idea of what you want to do with the boat and we can steer you in the right direction of what you need. Your budget is a big part of this for sure.
unforgiven11B,
I have heard, but don't know the wizardry involved. There does need to be an entry level DD solution, ideally the wizardry is a bolt on