Frank Finlin
Well-known member
I have a question, I melted two pistons in my old Z350 engine and the engine gave me problems that nobody was able to solve.
So I decided to have a total new engine built, the builder worked with Panther Airboat.
I’m operating a 14 by 8 airboat. Panther felt that a Z502 would be too heavy. So I settled on a Dart block 420 cu in with Eagle crank and connect rods with J&E pistons, running Brodix heads with roller cam with solid lifter ground to develop good torque range through 5000 rpm.
I was running a warp drive 6 bladed propeller with 2 to 1 gearbox. Panther recommended going to an 8 Turbo hub. The engine dynoded out at 550 hp 510 ft lb torque.
After reading some of you comments about 2 to 1 gearbox with a high degree of pitch stating that this is extremely hard on the engine, what pitch range would you recommend the propeller is 84” diameter. If I run the engine at 5300 rpm would this work keeping the engine strain down or should I change the gearbox?
FMF
So I decided to have a total new engine built, the builder worked with Panther Airboat.
I’m operating a 14 by 8 airboat. Panther felt that a Z502 would be too heavy. So I settled on a Dart block 420 cu in with Eagle crank and connect rods with J&E pistons, running Brodix heads with roller cam with solid lifter ground to develop good torque range through 5000 rpm.
I was running a warp drive 6 bladed propeller with 2 to 1 gearbox. Panther recommended going to an 8 Turbo hub. The engine dynoded out at 550 hp 510 ft lb torque.
After reading some of you comments about 2 to 1 gearbox with a high degree of pitch stating that this is extremely hard on the engine, what pitch range would you recommend the propeller is 84” diameter. If I run the engine at 5300 rpm would this work keeping the engine strain down or should I change the gearbox?
FMF