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Searching for engine builder

We're on the west coast in Venice. Not technically central but kinda halfway between Key West and Georgia border. Just built a 5.3 for a gearbox boat. Made 400 hp @ 5800 and 400 tq @ 4600 on our in house dyno. Venice Auto Marine Inc. 941-484-2474. We have a brand new H85AX Rottler CNC hone that does an incredible job of making the bores .0002 straight from top to bottom and every cylinder is the exact same size! Stuska Dyno capable of 2000 HP. CWT 5500 digital balancer. Check us out on Facebook. I usually post regularly, including most Dyno runs.
 
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wetnsalty said:
Does anyone know someone in the central Florida area that builds a good motor Big block, small block, LS ?
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Salty,

You ask a wide ranging question, not that it is a bad opening, but throw down some details. A particular question is if you are looking for a turn key setup, a engine machine shop with an associated tuner, or a machine shop and you will tune yourself.

As posted, it reads turn key, so tell us what's the boat your building so we can help.
 
www.waterthunder.com

Home | Water Thunder Performance

Here at Water Thunder Performance we have decades of airboat engine building experience. Specializing in Chevy LS motors, we provide both Carburetor and Electronic Fuel Injection motors made to order for your application. We have a full line of motors at 500HP, 550HP, 600HP, and beyond. It just...
www.waterthunder.com www.waterthunder.com

Water Thunder Performance, Inc.
Phone: +1.321.508.5316
 
Slidin Gator said:
Salty,

You ask a wide ranging question, not that it is a bad opening, but throw down some details. A particular question is if you are looking for a turn key setup, a engine machine shop with an associated tuner, or a machine shop and you will tune yourself.

As posted, it reads turn key, so tell us what's the boat your building so we can help.
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Yeah i know, I have a brand new 14' hull. There are people that build motors around me but the problem is getting somebody to actually do it. Every time I ask someone I get some sort of response like well I don't know when I can get it done or I'm having trouble getting parts. I'm gonna build metal works to fit whatever engine I buy so it really don't matter whether it's A 350 or Cadillac or an LS. I just need a motor at this point.
 
wetnsalty said:
Every time I ask someone I get some sort of response like well I don't know when I can get it done or I'm having trouble getting parts.
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Yep, 10-4 I heard that, multiple times. I'd throw out the shop that put my LS stroker together for my new build, but they are slammed too and can't get parts. It took 9 months to get the long block put together, most of it waiting on forged parts.

If money is not an object and I needed a motor now, I would find a late model, direct injected 5.3 LT engine from a junk yard and swap in a new, aftermarket injection system (blower if you want), the tuner bro's are not waiting on parts and there is plenty of life left in them. Then put in an order on the hot rod Waterthunder to swap out in 1 year.

If money is tight, you can't beat a 350 for cheap, quick and decent power. Order up a rebuild long block, outfit from Advance auto and tune for 5,500 RPM. The only issue is when it eventually craters, your engine stand won't directly swap to the LS platform.

A 14 foot hull does not normally call for a big block, but have at it is you want.

Given your range of engine options, I'm gonna assume you haven't checked into gear box lead time, you should do that and base engine choices accordingly.
 
A bit off topic, I am rebuilding or rather, reassembling a full roller O-520 that I built at Don Davis' shop in 2006, upon inspection present day, the camshaft "welded to build up lobes" had fractures due to it being a cast cam, I have built up another set of lobes on a steel cam with hard face wire and then blended each lobe with tig welder, I am looking for a reputable cam grinder that can dial this stick in, any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
 
Be careful, any engine builder/machine shop can build you a 4-600 hp motor that will run great for a 10 second blast WFO. But it takes a very knowledgeable shop such as Waterthunder to build one that will stay together for prolonged high RPM blast.
 
Steve Schmidt In Indianapolis can build anything you can dream of.
And he will stand behind it with as good a warranty as anyone.
800- 957-7223
 
I did along lines of what slidin said came up with an end goal. Bought the box headers and cracked ls block (50.00 from local machine shop). That was all I need to start my motor stand.

I started looking for a low mileage 5.3 got one for 750.00 went the carb way since I had several carbs and fuel pumps on the shelf.
That 5.3 has been on 3 boat has over 600hrs and had 113k miles on it.

Swapping to a mildly cammed 6.0 then Holley efi. As many parts are had to get and I have been collecting parts for a Iron block 408 stroker.
Been collecting parts for 2 years lol. Had to redo my polly and fix a radiator and heads so it slow my roll a little.

Unless it is the newer lt motor. 5.3, 6.0 and 6.2's most all the accessories are interchangeable, so swaps are simple.

John Fenner, unfortunately we have become a throw away society the Cam regrinding or really machining in general is becoming a lost art
 
I don't know if you are still searching for an engine, but if you are, then I have a suggestion. Buy an engine with more HP than you need with high torque that comes in early. Ideally you want to cruise between 3000 to 3500 rpm. The higher your rpm at regular cruise speed the faster you are going to wear out the engine. If you are cruising at 5000 rpm your engine will only last for a few trips. I don't care who builds the engine or how good the parts are that they use. Automotive engines are not made to run at high rpms for hours at a time. If you have a more hp and torque than you need you can adjust your prop blades so that when you have the pedal to the floor your rpm's top out at 4000rpm and still give you all the speed and push you could ever want or need.
 
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