Swapped from SBC to BBC need new lower pulley

[Michigan Newb]

Hello. Thanks for letting me join. I have a family member the blew up a 383 strokes, his friend had a 454 they installed. The lower pulley won’t mount to the new BBC crankshaft. From the best I can figure out the drive is a Walking WatersLLC. belt drive. With the picture I’m posting can anyone confirm the brand, and how to either adapt the current pulley or source a replacement.

P.S. I know nothing about this boat, but I’m good and finding stuff. Please ask follow up questions in simple terms or please include examples of requests

 

[Deano]

The Water Walker drive you are asking about was called the Blue Lighting Belt Drive.
It was designed solely for lower horse power applications (small blocks) and is likely why you've run into this issue.
I don't think they've been manufactured for a few years, but could be wrong. You will likely need to get creative to get over this hump.
Be aware, and note that due to their design for lower power levels , there is no pillow block or any other support included for that lower pulley.
As such, (after you conquer your immediate problem) do not over tighten that belt beyond need be or if you are lucky your next immediate problem would be crankshaft/ bearing related. If are NOT lucky, a catastrophic failure could be MUCH WORSE.

There were a few handfuls of them out there that worked very well for what they were designed for. That wasn't a big block though.
Look at the 5" wide Black Hawk belt that Century Drives uses (that replaced the prior 4" belt) on their newer belt drives and then look again at what you have there. A stock 454 might be lethargic compared to a healthy Cadillac, but the later would tear that belt up in very short order.
Disclaimer: I don't know if the belt or the little toy pulley would puke first, but I'm reasonably sure there is a reason why they were never produced for such an application.

Not meaning to rain on your parade, just being realistic. You'd most likely be ahead of the game to acquire a small block, imho.

 

[JLP3314]

The Water Walker drive you are asking about was called the Blue Lighting Belt Drive.
It was designed solely for lower horse power applications (small blocks) and is likely why you've run into this issue.
I don't think they've been manufactured for a few years, but could be wrong. You will likely need to get creative to get over this hump.
Be aware, and note that due to their design for lower power levels , there is no pillow block or any other support included for that lower pulley.
As such, (after you conquer your immediate problem) do not over tighten that belt beyond need be or if you are lucky your next immediate problem would be crankshaft/ bearing related. If are NOT lucky, a catastrophic failure could be MUCH WORSE.

There were a few handfuls of them out there that worked very well for what they were designed for. That wasn't a big block though.
Look at the 5" wide Black Hawk belt that Century Drives uses (that replaced the prior 4" belt) on their newer belt drives and then look again at what you have there. A stock 454 might be lethargic compared to a healthy Cadillac, but the later would tear that belt up in very short order.
Disclaimer: I don't know if the belt or the little toy pulley would puke first, but I'm reasonably sure there is a reason why they were never produced for such an application.

Not meaning to rain on your parade, just being realistic. You'd most likely be ahead of the game to acquire a small block, imho.

Didn't David wine only build the one Blue Lightning driven boat Deano, (his concept boat)? I've got pics here somewhere of it at the Broward Airboat show when I was good friends with Bobby and Patty Corey. I put 6 years of hard running on my CH-4 with a 454/375 HP BBC with no issues. When you get it right, it should last awhile.

 

[Deano]

I believe you to be mistaken about the drive on the concept boat, as you are confusing two different subject matters.

The one you are thinking of was the one-off belt drive that configured the props so they over lapped side to side. Meaning two props spinning within a width of only one and a half wide. That boat also had a drop down transom that laid down at speed. The drive on the Concept boat used two belts, one for each prop. That drive was NOT the Blue Lightning drive referenced above. They did make at least a few of them, it was NOT a one-off, lone made, prototype, which as far as I know is an accurate description of the one you are talking about on the Concept boat.
They were both belt driven, but that. and being credited to David Wine, and the ONLY things those drives have in common.

The drive, which used two belts (one for each prop) and your Century model CH4 belt drive are BOTH completely different critters; very wildly apart from the Blue Lightning drive that was asked about. I caution the OP to understand this.
That CH4 drive uses the 5" wide belt I referenced earlier, and is over twice as wide (if not 3x) as wide as the one the OP is asking about.

If a man were proficient at searching the archived web, I'm sure you could find evidence of the Blue Lightning Drive.
Unfortunately, their web presence was never a strong suit where Water Walker was concerned, so maybe that isn't the case.

 

[JLP3314]

Deano it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong, and surely won't be the last, (why I put a question mark behind my QUESTION).
Yeah, I visited David's shop on the river a few times, (Bobby and Patty's house). David Wine was truly a genius in manufacturing, was sad to see the company fall apart. Pretty sure I've got pics of both those boats on my back up hard drive, (with the concept boat at the Broward show). Can't believe it's been that long ago-where did the years go). Loved my Century CH-4 CR belt drive, (6 hard years and over 200 hours on it with no issues).

 

[Deano]

Don't misunderstand my response as pointing out you were wrong, that was not my intent at all.

My intent was first and foremost, that the original poster did not perceive that your closing statement was meant to imply that he would be fine and not have a problem doing what he was talking about. That would be OK with a CH4, but That's about 400% more drive than what he has.
Secondarily, it was my intent to clarify the difference between those two different drives for the the benefit of the new guys that are not familiar with either of them. I've been at the local spring a number of times and somebody acting like they were informed would be trying to convince me of bullshit because of what they read on internet. No reflection on you whatsoever, but I was trying to prevent the next newbie to show up at the spring from trying to impress us all with what he knew about those WW belt drives.

I stated everything I did from memory and as such, there is a fair chance some of that may have been wrong. I hope not, but is ever possible.

 

[Deano]

The concept of that later drive was along these lines.
Counter rotating to boot! To bad this never made into production.

 

[Deano]

found a video:

 

[JLP3314]

Searched for that video but couldn't find it, thanks Deano! My buddy David (Plum here on SA) at the rudder there, and I gotta admit every time he let off of the gas my pucker factor gets insane LOL!
Man alive if that concept could've been "shrank" (was the hull on that boat much wider than our normal 8')?
I saw the Blue Lightning up close a few times with Bobby and Patty but sadly never got to see the concept boat above.
I ran a DB Century long belt CR for 6 years and believe me loved the fact of no torque roll as I came close a few times to sinking it in the Kissimmee River by the Ox Bow canal, (coming down off of a plane-trying to turn to fast rookie stuff).
I really wish we could see manufacturers drop the price of CR technology so more airboaters could afford it.
Thank you for your wealth of knowledge Deano.

 

[John Fenner]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around this, a small block 383 to a big block 454, I don't see where the issue would be, was the 383 crank an aftermarket unit designed for the 1 piece rear main seal engine?
A bit of machining and hub can be reused, locate centers between that pattern to the 454 pattern, bore the new holes to bolt it up to the 454, turn the hub in a lathe to fit the crank snout if need be and away you go.