7.3 diesel engine on airboat?

[2tines]

i am thinking about upgading my 16' airboat from a 220 gpu to something with a little more power. i have a chance to get a 7.3 diesel or 454 at a good price. i think from reading here that i would need a gearbox on the 454 but im not sure with the diesel as it is putting out around 395 ft/lbs @ 1400 rpms. the only drawback is it weighs 900 pounds. has anyone got any suggestions or input?

[rbjscott]

Diesel power on a sports boat is not practicle. Too much weight, center of gravity too high and EGTs run to excess. There are diesel work boats used where gasoline is not available.

[2tines]

excuse my ignorance,but what is EGTs run to excess.

[floridacrakr0470]

EGT= exhaust gas temps. something very important to a diesel.

[cntry141iq]

exhaust gas temperature and a 16' boat is doable but it is on the small side depending on if it is 8' wide and bottom width not top of the hull. it does very little good to have a wide hull if you got a skinny bottom.

[2tines]

not trying to argue for or against, but doesnt a bbc weigh about 650 lbs and a gearbox weigh about 70 lbs? also its going on a 16 ft hoffman rivermaster with poly.

[2tines]

EGT= exhaust gas temps. something very important to a diesel.

again, im showing my smarts but why will this be a problem on boat but not in a truck?

[lil_armond]

Because a truck is not under the load that an airboat is. A diesel airboat is just a novelty, about the only thing good would be longevity but enen that could be in question. The power to weight ratio is not practical, the 454 with 2:1 will put out way more torque to the prop than a stock 7.3 with a 1.5:1 and at half the weight.


http://www.internationalpowerstroke.com/73psd.html

[dean]

Our neighbor has rigged 18 or 20 ft panther with a dodge diesel and dd composite prop. I will try to get pics
. He added poly and built his own rigging and the boat looks and runs great. Really sounds different coming down the river.

[RiseAboveIt]

GTO built a 20 something foot Duramax boat. Call them and see what they say. I do remember Keith saying the Duramax was the best choice as far as weight and power. I do agree it doesn't seem practical. Cost is always an issue in choosing a motor, maintenance is another. My suggestion is a beefy small block Chevy or a Caddie. Both have already been done and part are always around.

Good luck in your choice.

[yobee]

Havent seen it run in person but the videos of gto's duramax boat sure looked like it was running nasty! That thing was like the 18 wheeler of airboats running real good. BIG boat too.

[STINGER477]

I would really love to see pics of the boat ya'll are talking about with the Dodge diesal or "cummins". they really have alot of torque but are the heavy side. Would push a 20'footer with the right drive and prop set up.The later model 5.9 engines have come along way in horse power and torque.

[yobee]

Heres a video of gto's duramax boat. Bad to the bone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zis2gGgZy_o
just click the link, not sure how to embed on this forum

[2tines]

Our neighbor has rigged 18 or 20 ft panther with a dodge diesel and dd composite prop. I will try to get pics
. He added poly and built his own rigging and the boat looks and runs great. Really sounds different coming down the river.

dean, i would like to see pics if you can get them. how does it run the hill?

[2tines]

I would really love to see pics of the boat ya'll are talking about with the Dodge diesal or "coming". they really have alot of torque but are the heavy side. Would push a 20'footer with the right drive and prop set up.The later model 5.9 engines have come along way in horse power and torque.

yeah,me to but i just did a little research and the duramax lbz is 835lbs and putting out 650ft/lbs @ 1600 rpms

[nativeson]

A 1999 7.3 auto produced 505 lb ft manuel 520 lb ft after 02 an auto produced 525 lb ft .Horsepower from 99 to 03 were 225 to 275 depending on auto or stick. Just some food for thought.

[CONTINENTAL CRACKER]

WOW THE 7.3 WEIGHS 920 POUNDS. THAT WOULD BE 1000 POUND OF POWER PLANT WITH A GEAR BOX ADD ON IT.MIGHT WANT TO GO WITH A 10' WIDE HULL.

[2tines]

A 1999 7.3 auto produced 505 lb ft manuel 520 lb ft after 02 an auto produced 525 lb ft .Horsepower from 99 to 03 were 225 to 275 depending on auto or stick. Just some food for thought.

at what rpm is it making those numbers? also i believe that motor is only going to turn in the neighbor hood of 3000 rpms, so would you need a gearbox?

[marshrat]

Get a hold of Jay @ Panther Airboats they just built one several months ago with the Duramax, seen it out @ the cabbage running very impresive but BIG!

[EFI Jay]

WEIGHT is critical when designing a diesel engine airboat, the next task is understanding the wiring associated with the engine. The early D-max engines, Powerstroke engines, and Dodge Diesel engines all have fixed vane turbos or VGT. A fixed vane turbo is NOT the best application when building a diesel airboat, the better way to go is using a VGT as this allows less turbo lag and more consistent power across the RPM range. We built the D-max boat 4yrs ago before diesel prices sky-rocketed and everyone lost what they had in this economy. The Duramax IMO is the best choice in a few aspects because it weighs less than the competition and it can handle higher RPM's right out of the box without any modifications. If you are able to calibrate any of these engines and have working knowledge of the engine being used make sure your pedal calibrations are accurate, start with the stock engine cal. and work from there this will give you the best platform for building power. MONITOR EGT'S!!! if you dont the engine Grim Reaper will pay you a visit. Fuel Pressure does not need to be high at the lift pump it just has to provide adequate volume to the injection pump, use a 140gph pump to lift fuel @ ~10psi this should get you started.

[Sniper]

WaterThunder had talked about building a Diesel from a LS engine he told me GM had all ready done it and raced some a Baja with great succes, if he ever builds one it will be one bad ass Diesel and it will be as light as the gas motors or close to it, I just hope one of these day's he gets around to building it

[variclean]

Hey if any of you fellas know where one might aquire a prop adapter for a 6BT Cummins I dont care what anyone says I,ll put it on the boat and watch a lot of people eat their words and make history! There's water/methanol injection to control EGT's. Pound for pound dollar for dollar the Cummins is the smallest,stongest,and most fuel efficient motor out there hands down,and anyone that thinks otherwise just need to look at the facts.Who cares about weight when you have 1000 hp and 2000 ftlbs of torque.What, no lag on a VGT, hit the pedal and go eat lunch and maybe then it'll be spooled up,make mine twins no wastegate lets ride!

[rbjscott]

variclean ---It has been done by some pretty smart dodge folks, they did not consider them selves successful and abandoned the projects. They are pretty sharp folk--people come to them for solutions in high performance. Any way I will ask about an adapter, I think they had one.

[crowhater]

The Duramax is much less expensive to start off with but good luck figuring out the wiring. No one makes a stand alone wiring harness for a duramax yet. Painless was working on a stand alone system but I do not know if they have doen it yet. Controling the EGTs is not a big propblem if you understand diesels and you set the right program.

[rbjscott]

I called and asked about the adapter. They don't have one. Any machine should be able to make one.