Author Topic: vortec challenge  (Read 8704 times)

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Offline Mike Harry

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vortec challenge
« on: August 05, 2011, 04:37:34 PM »
Thinking about changing old style heads out with highflow vortec heads. Always thought about aluminum high performance heads on the ole girl, but I think aluminum would be a mistake the more I learn about marine engines and the way they heat and cool


Any thoughts on a vortec swapout? I'd be looking at a 20 to 30 horse gain, would that cause problems with my prop?

Offline RonT

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2011, 04:44:10 PM »
Vortec engines work great in our boats, & if you look at any of my late model stuff you will see 315HP vortec engines. The vortec motors are improved from the induction side, to complete the formula look at a late model Skier & you will see 4" exhaust manifolds, into 3.5" mufflers with a 2" crossover. To complete a vortec motor you need to open the exhaust to let it come alive.

Offline Mike Harry

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2011, 05:10:12 PM »
Thanks Ron, that does give me something to shoot toward..... except I dont know if I can give up my aluminum log style exhaust....... I just love those things!

Im seeing numbers now around 310 at the crank (I think you told me stock numbers around 290 horse) after the bore on the block and dropping the boat anchor of an intake for an aluminum edelbrock manifold. If I could get 320 or 330 for just swapping heads (and to a different intake beacuse old school doesnt meet vortec that way) Id be happy. Especially since I could get it all done for less than 3 or 400$

I remember you posting something about H.P. and how much it really doesnt do for our boats. Im getting 46-47 mph with just me in the boat now. I doubt I would improve on that much if any, Im guessing its the getting there faster where I would see most of my gain.?

Offline RonT

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2011, 05:20:02 PM »
Late model Lazers are a bit lighter, and had 315HP at the prop & typical was 48-49 on the radar gun, 13x13 3 blade ni-bral prop spinning high 4K revs & hang-on tight quickness.

Offline Mike Harry

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2011, 05:51:04 PM »
Right now Im running 13x12 or 12x13 (never understood props even after Dan spent a half hour talking with me about it)..........flat out shits and gits as it is......

Are there any log style exhaust mani's out there that are that large? Or am I semi screwed as far as that goes, because I can tell you right now I love these logs and wont go to an upright elbow style exhaust ever again if I dont have too

Offline Joel

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2011, 11:30:34 AM »
Mike,  Your probably at your top end for your hull design and torque out of the hole is probably great too...  unless your trying to pick up multiple (more than two) slalom skiers...  This is just me, but I'd leave well enough alone.   Remember the old saying "if it aint broke, dont fix it"   :)   I have a feeling your boat will out perform most of our boats as it sits   8)

If you really need a boat engine to work on, come on up to Columbus, OH, and work on mine...  I'll pay for your transportation, feed ya like a king (used to be an Admiral's cood) and will keep your cooler filled with your cold beverage of choice - practically heaven  :)
Joel - Columbus, OH - 1991 Advance

Offline Mike Harry

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2011, 11:43:45 AM »
You pull it ill build it. Don't know about eating from a cood though  ::)

Offline Joel

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2011, 01:52:43 PM »
Smart.... @$$...   :)
Joel - Columbus, OH - 1991 Advance

Offline Mike Harry

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2011, 06:30:23 AM »
Joel, you gotta understand,  I used to race...... its in my blood to try and get everything possible out of an engine. To push what I build to its highest capacity. I don't know any other way man! :-\

Offline RonT

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2011, 07:55:58 AM »
You could certainly keep the cute little manifolds, just open up the exhaust as soon as you can behind them, and add a crossover.

Offline Mike Harry

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2011, 08:18:21 AM »
I mean, you gotta have a little backpressure  :P

This is something I can see myself doing for sure

Offline Joel

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2011, 09:01:11 AM »
Yeah, I know - Tom Cruise did NOT make up the term "I feel the need... the need for speed!" and Ricky Bobby wasnt the first guy to utter the words "I wanna go FAST!"  I feel the same way about my car - 155 mph seems a bit slow...  Can you read GERMAN???   :)
Joel - Columbus, OH - 1991 Advance

Offline Mike Harry

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2011, 06:31:31 AM »
Joel, its as easy as this really. An engine is a large pump. The more time and money you spend making that pump flow more easily (and amount of flow) the harder she'll pump for you.

You'd be surprised at how much you could gain by spending $500 to $1000 on your head/heads and opening the exhaust.

That's all I'm really doing here. No machining involved,  just bolting on better flowing heads.

If you really want to wake up your car, headword is where its at, although you need machining,  cause there probly aren't many bolt ins for that bad boy. Port out intake and exhaust ports to match the gasket,  put in new larger valves if room permits, change rocker arms for a little more clearance if you want to go that far. But port matching is probly by far the best way to increase flow. When the ports don't line up or head port is bigger or smaller than intake or exhaust port, your jut causing turbulence and robbing yourself of power.

Offline Midskier

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2011, 03:51:44 PM »
155 is slow ........I still have 2 more gears to go :)
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Offline Joel

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Re: vortec challenge
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2011, 03:50:10 PM »
Dan,  Maybe... but you've got brass B@11$    :o   And, I kinda like to keep my drivers license    ;D

Mike,  this engine is a strange bird to say the least and puts out some good power & lots of torque   ;D  A lot of guys spend a ton of $$ to get them to go faster, including polish/porting, boring out to over 6.0 liters (Stroker engines), Supercharging or even Twin Turbos.  Supercharging is the cheapest of all three options with HP around 500 or more, but I'd be spending as much as the initial cost of the car...

Theres a saying on the Porsche website (Rennlist) - "I'm $15K away from having a nice $10K car..."

I think I'll stick with 155 mph   8)
Joel - Columbus, OH - 1991 Advance