Hi Scott, thanks for the input. As to the knowledge insulting, not happening from me. My assumption was both Mercury & Volvo and others use automotive long blocks for their marine engines (Oldsmobile rings a bell), as does Yamaha, OMC and a host of others, and for many, many years, speaking only in terms of I/O power plants, I know nothing of outboards. Is this not correct?
I know cam timing differs, certainly rotation at times differs, incidental items like plugs in the water jackets, gasket materials and the like, baffles in the oil pans, placement of the oil pickup, I get all this. Here is what I do know. The basic block and heads from a automotive LS, modified for marine use, are significantly less expensive than the same item stamped marine.
By purchasing a LS1 or LS2 from a vehicle, ( the majority being sold currently with the ECM, full uncut harness, all accessories including the transmission either 6 speed Richmond Gear, or L460E automatic in the $3000-$4000 range, I can lay down (automotive term) all the things that do not go on my boat for nearly as much as the total purchase price of the powertrain thereby making my LS1 or LS2 FREE or nearly so! I have 2 standing offers for the 6 speed @ $2,500. That is the reasoning behind the automotive purchase. I have already researched the cam profile with the cam maker that grinds our GT, GT2 & GT3 BMW M3 cams for our competition cars, he told me no problem.
As for outdrives, I have a Bravo 1, (another buddy donated it for the project) if I use the LS2 (more plentiful) the engine produces stock the max HP limit for the Bravo 1, so I move up to an XR outdrive. That's the way projects go.
I like to cruise and quietly, to that end & built my way, I will be able to achieve 60mph @ 3500 rpm, using a 27 pitch prop, 1.36:1 Bravo 1, with .088 prop slippage. This is acceptable for me after all not much chance doing this speed on a river and why would you want to? You would miss all the nature but crossing the lake is another matter all together, 60mph is a stable, safe cruising speed for a boat hull this well built.
So there you have it, don't feel you need to pick the gauntlet up for the others here, I was not insulting them rather I was thinking aloud & I am certain if they have a problem with what I have stated, they would say something to me...like you did.
BTW, I passed on the pourable transom repair, just not for me and this project, I want solid known safety for this project, it's all about the LS series engine, great power to weight ratio and the next up & coming marine power plant.
Regards,
Doug
