I figured, hey, time to start a new thread rather than hopelessly keep in the campaign for the most viewed/most pages thread, that gcarter will have locked up for all time. . . .
With the help of Trueser, we got the Keith Eickert engine fired up. And WOW!
It barks and crackles delightfully (videos to follow).
All along my goal was to build a boat that easily cruised at 45 - 50 mph. BAM! Done!
There are a few things to sort out, but a brief review.
After 3 years of rebuild C16-409, I ran it for about 50 hours with an engine I had built that turned out to be less than I had hoped, around 260 hp.
An opportunity presented itself, that was too good to pass up. A 1972 400 from a Caprice, and some very nicely ported/polished “double hump” 202 heads were donated to me, if I would do this project. Through a series of remarkable events, Keith Eickert ending up building this engine for me. Then came the CMI exhaust issues, but on the 3rd try, they made a set that were what I asked for, and actually mounted to the engine.
I will spare you the details of other “normal” bumps in the road that are associated with building a custom anything.
So, how did it perform? Absolutely over the top.
I have a Volvo 290 outdrive with trim. 1.61:1 gears. The engine has 430 hp @ 5,300, and 490 ft lbs @ 4,300, with 460 ft lbs available at 3,000 rpms.
Others have told stories of their experiences with Solas props (which Grizz engineered with Solas for Donzi classics, and old Volvo outdrives). Many have said how they bought the 23 and found their engine didn’t have enough to turn it much past 4,200. Others, encouraged me that this was the prop I needed for my boat. So last year I bought one.
Here is how it performed. I didn’t have a GPS with me, but I have found the Faria Speedo to be accurate within a couple mph.Ammended: I recall that over the winter I replaced the original 0 - 60 speedo head, with a 0 - 80 head. I knew how accurate the original was after comparing it to my Garmin Nuvi and iPhone GPS. I don’t know how accurate this unit is. More accurate information will follow when I get the GPS on board.
2,500 rpms = 31 mph
3,000 rpms = 41 mph
3,500 rpms = 51 mph.
Already, I was delighted. It was effortless to cruise at 50.
Because of where I mounted the speedo pickup, it isn’t in the water when the boat is going much over 55, so I really don’t know how rpm vs speed went beyond 3,500.
I DO know, that at pretty much whatever speed you are running, nudging the throttle is about the same as nailing the throttle on a crotch-rocket. It literally leaps forward. I have never felt anything like it in a boat before.
And, it spun the Solas 23 to 4,000, then 4,500, then 5,000, then 5,300! This engine has some SERIOUS guts!
Trueser was running beside me, and might have a photo or 2, or maybe a video to share.
For now, I’m delighted. There are a few issues to sort out, but I’m certain that with the collective intelligence, and experience available, it shouldn’t be much of an issue.
But at this moment, I’m extremely happy with how things are turning out.
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Originally Posted by Ghost
