Am I Crazy???

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:06 pm

OK, Guy's, here's my issue....some may remember that I have a low oil pressure issue on my starboard engine. I'm tired of worrying about it and am seriously considering re-powering. My current engines are merc 350's, throttle body injected with 330HP. Before these engines found there way on-board, they were test engines at the merc labs in Mich, the PO's brother worked for Merc and got him a deal(?)........these are an in between hybred engine and are very complex and complicated. I've had 3 mechanics look at them and none had ever seen this configuration...I am considering re-powering with carbed 350's with 270 HP..........or maybe even 305's...the investment will be more than the boat is worth but everything else on her is perfect and I love the boat.....I'm thinking some of you can understand my madness......I don't need the 660hp, boat came originally with 215hp 302's so 270 will be fine.....

Am I out of my mind??????.............John

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:16 pm

Do they run?

Do they get you from point A to point B?

Does the Admiral have to approve your acquisitions?

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 3:33 pm

Are you crazy....no. Are you crazy......yes! Let me explain.

You are not crazy for wanting to re-power your boat with new engines that may cost more than the boat is worth because you ARE crazy about your Trojan. How many people who are selling their boat tell stories of putting outlandish amounts of money in it right before it goes up for sale? Why do they do that - because they are crazy and passionate about their boat and that often justifies, at least in their mind, spending whatever it takes to make it the way they want it.

I say if you got the cash go for it - you can't take it with you!

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 3:57 pm

Jddens wrote:
"the investment will be more than the boat is worth but everything else on her is perfect and I love the boat....."

Below is an exerpt from a member on another forum, reasoning why he's upgrading his engines, albeit to diesel. But the simple statement says it all.

I really like my boat, will never get 30% of what I have in her so why sell when I can have my cake and eat it too?

If you can do it and you truly want to do it...do it! Good luck!

MattSC · Post by **MattSC** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:16 pm

John,
I went through the same decision several years ago and decided to do the repower and add a few other items. My reasoning was that I really like the boat, it does what I want it to do (and then some) and most importantly I know exactly what I have. As far as I'm concerned it was one of the best decisions I made and would do it again.

Jddens stated "...the investment will be more than the boat is worth but everything else on her is perfect and I love the boat...." you pretty much answered your question. If you're happy with what you have, then it would be a good decision. Good luck,
Matt

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 5:53 pm

Do they run?..........yes so far

Do they get you from point A to point B?......yes so far

Does the Admiral have to approve your acquisitions?.......nope, she loves the boat too................

I just don't trust the starboard motor and am tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop.....I would like to take some extended cruises next year and need the piece of mind......

Thanks for the input and encouragement......I will start my investigative work and see where it leads......I'll keep you all posted...........John

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 6:25 pm

The original stbd engine issue was "low oil pressure".

Is it REALLY low - or just a bad gauge?

If it IS low - how low? 20psi warm? Cold?

If it was me - I'd check the compression on the stbd engine. If its good, simply rebuilt it ... its just a Small Block Chevy. It might be in better condition than the remanufactured engines you replace it with.

TBI is not high tech ... Vettes, Firebirds and Camaros had the same stuff in the early 80s. BUT the TBI injection will run more reliably than the old carbs (I've been fighting a Qjet issue on my 26 for months now).

All I'm saying is I would not replace engines based on a reading on one engine from 40 year old gauges.

If it starts and runs OK, and all you do is putt out to the San Juans on weekends, leave it alone (IMO).

If you have money burning a hole in your pocket - and the admiral approves - do it. SOmeone here might snap up your old engines ... who was that wanted fuel injected engines the other day anyway???????

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 6:52 pm

I said it before and I will say it again run what you have , many a engine has run for years with low oil pressure . what are you going to do when you replace both and one is lower then the other ? No 2 engines are the same . unless its a knock'n keep on rocking

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:27 pm

I vote for 502s !!!!!

Just kidding. I agree with Prowler. And also rossjo. A small piece of gunk at the tube end can cause erratic behavior.

Ron

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 8:12 pm

OK, I have about 40 psi when dead cold when warm it drops to around 20 at 3000rpm and at warm idle I have ZERO. First thing I did was eliminate a bad gauge or sending unit, put in a known good mechanical gauge and it reads the same........when this first happened I had the oil analyzed and there were lots of bearing metal in it. Checked compression and it ranged from 85 to 150........nobody wants to rebuild it, they all want to put a Jasper long block in it........I don't have the time or equipment to rebuild it myself...........I haven't checked yet but heard Merc has a couple programs...re-manufactured and previously used but checked out and warrantied............just tired of worrying about it............ John

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 8:46 pm

ever thought of slick 50?

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:09 pm

prowlersfish wrote:... unless its a knock'n keep on rocking

I think it was "If this Vans a Rock'n, don't come a Knock'n"

So - you say you DON'T care about power .. just want to go easy ... so what's wrong with 20-40psi and 85-120psi? Probably run for years.

LOW is 10psi Oil and 60-75psi Cylinder. Who knows - Marvel Mystery Oil might loosen those rings and bring her back - did you rin the Pxxx out of or what?

Look at the money we're saving you. Use it to buy fuel and come around the US to next year's Trojan-Palooza!

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:35 pm

Well now I'm starting to second guess the whole thing......so zero oil pressure is OK for awhile...like getting to the gas dock or in and out of my slip? I DO care about power, just said I didn't think I needed the 660hp when the boat originally had around 430hp... I would like to be able to run all day at 3000 rpms without worrying about it.......and I did kinda run the piss out of her.....short cruise at 4400rpm when I throttle down the oil pressure went south.....

SO....next step will be to change the oil and load her up 1/2 & 1/2 with marvel or slick 50 and see what happens..............Thanks guys for all the input....as others have said this is a great site and I feel like you guys are friends............wish i could get around east to a Trojan event...

Thanks again..............John....

todd brinkerhoff · Post by **todd brinkerhoff** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:44 pm

I think you should get 2 new motors and sell me the TBI units for my 7.4s. I personally think you should buy a couple nice crusader 8.1s, and in a few years replace them with diesels so I can get some nice slightly used gassers. I need some hand-me-downs.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

todd brinkerhoff · Post by **todd brinkerhoff** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:46 pm

I think you should get 2 new motors and sell me the TBI units for my 7.4s. I personally think you should buy a couple nice crusader 8.1s, and in a few years replace them with diesels so I can get some nice slightly used gassers. I need some hand-me-downs.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.