Duramax in powerboat

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Jorekore

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Jun 28, 2012
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Hi.
New on this great forum..
I'm looking to put two duramax engines with allison transmissions into my 50' wellcraft scarab boat, but what engines do you guys think i should use?
could i use only 2,3 and 4th gear on the trans? where can i find a set of engines and trans complete with harnesses, pedal sender and ecu?
I thought of sending the harnesses to pacific performance engineering and let them rebuild it to a stand alone harness, any other ideas?
There is a company here in sweden who sells new marinized duramax engines for boats but the price is 35k$ each and that is way to much for my budget and still the only have 450hp..

Regards

Joakim
Sweden
 
J

Jorekore

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Jun 28, 2012
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Yes, banks do build a marine duramax but still the price is to high for me, i could build two engines for much less than one marine engine cost.
 
J

Jorekore

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Jun 28, 2012
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All marine engines are overpriced if you ask me and that is why i want to marinize two myself plus it is fun to do :)
is there anywhere i can find the parts i need? any scrap yards?
 
adrenaholc1

adrenaholc1

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Apr 5, 2011
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Butler Co. OHIO
Dmax is better off in a small boat 29' or less. What do you have an old meteor? I would stick with big blocks honestly. Or if ya wanna be different you you could try building a pair of 434ci @stroked ls engines. That would be a good durability test for the ls world and allot easier on the checkbook than dmax's would be.
 
hondarider552

hondarider552

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May 28, 2008
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There is a guy on duramax forum I tihnk his name is "kidturbo" that looses a piston every 6 months it seems in his boat
 
J

Jorekore

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Jun 28, 2012
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Thanks for the answers!
Why would a duramax eat pistons at high rpm when a cummins 5,9 480hp last a long time in durance races? Is duramax engines not good? A GM 454 will last 700hr of more in a boat.
Yes i do own an old meteor, i think it's from 1989, new paint, new upholstery and much more, will be replacing the transom this summer and then new engines :D
Sorry, there is no way i'm putting gas engines in this boat again, i can't see why gas engines would be better?
I know several people driving with cummins 5,9 of similar in 42' boats and it works great.
 
J

Jorekore

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Jun 28, 2012
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This boat came from factory with 3x420hp 454ci GM engines, another engine choise back then was 2xCAT 3208ta 425hp, almost the same topspeed betwen engine choises due to the higher torque in diesels but the Cruise Speed is much higher with diesels than gas engines and it's the Cruise Speed i want.
What is the top rpm for a duramax?
On a boat i sold yesterday with 2x454 engines the Cruise Speed was around 3000rpm so it should be 2500 or something on a dmax?
 
hondarider552

hondarider552

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May 28, 2008
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Sustained, under cruise, I wouldnt go above 2500RPM IMHO. Need to moniter oil temps at that high of a RPM and you will only be able to go for a few short burts to 3000rpm(oem redline) untill stuff starts getting hot. Adding a bigger turbo will help with overall egt's. Cruise speed/rpm will totally be dependant on prop pitch.
 
J

Jorekore

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Jun 28, 2012
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hondarider552 said:
Heat. Aluminum pistons no like.

I remember the guy (kidturbo) saying at 40% engine load egt's were 1200*
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Boats are pretty heavy, almost like towing a trailer up a big hill all the time, but still i can't see why cummins, powerstroke and cats with the same cui will last?
Aluminum is often used in GM engines to in boat Racing, i've heard nothing bad about it exept that it does not like salt.
 
Utahski

Utahski

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Oct 20, 2008
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Northern Utah
Jorekore said:
Boats are pretty heavy, almost like towing a trailer up a big hill all the time, but still i can't see why cummins, powerstroke and cats with the same cui will last?
Aluminum is often used in GM engines to in boat Racing, i've heard nothing bad about it exept that it does not like salt.[/QUOTE

The DMax will be fine.
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