Marine Re-power with a Dmax

LBZ

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Depending on the boat a Dmax with an IMCO from PPE would be a sweet combo!
 

keith2500hd

MOTORKILLER
Jul 20, 2008
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with a diesel the torque allows to turn a lot more prop. gas normally runs hp for torque numbers and diesel runs 2-3x torque for hp numbers, makes for more speed for same gas hp, once proped out. the marine diesel probably runs bosch efi control box like banks uses, might pickup single user software. bravo II(larger gearcase and prop diameter) might be better than bravoIII(dual prop) since props are $1000 each. i work on 30ft plate boat with Mercruiser 4.2(cummins = VMMotori) 200hp that will go about 30mph loaded down.
 

smarquis

Triple Turbo LBZ
Jul 15, 2010
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Best of luck to you. I would love to repower my boat with a pair of Duramaxes, but the cost is ungodly. Much easier to get a few more ponies out of gas motors. $25,000 just for the drive sounds pretty crazy in my opinion...
 

duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
Aug 28, 2006
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that marine diesel looks like its running a bosch EDC-16...basically an LBZ/LMM ECM. I doubt it has GM software in it though. Probably has the bosch "motorsport" standalone software/OS that Banks uses. Who knows though, it could have a GM operating system....???? (in which case you could tune it with efilive)
 

LBZ

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So my friend has decided to put off the re-power for now and do a few other mods like swap the drive out and paint the boat first. Fish this next summer, and then come next winter do the swap.

We were planning to do a marine diesel Dmax engine, but for 30g and only one year warranty, the cost isn't worth it.

So now I am on the hunt for a stock dmax engine that has been rebuilt. Preferably an LLY with LBZ/LMM rods.

Then all we would need to do is make up the downpipe and exhaust, engine mount and buy a seawater pump, flywheel and water/water heat exchanger which I can get among a few other things from PPE.

Then all thats left is figuring out a throttle control. Does anyone know if a PWM control will work on an LLY? Or what kind of throttle control I could use?
 

Colt

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Jul 23, 2010
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Is the VM Motori marine engine catagory have the 2.8 for marine application. I was trying to find marine injectors/lines to go in my Jeep Liberty 06'. With a lift pump and the stock3/8'' line changed to 1/2'' from tank to pumps system. Last of course is turbo changes probably the green? tuning company in DP is all I've seen for custom setup help but this 2.8 has so much left in it from stock even without working it to hurt it. Just wondered if Marine parts might be an option like the Cummins guys use for injectors.
 

WolfLMM

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Nov 21, 2006
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I was looking at this a few years back, basically you can get twice the hp with merc racing big blocks for the same money. I bought a 1200Sci and #6 drive for less than banks or ppe wanted for just the engine. The dmax needs a belt driven blower, to help get the turbo spoolin.
 

WolfLMM

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BTW the dmax will need the M8 drive, which is about 60k by itself. I think a built dmax would destroy a #6 drive ( rated at 1400hp). The small shafts and gears would be shredded by the tq of a Duramax.

Or you could use an areson surface drive and zf trans combo. Fun topic though! Wish I could build a 150 mph v hull powered by twin or trip DMAX's. All 427's of course;)
 

LBZ

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Well my buddy picked up an LLY complete with a harness and ECM for a really good price so when things slow down work wise we are going to dive into it and get it ready for the swap this winter. HP is going to be around 300 (stock) and the torque will be likely close to stock as well.
With this big heavy boat, the right gearing and some good tuning, we are hoping spool-up won't be an issue. Not looking for a drag boat, just better fuel efficiency and enough torque to get it up on step a little faster. Time will tell I guess.....
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travistim_69

USMC diesel Mechanic
Jul 22, 2009
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I am really interested to see how this turns out, I am hoping to swap a dmax into a fishing boat in the future for the same reasons you are doing your swap. Be sure to take pics of the swap, it would make a good build thread:thumb:
 

Kartmnn

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Oct 27, 2011
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Remember too the extra weigh of the diesel and the bigger drive. Just cause you pack all that power into the boat does mean the hull will cut the water as it should. I am a boatmover and I have seen a 4 cyl yanmar diesel push a boat faster the a higher power 6 cyl diesel. The boat company next door was looking for a new comp. to run in there 29 foot powerboat. They settled on the Yanmar because the whole package weighed around 600 with the tranny but made 325hp. Not saying it wont work just that $50000 buys alot of gas.:)
 

THEFERMANATOR

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Feb 16, 2009
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Found some more info on the DURAMAX for marine use. This company out of Sarasota Fl http://innovation-marine.com/innovation/index.html is supposed to have some marinazation kits for the DURAMAX engines that they build. And here some more info I found on the company in Sweden that marinizes them. Turns out it is in a an agreement with GM according to this article http://www.proboat.com/gm-duramax-power.html . And here there US dealer for them http://www.performancediesel.com/ . And you may be able to talk to EXERGY or PENINSULAR about there prototype from 07 that they built together http://www.exergyengineering.com/documents/brochure/exergy_duramax_brochure.pdf .
 

LBZ

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Remember too the extra weigh of the diesel and the bigger drive. Just cause you pack all that power into the boat does mean the hull will cut the water as it should. I am a boatmover and I have seen a 4 cyl yanmar diesel push a boat faster the a higher power 6 cyl diesel. The boat company next door was looking for a new comp. to run in there 29 foot powerboat. They settled on the Yanmar because the whole package weighed around 600 with the tranny but made 325hp. Not saying it wont work just that $50000 buys alot of gas.:)

The Dmax dressed will weigh the same or less than the BBC that is in it now. Drive weights are almost the same. Only difference will be the higher torque and different power curve-especially at the low end. Plus we have tuneabality which we won't get with a Yanmar or Volvo-not that they won't work out of the box just fine, but this Dmax is alot cheaper and if it doesn't work, it will be easy to sell to recover our investment into it.

We aren't going to be using Marine Diesel's engine or anyone else's due to their high cost and almost non-existent warranty. (1 year)
For $35,000 US, I would have expected more warranty than that!

We are going to build and install our own built LLY Dmax and have a line on all of the extra stuff we will need to complete the install including the wiring harness. We still might need a couple things from PPE like the engine management display, throttle and such but we should be able to figure it out and have it done over the next winter.

It just came back from the fibreglass shop where it had a bow thruster put in and the stringers replaced and paint put on the bottom so that plus the new radar arch ate up the budget for this year. Next year should be interesting....
 
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LBZ

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I am really interested to see how this turns out, I am hoping to swap a dmax into a fishing boat in the future for the same reasons you are doing your swap. Be sure to take pics of the swap, it would make a good build thread:thumb:

I will for sure as there are a few guys on the Bayliner forum that are interested in this as well. :thumb:
 

LBZ

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Yes. With cast steel heads and huge water manifolds, this BBC weighs just under 1200lbs! Dmax is around 1000.

Not much of a detune it at all. All the parts we plan to use in the powertrain are rated for double what we will be putting through it.
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duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
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The Dmax dressed will weigh the same or less than the BBC that is in it now.

Are you kidding me???? Find me a big block chevy that weighs ~850lbs.

Im not talking "marinized" weight, im talking stock for stock. But when you add the marine parts, a dmax will still weigh more.

EDIT: no, I dont know this for a 'fact', but im just saying that a gasser and a dmax will both require extra marine equipment that will increase their weight. When you are starting out with an engine that weighs less (BBC), why would it end up weighing more than an equally-fully-marinized dmax????
 
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