newbie needs some help.

[afish85]

Hey guys, my dad and I recently acquired an old rogers jet boat. The previous owner blew the motor, it tossed a rod and piston and nothing but the intake, flywheel, and mounts are salvageable. It used to be a 454 BBC with a berkely jet and "A" impeller I believe. Were trying to find/have built a suitable motor to put in it, but have been getting different opinions from people we talk to in regards to 2 bolt and 4 bolt main blocks, marine and automotive blocks, heads and whatnot. Can someone please clear up all the differences and point us in the right direction? Were not looking for anything over the top, right around 400-450 HP will do, and we have about 7K to spend. Any help is gonna be appreciated. Thanks guys.

Edit* I have a 2 bolt 427 standard deck chevy block and crank in my posession.

[BIGA]

in the horsepower range that you are going i would use either one. on your 427 at hand i would install 454 crank and assembly to make it a 454 the jets like the cubic inches. if budget permits i would look at a small stroker assembly possibly going to a 496 or somethin in that range although the 427 or 454 will make a great engine. although there may be others i have used a lot of jasper engines as they are one of the few that i vend with that will supply a warranted engine for a jet marine application. you may check with retailers in your area to see who carries the jasper engines i have had great luck with them and used them for years. as said earlier there may be others but theirs are warranted for a jet application that most will not do. as for a marine or auto engine, most start out as the same and the marine is modified for its use,i.e. special gaskets ,brass freeze plugs,special cam profile,and exhaust systems, valves, and especially special clearance for marine use,hope this helps, good luck

[Bies]

Marine blocks contain more nickel than automotive blocks. Always use brass freeze plugs. I have always squared blocks before re-build, plus balancing the assembly, and of course cleaness is next to god. Good luck

[afish85]

Ok, I called Jaspers HQ in Indiana yesterday, and I can get a "marineized" 420 HP 454 long block for right about $4K. I dont have a good core, so that ups the price another 1K. Does this sound about right for a long block? And if so, what intake and carb do you guys recommend? The boat had an old style edelbrock torker intake and a vacuum secondary double pumper, the size of which I havent figured out yet. Also, does anyone have a diagram of the water plumbing for one of these with bassetts on it using the check valve assemblies like the one from hardin marine? Id like to get rid of the numerous hand valves because it looks like hell, and Im sure it causes flow problems. Im also gonna post a few pictures for you guys to look at, I apologize for the quality, and if their too big, please let me know. Thanks guys.

Heres the boat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/bigfish77/rogers.jpg

And heres a shot of the free carnage that came with it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/bigfish77/boatanchor.jpg

[Bies]

I have a Mercruiser 454, plus a new set of high tech heads, I checked with a local Chevy dealership they said the heads I have are $1,000 apiece.
The long block came out of Mercruiser plant, Stillwater Ok., I would still dissamble and check Mag, Sqaure, and mic. everthing., I also have a fuel injector set up but it will not fit on oval port heads, it is for a sqaure port set up. My father is trying to get rid of the shop, Alot of stuff to move. I also had a 454 Roller Motor, we tore it down and freshend it up, in a 21' Chris Craft, runs 65 GPS. Everything in the engine was new. This one is not a roller, standard push rod motor, but Mercruiser. Hate to part with it especially with the killer extra set of heads. 3K, Have great shipping if you are interested. It needs a good home.
Monk

[whipper]

400 SB dart motor with a Supercharger.:thumbsup:Then youll be flying. For speed you need weight savings and power. The new superchargers work awsome in jetboats. Lots of the 120-130mph river boats use this motor. Even a 350 with a supercharger will kick a 454!! if ya realy want to go nuts 502 and a super charger. If you look on the river racers web sites theres lots of great engines for sale cheep with 500-700 hp. http://www.jetboatracing.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=8 hears a sweet motor for sale also. http://www.jetboatracing.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=740&sid=0d539977c130e33d8d4c8bfcd675a3f7

[afish85]

Hey guys, another quick question. I was trying to figure out what berkeley jet this rogers has in it, the numbers on the tag read 12jg-a-ss. So this is a JG pump, A cut impeller, and Im gonna assume that the SS means stainless steel? Is this a decent pump? and is there anything I should watch out for on it, i.e certain leak spots, etc?

[BIGA]

you are correct on your assumptions, the jg is the pump of choice as it had the split bowl that will accomodate the wedges and or droop snoot, however the only way to verify what type and size impellor is to open it up for examination and measurement. if you are not positive of the condition and or running time on the pump it may save you grief to preform preventive maintenance and do a rebuild proir to an event.

[afish85]

Thanks BIGA. Are these pretty easy to rebuild? I have a decent mechanical background.

[BIGA]

thats a loaded question. i have taken them apart in 10 minutes i have taken them apart in 10 hrs. some would say they are simple, granted there is not a lot of pieces. i liken them to a motor if you do it every day and have a machine shop at your disposal piece of cake. there has been many a motor rebuilt in the back yard. i think you get a better quality job if you take the time to verify all of the clearances and make as few assumptions as possible. with any thing there is a certain learing cure.