FrankenRude Three Dot Oh

Picked up this really clean '04 3.3 liter 225 HO Ficht a couple wks ago and spent that time deciding whether to rebuild it as a good running gas mizer or do what I normally do w/really clean, nice motors.
Carve em up.

So, I've got a plan.

Frank II was such a monster I've decided to duplicate the port map in this motor. That motor was Mad EFI on a Taylor 16" mid w/a Sport Master that I put 1.62 gears in.

This one will be carbureted (OEM big bores at this point), w/the VRO attached and functional, air box, OEM mid w/closed exhaust and will start w/the Lightning gear case that came on this motor and maybe switch to my unobtanium Second Effort lower water p/u (if I need it depending on hull) unit I found a while back.

The theme is, sleeper, old school, low budget. These motors come w/short rods that we normally switch to the longer 3.0 rods which then mandate Monty's custom built Wiseco pistons which relocate the wrist pins to accommodate the old rods.
This one I'm going to try and cut the pockets off the Ficht piston domes and use them and the OEM rods which will save me several hundred $$.

Target is 320/330+ HP's, 7500, quiet, idles, doesn't smoke around dock, shifts (as all my hot rods do) and oil injected. Not sure any of this is possible w/this package but I know one way to find out.

We'll see:cool:

Learned some things today while tearing this motor down.

#1. The vaunted "big bore" carbs (1986/87 only) had a venturi size of approx. 1.650" or 1 5/8" and are considered too big for a lake boat. The throat of the throttle bodies on this HO are 2"!

#2. The lower pans on these motors have sound deadening material and weight 28 lbs. Thats 8 lbs heavier than the carb'd versions.

#3. Just the injectors and mounts for this motor weigh 30 lbs!!!! I've always doubted the published weights of the new 4 strokes when it's not them being light but the 50 lbs added to a D.I. 2 stroke to make it work.

#4. A set of Ficht heads are 10 lbs heavier than their carbureted cousins!

#5. By deciding to go carb'd, I just cut 48 lbs off this motor!

Thought this would be a fun project to document as these engines are becoming plentiful and cheap. Also, the 3.3's are bottom fed/behind the liner ported which is far superior (IMO) to the traditional OEM 3.0 blocks.
If this goes well, this may be an affordable project for some of you guys looking for something different w/o writing a check for $20K.
I'll also off load all the D.I. funk on e-bay to recoup part of my cost.
There is some machine work involved in the conversion but if you guys are are capable of a stock rebuild, good w/a rt. angle grinder and a die grinder you can do it yourself. Only thing I won't tell you is my port map.
Pic's and more info to come as I progress. Hope you enjoy.


Here's some pix's from today.


Before (paid $1k for this w/a perfect condition 6" jack plate):

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps17c5c504.jpg



Here's what a dressed, D.I. p.head looks like. Clearly 10 lbs of crap ina 9lb box w/the cowling on.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...pscf4b1703.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...pscd29acc7.jpg

An 18 lb lower pan!

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...psfe9aa541.jpg

A D.I. head.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps9e425822.jpg

A 2.7 head.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...pse89fe350.jpg

After all the D.I. funk is removed.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps2a201410.jpg

All the D.I. funk.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps91392088.jpg

Subscribed........

Gary,
I cant believe you gonna off all that hi-tech rats nest in favor of a set of antique carbs. Just because they are infinitely adjustable and as reliable as the sun coming up tomorrow, is not a good reason ... :D
The only down side I have ever seen with carbs and outboards, is making the air transition evenly from a round hole to a long stretched out rectangle... :cool:

I think you'll find that the short rod will accelerate the piston from BDC harder, producing a stronger signal to the carbs. ( a good move if you plan on doing some manifold work ) With less dwell time at TDC it should also be less prone to detonation ... ;)

3.3 :eek: Your startin out 300 cc bigger ... That's chea ... Pfffttttt .. :cheers:

Looks like a neat project .. look forward to seeing it's progress .. :thumbsup:

I am with the logic of mix and master the new teck motors.....I like bettter gearcases.....clubfoot...

Wow that thing was really clean , should actually come apart without the torch.

Thanks guys.

Chaz, thanks for the info on rod length. Have not heard/thought that version before. I like it.
And yes to manifold work. Last motor had epoxy in it and this one will have quite a bit more.
I turned my old 3.3 7500 w/the long rods w/a horrible EFI tune and not sure how hard it would go but porting targeted 9K.
Humorous comments to the EFI too. After all the $$ and effort for the EFI on the old motor, first thing I thought was how good those old carbs worked.

Dave, cleanest block I've ever pulled down. Dealer I bought it from thought 200 some hrs and I believe it. Lost a locating pin in one hole and ring land/lean in another (bottom).
After measuring the throttle bodies, my big bores don't look so big anymore. The throttle bodies are straight shots though w/no venturi so wouldn't flow as well as the carbs.
The sleeves are some of the worst mismatched to the block that I've seen. Probably have it to your brother to pull the sleeves soon.
Or find an old oven ;) We are in a rental so I guess I could stink the place out for a couple days if Cheryl would disappear till the smell dissipates.

I spent yesterday hogging on beefs 3.3. Just a little clean up and low ports with mid bores will peak power in the 6500 range, very mild. Should be fun since hes got 1.62 now also ;) Hes also running ficht pistons but not 100% sure what we are gonna do with them. I had a set of 809 open deck heads sitting next to the ficht heads and was thinking about trying them after cutting a hemi/taper to match the top of the ficht (thats when I call Chaz). Hopefully someone that knows better will stop me before I waste my time trying the heads :D

Down side of small rod with carbs is they dont stuff the crank case as much as swapping to a big rod which helps make up for the material your taking away. Im excited to see the short rod mid range GRUNT.

Pulled 5 sleeves out of an exploded 08 200HO the other day. Block is junk so I used the roofing torch, had all 5 out on the bench in 20 mins :D Oven seems boring after that fire drill

I got a 03 200 that lost 2 locator pins. Dam shame to ruin a good running motor for such a stupid reason. Another set headed to marles.

PM me again about the DI funk include where to send the check. :thumbsup:

Subscribed, these are the best threads!

Im ready to see want this leads to

Very cool. I'll be watching this closely. ....kinda what I was thinking a few months ago. Awesome. ...

Roofin torch .. that ell never work ... http://smileys.on-my-web.com/reposit...inking-006.GIF

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...psf9196c79.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chaz

Roofin torch .. that ell never work ... http://smileys.on-my-web.com/reposit...inking-006.GIF

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...psf9196c79.jpg

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Charlie, do you not take issue w/the extreme heating of only sections of the block Vs the even heating of an oven? Course, I know my machinist doesn't use one.
Another benefit is, 45 mins and all 6 pop out.

Gary ,
That block is sitting on a 1/4" plate which is sitting on a modified " deep fried turkey" kit from Wally-World. After the block comes up to 200* sitting on the plate, it's just a few minutes of waving the torch over it to bring it to where the sleeves can be pulled out. I know it looks brutal, but that propane flame is mild and spread out compared to something like acetylene.

My son built this puller out of the scrap bin. I wave the magic wand, he handles the hot stuff .. :D

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps32c4219a.jpg

I only heated the port side of the junk block because I needed a port 200HO sleeve. By the time the block was around 300* I could pull the starboard sleeves out with a welding glove. Stick your hand in make a fist, out it comes. I did not take 45mins even if I include pulling the oiling system and rubber pieces off the block. The newer blocks seem to have less interference then the older ones.

Chaz love the deep fryer idea. Wish I thought of that before I used moms oven :eek: :D

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Dave