Nikasil vrs chrome vrs steel

[Da Bull]

Contrary to the other thread I want to hear anything that anybody has to say about the three popular cylinder wall types good or bad. You won`t be censored here.

My reason is that I have a strange 2.4 bridgeport block with nikasil believe it or not. I took out a piston this summer and need to replate or sleeve. I was positive I was going to renik but after Jasper I have read elsewhere of all the latest problems with this process. This is a lake motor that gets used and I don`t need any flaking problems.

I know some of you are thinking that no BP ever came with nikasil but mine did. I bought it from T-Rex and he bought it and it`s consecutive serial number brother off a twin set up. They are stamped 1997 and the owner confirmed that. Further more they have the 260 style horn w/horizontal throttle blade. Merc has been known to do strange stuff especially if you have deep pockets.

I want to keep it original and renik but not if it`s gonna peel out after a few trips to the lake. Let me hear your concerns.

DB

[tlwjkw]

jan for ya....

thinkin' they went ta nic somewhere in 90/91 when 260 hit...... maybe sooner. later ta nicom that's still referred to as "nic"..

[WillySteve]

I ran a nik 260 for 21 years before re-niking last year! It's always been on a fishin boat, always run hard and put up wet so to speak!
Also had more cold crank and run takeoff starts than I'd like to think about!
I Love My Nik, I just hated the wait when it needed done!!!

[Da Bull]

jan for ya....

thinkin' they went ta nic somewhere in 90/91 when 260 hit...... maybe sooner. later ta nicom that's still referred to as "nic"..

Is nicom something that can be redone? Can a nic block be replated in nicom?

[tlwjkw]

pretty sure that's what they use now on any re-nic job from what I understand.... been out of tha loop for quite awhile now... epa got tha original nicasil shut down from what I remember...

[WillySteve]

Yes!

[HStream1]

Bull I dont like to censor any thread I post but it never seems to fail that people simply cant stick to the topic or question at hand. Or step outside the box and violate the thread posters wishes. Now to respond to your thread. First allow me to say I have a background in Electroplating and was once certified in certain electroplating processes. So I understand whats involved from start to finish.

YES!!! as mentioned the EPA has caused MANY problems pertaining to plating processes both past and present.

(1) I love Nicasil (Nickel Silicone Carbide), Nicom (Nickel Chrome) when Its applied correctly) The Problem is Its expensive and should last more that 30 minutes or even a few Hours before it starts Blistering or pealing.

(2) Nicom is a Hard Chrome alternative that again when done correctly should last years not Minutes or Hours.

(3) A standard steel bore motor seems to far outlast the above mentioned here lately? (Within the last few years the Nic process seems to have taken a left hand turn??? Because of experienced people retiring? because of inexperienced people performing the process and cutting corners? Or Falty out of date equipment? I simply dont have the answer to that.

I think whats disturbing is when a Nic job fails in short order the plater doesnt want to stand by the work and its another 1k plus for yet another short lived job.

If either process is done correctly they should last for years even in a dedicated race motor.

And to answer your question in post #4 YES and Yes!!

[rock]

My Bridgeport had six steel sleeves. It ran well and was fixable far more economically and quicker than had it been nic or chrome. The initial cost of six sleeves is a bit of an expense but as Bud said, it will last a lot longer. JMO

Rock

[90 5.0]

I don’t know what I’m gonna do with my chrome bore 2.4’s when they need new chrome. I have one that does and two with good chrome still.

I have heard that US chrome will not rechrome one but will put nicom in its place.

I dont know exaclty why chrome stopped being done(suspect epa reasons) but it’s apparent that even Merc knew nicasil and later nicom would not be as durable as chrome. If they had I suspect promax motors would have had nic cylinders.

Merc was so confident in chromes longevity that they put it in fishing motors that there are tons of still floating around with good chrome.

I suspect when my last 2.4’s have but the dust I’ll just throw them in the trash and replace with 2.5 200’s.

Unless i had sentimental value with a Bridgeport I’m still not sure I’d fix one. I’d probublay just replace the block with a promax block and put all the crap on it from the bridge(carbs, 16 amp etc or horn) if it was a horn motor efi bridge I’d probublay just put a small bearing 260 front half and horn onnit and be done with it and keep the bridge cowl for nestalgia it it was on an older hull.

[tcrabtree]

I've owned 2 steel sleeve motors & 1 nik motor (94 model mod 260 w original nik) ..These were strictly race engines .. Had very good luck with both my steel sleeve motors for several yrs through very high RPM.. Never had nik issues with my mod 260 however the sleeves would NOT stay round.. Found myself straightening them after every race or test session.. There was NO difference in performance between the nik or steel.. With all the horror stories I hear on re plating these days, it's a no brainer for me.. I'll stay with steel from here on out.. Jmo

[90 5.0]

I've owned 2 steel sleeve motors & 1 nik motor (94 model mod 260 w original nik) ..These were strictly race engines .. Had very good luck with both my steel sleeve motors for several yrs through very high RPM.. Never had nik issues with my mod 260 however the sleeves would NOT stay round.. Found myself straightening them after every race or test session.. There was NO difference in performance between the nik or steel.. With all the horror stories I hear on re plating these days, it's a no brainer for me.. I'll stay with steel from here on out.. Jmo

I read somewhere one time that in testing Merc found that nic was worth 8hp@10k rpm, less @ lower rpm of course.

I’d rather have the less problems of steel over time and recapture the et on that 8hp, nailing the set-up on the tree.

But if the stars alighned just right and both boats had everything spot on, your 8hp down @ the bouy

but that would be normal for me I’m always getting beat to the bouy anyway, I need to find some more top end. I’m normally out front out of the gate and passed on the big end.

[tcrabtree]

I read somewhere one time that in testing Merc found that nic was worth 8hp@10k rpm, less @ lower rpm of course.

I’d rather have the less problems of steel over time and recapture the et on that 8hp, nailing the set-up on the tree.

But if the stars alighned just right and both boats had everything spot on, your 8hp down @ the bouy

but that would be normal for me I’m always getting beat to the bouy anyway, I need to find some more top end. I’m normally out front out of the gate and passed on the big end.

10 k?? They must have been running trot lines ... Lol jk, to compete these days it better be closer to 11k or more.. If the nik makes more power than steel, I can assure ya it's not enough to be noticeable on A data logger..

[Da Bull]

Bud, Maybe censored was the wrong word. I apoligise for that. I just didn`t feel like my issues were withen your disscussion topic. Thanks for sharing your info on nic sleeves. I run steel in my nitrous motor and love it but just sorta wanted to keep my BP all original. Maybe thats not the best way to go.

DB

[90 5.0]

10 k?? They must have been running trot lines ... Lol jk, to compete these days it better be closer to 11k or more.. If the nik makes more power than steel, I can assure ya it's not enough to be noticeable on A data logger..

Yeah I know people turn more than that now, the report was old and I saw it years ago.

Hell prostock motors turn over ten these days

[eli]

My 245's new nik. Fell apart in less than 5 hr sent them back in u.s chrome they can't say why I now have 2 blocks redone I don't want to build