'77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

[PYS]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

LUHRS28...

I am repowering a Bertram 28 with GM 6.2's and I have some questions for you. I sent you a PM. Would really like to correspond with you since you have already done this conversion.

Tom

 

[Willyclay]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

I won't drop it in until March, mostly cause I'm a total wimp about working out in the colld.

Bert, It will be Spring in a few minutes and I really don't want to beg for an update, BUT! Always enjoy your posts about this project. Bill

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Hi guys. I haven't posted in a long time but I have been working on my boat a lot. Let me bring you up to speed:

The original bench seat on my flybridge was kind of crappy so I ordered a standard 36" pontoon seat. I'm real happy with it.

New lobster-themed curtains: (my daughter found these on sale super-cheap somewhere)

Painted the bottom:

6.2 Diesel on the way to the scrapyard: (believe me it was shot. Smoked real bad at the end of last season. It was just a junkyard engine to begin with)

Installed an hourmeter and a new tach. (I know the tach doesn't match but it was on sale)

I also installed a 17" prop. Had a 16" on last year.

I have a few more pics I'll show you in the next post.

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

New Indmar 5.7 ready to install. I also had the tranny checked out internally. It needed some new bearings and seals.

More Jersey Hillbilly engineering. This was to align the engine/trans yesterday.

By noon I had it aligned and bolted down:

I hated the black engine at first but it's starting to grow on me:

So that's where things stand as of today. I just have to hook up a bunch of hoses and wires and she'll be ready to fire up.

Thanks for checking in on my project. I wish everyone a good Sunday.

Bert

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Looking great, Probably be a lot quieter than the ol' oil burner.

LK

 

[25thmustang]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Very nice upgrade... what about the name?

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

25thmustang: I've decided to keep the name, out of respect for Rudolf Diesel. Also I'd have to change it on both the transom and life ring and I just don't have time to mess with it right now.

By the way I've been watching your thread and greatly envy your wood finishing skill. After my mechanical work is done I want to try to use your methods on some of my wood pieces.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

I hear you on the name. It will be a conversation starter for sure.

When your time comes for wood finishing, let me know. I keep learning daily, and if it's in a long enough amount of time, I will let you know how it holds up.

 

[sprintst]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

You are going to have to rename to something like "rocket sled". That thing is going to move.

Is that instrument panel something you built or was that factory. I'm looking at doing the same.

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Srpintst: I made that control panel from a sheet of 1/8" aluminum. I just made the cutouts with various drills, hole saws, and a sabre saw, and painted it. It's only been 1 year but it seems to be holding up OK.

 

[Triton II]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Great job on the repower Bert! Nice work, and you're right, the black grows on you!

TII

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Nice job Luhrs!

BTW are you going to pull and sell the Osco's you put on the 6.2, or are they now scrap? There's gotta be someone out there who might want a set.

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

RogersJetboat: I scrapped the OSCO manifolds with the 6.2 engine. You know how when you've moved on from a failed venture you want all reminders of it gone? It's sort of like that. Although to be fair I shouldn't badmouth the 6.2. It got excellent fuel economy and never left me stranded.

Triton II: thanks for your comments from down under!

 

[scipper77]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Is there any part of you that wishes you had opened up that diesel to full rpm's just to see what would happen? I mean you did just scrap the motor. I personally really wish you would have done that and also gotten gps speeds. Of course I am a bit of a nerd and just like to have test data to quantify results from.

 

[QC]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

I am with scipper a little. Data, data, data. With that said, I have always supported a modern SBC based on your requirements. FWIW I am also worried about going up in propeller pitch when the new variable is an engine that will spin 4800 RPM at WOT. Seems backwards without the data . . .

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

Guys I'm with you 100%. Usually I like to take a scientific approach also, but in this case I had no GPS. Regarding the prop, again you're correct. I made the decision to step up to the 17" on gut feel and could be wrong. If the new combo can't get to WOT RPM I'll put the 16" back on.

Hey give me a break. Heck I spent all last summer just learning how to back the beast into the slip! The stern paddlewheels to Starboard like you wouldn't believe on this boat.

 

[QC]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

All cool dude. Just noting areas of concern. Heck my project sits in the garage unfinished . . .

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

OMG, a pontoon seat on a cruiser:facepalm:, sorry, but the engine hill billy stuff wasn't the first,lol Just messing with ya, how much does that boat weigh in at? Looking good by the way!

 

[scipper77]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

I didn't mean my earlier comment as a discouraging remark. I just wonder what that diesel would have done if properly abused.

 

[Triton II]

Re: '77 Luhrs 28 ft. diesel repower SPLASHED!

I just wonder what that diesel would have done if properly abused.

Stuck a leg out of bed probably!

TII