Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Did I miss something?

What was the outcome of the "ticking"?
Or did you drop it in and go for it?

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Did I miss something?

What was the outcome of the "ticking"?
Or did you drop it in and go for it?

I ended up changing the pushrods from 7.150" to 7.100" and bought new rocker arms, and the ticking went away. Not sure which one was the problem, and don't really care because it works well now and I'm out boating. I might put the old rockers back on later to see if they were the problem, but then again I may just leave it because it's working near perfectly now.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Is that K&N style air filter approved for marine use? Just curious. Engine looks great.

LK

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Is that K&N style air filter approved for marine use? Just curious. Engine looks great.

LK

Yup - it's a marine grade air filter. Cost me $100 and looks no different than the $20 edelbrock filter at autozone.

I bought a hub for the 25" Laser II today.. Can't wait to test it out tomorrow or Friday.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

It doesn't matter how much money you spend... there will always be somebody faster. LOL

LOL! ain't that the truth... But the real joy is just enjoying the sound and feel of running what you built... Enjoy it!

In our neck of the woods, you head upriver and there's the river rocket crowd with tunnel hulls running as fast as into the 140's (YIKES!)... down river past lil' Washington and out to the banks and there's the big boys running 100++ in offshore boats. I do sure miss the days when the Fountain crew would be out shaking down a new boat or test running something new.

 

[Maddoxsdaddy]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Looks Great! Glad to hear it is running well. Hopefully mine will do well this weekend. Like previouslymentioned, post a couple of videos if/when you can.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Looks Great! Glad to hear it is running well. Hopefully mine will do well this weekend. Like previouslymentioned, post a couple of videos if/when you can.

Thanks - I'll post some as soon as I can get someone to take them.

I got some GPS #s yesterday and started a thread in the prop forum, but I figure I'd ask on this thread too. Here's what I'm getting so far:

Stainless Mirage prop 14.75" x 21 pitch - about 59 mph @ 5000-5100 rpm. However, this prop has a decent size dent in 2 of the blades from when I introduced it to some shallow water last week. I figure that is costing me at least a few mph.

Stainless Laser II 13.75" (I think?) x 25 pitch - 56 mph @ 4500 rpm and absolutely no control. I don't want to use this prop at all.

The boat weighs 3250 empty, 3500 with fuel. I'm thinking I'll be at around 23" when I'm done playing with props.

So far I have gained about 9 mph, and using the rough estimate of 10 hp/ mph increase, I am somewhere around 350+ horsepower right now. This is probably a terrible estimate but it's better than paying tons of $ to put the engine on a dyno.

 

[Maddoxsdaddy]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Seems like the laser may be a little much for what you want. It is my understanding the Lasers also have thinner blades and are meant for lighter weight boats. Sounds like you would do good with a 23P Mirage or Michigan Wheel Rapture. The dents in the Mirage may be costing you a little bit but i don't believe it would be more than 1-2 mph at the most. I've run some dinged up aluminum props and gotten about the same performance as the not dinged up ones. But those were aluminum.

Your estimate on HP is probably close. I'm thinking my 350 is running around 330-340. But my 210 is a fatty compared to yours She weighs 3900 empty. With 60 gallons of fuel, me, wife, 2 kids, gear, we're pushing 5000lbs.

On a personal note, we took ours out this past weekend, set the timing, adjusted the carb and got 57-58 on the speedo @ 4800rpm with a 21P Rapture... with a little throttle to spare. I posted a video on my thread.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

On a personal note, we took ours out this past weekend, set the timing, adjusted the carb and got 57-58 on the speedo @ 4800rpm with a 21P Rapture... with a little throttle to spare. I posted a video on my thread.

Glad to hear your engine is running well! Interesting that I get 59@ 5000-5100 and you get 58@ 47-4800 with the same pitch prop and a heavier boat. I definitely have to try out a few more props to see what will work best.

 

[Maddoxsdaddy]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Glad to hear your engine is running well! Interesting that I get 59@ 5000-5100 and you get 58@ 47-4800 with the same pitch prop and a heavier boat. I definitely have to try out a few more props to see what will work best.

My numbers were not GPS. GPS speeds will be lower say about the 53-54 range (i hope). Considering it was a struggle to hit 45 before, i'm happy as a pig in sh__...
I'm going to put the GPS onboard over Fathers day weekend to see what i really get once i kick the family out onto the beach and i can make a run with just me. I have someone who's going to let me try their 4-blade 20P Apollo sometime as well to see how it works. Probably lose 1-2 top end but i'll get a better hole shot.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Good to hear...You may want to start with the 23...Lasers are thin bladed props usally best suited on light weight hulls..Yours is a v hull 20 degress i would imagine heavy boat high horse power. Not saying the laser wont work but id bet high slip would occur.

Actually Gunner its not THINNER....:facepalm: More like blade area...Below are pics of two props...The first is actually a Laser second is a Stilletto take a look at how they formed at the barrel...you will notice the Stiletto it has a much wider blade area very effective pusher

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Actually Gunner its not THINNER....:facepalm: More like blade area...Below are pics of two props...The first is actually a Laser second is a Stilletto take a look at how they formed at the barrel...you will notice the Stiletto it has a much wider blade area very effective pusher

Agreed. I am going to buy that prop. Hopefully it works out well.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

So after reading Maddoxsdaddy's thread I am starting to wonder about the timing of my engine. I am using an almost brand new Delco Voyager ignition, and have no idea what the total advance is. The instructions said to use the timing shunt provided, plug it into the distributor and connect it to the positive or negative terminal (I forget which one off the top of my head but had the instructions and did it right when I started) and set it to 8 degrees BTDC at idle. I am using the original GM balancer and have a small bolt-on timing tab that only reads to about 12 degrees in either direction.. so I don't know if there is any way for me to check total advance. I would assume if the advance isn't steep enough it will be costing me some power?

So far, I have considerably more power but I'm not running as fast as I'd like to be, so I am looking for ways to start tuning and tweaking the engine to give me some more power. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

bump your initial advance from 8 to about 10, then take it for a run. your you can buy timing tape from almost any speed shop. you just need to know the diameter of your damper.

your distributor should have about 22 degrees of mechanical advance capabilities. I believe full advance is in the 2800-3000 range.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

So after reading Maddoxsdaddy's thread I am starting to wonder about the timing of my engine. I am using an almost brand new Delco Voyager ignition, and have no idea what the total advance is. The instructions said to use the timing shunt provided, plug it into the distributor and connect it to the positive or negative terminal (I forget which one off the top of my head but had the instructions and did it right when I started) and set it to 8 degrees BTDC at idle. I am using the original GM balancer and have a small bolt-on timing tab that only reads to about 12 degrees in either direction.. so I don't know if there is any way for me to check total advance. I would assume if the advance isn't steep enough it will be costing me some power?

So far, I have considerably more power but I'm not running as fast as I'd like to be, so I am looking for ways to start tuning and tweaking the engine to give me some more power. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

I dont have time to go into a long post but he first thing you need is to invest in a good quality dial back timing light. Some will have a rpm reading as well. I like the simple (non digital) manual dial as i feel it is less likely to fail or go out of adjustment, mine doesn't have a rpm indicator. Dial goes 40 deg in either direction i think.

Next would be to mark the hub in relation to the outer ring on your balancer to make sure you know if it moves.

If you didn't use a dead stop to dial in your pointer you are guessing as to actual setting. That variable is mostly why people report different timing settings being best on their own engine... comparing it to another s success at a different setting with the same engine combo.

I have no idea as to the total that distributor should provide.

As Tim and I told you before if you are going to wring every last HP from that thing you will be buying a Holley carb soon ... LOL, Sorry.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

one your jetting is right and your propped somewhere close, advance your total timing 2 degrees at a time until your wot throttle max speed doesn't increase any more or it pings. back off 2 degrees for safe measure. Your boat is essentially a waterbrake dyno... and as long as the conditions are the same, will tell you what is happening with horsepower when you make changes - and in this case where your sweet spot is for total timing. Every engine likes a little more or less, what does it matter what it really is so long as it is in the right place? btw. I wish you had stayed with the Tbolt IV ignition - they're realy hard to beat. I didn't pick up ANY power when I switched to a crane cd box for a while... and am back to running the original ignition

Edelbrock 750 is a good carb...

holly 750 double pumper without a choke tower... is a great carb...

sorry you don't live closer, I'd loan you a box of props or go out and play for a day.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

I dont have time to go into a long post but he first thing you need is to invest in a good quality dial back timing light. Some will have a rpm reading as well. I like the simple (non digital) manual dial as i feel it is less likely to fail or go out of adjustment, mine doesn't have a rpm indicator. Dial goes 40 deg in either direction i think.

Next would be to mark the hub in relation to the outer ring on your balancer to make sure you know if it moves.

If you didn't use a dead stop to dial in your pointer you are guessing as to actual setting. That variable is mostly why people report different timing settings being best on their own engine... comparing it to another s success at a different setting with the same engine combo.

I have no idea as to the total that distributor should provide.

As Tim and I told you before if you are going to wring every last HP from that thing you will be buying a Holley carb soon ... LOL, Sorry.

I just searched summit racing for a dial back timing light and got no results. What's the difference between that and the normal timing light that I have? I did not use a dead stop to mark the exact setting so I am most likely guessing.

You're right about the Holley lol but I just didn't have the funds at the time... Maybe next year. For now I'll play with the timing and props.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

one your jetting is right and your propped somewhere close, advance your total timing 2 degrees at a time until your wot throttle max speed doesn't increase any more or it pings. back off 2 degrees for safe measure. Your boat is essentially a waterbrake dyno... and as long as the conditions are the same, will tell you what is happening with horsepower when you make changes - and in this case where your sweet spot is for total timing. Every engine likes a little more or less, what does it matter what it really is so long as it is in the right place? btw. I wish you had stayed with the Tbolt IV ignition - they're realy hard to beat. I didn't pick up ANY power when I switched to a crane cd box for a while... and am back to running the original ignition

Edelbrock 750 is a good carb...

holly 750 double pumper without a choke tower... is a great carb...

sorry you don't live closer, I'd loan you a box of props or go out and play for a day.

Only reason I changed the ignition is that the TBIV amplifier broke and it cost more to replace it than to buy the new ignition.. Wasn't planning to build a 383 at the time.. Maybe next year I'll put on an MSD setup and a Holley. I'm going to go out and try your method for timing along with the stiletto prop I just bought - ill post the results in a few days. I wish a bunch of you guys you lived closer - we could all be on the water testing this thing out!

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

for future reference, the amplifiers are around for cheap money. I have several sitting on the counter... but I do understand if you're buying new parts and don't have access to a lot of used parts for you to go the way you did. not giving you grief... hope you get some time on the water today! I'm doing chores...

The timing light he's talking about just lets you dial in advance on the light. usually it just says 'with advance", that way you set the timing light to 8 degrees advance and you only need the 0 degree advance marks on the engine. Make sense?

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

for future reference, the amplifiers are around for cheap money. I have several sitting on the counter... but I do understand if you're buying new parts and don't have access to a lot of used parts for you to go the way you did. not giving you grief... hope you get some time on the water today! I'm doing chores...

The timing light he's talking about just lets you dial in advance on the light. usually it just says 'with advance", that way you set the timing light to 8 degrees advance and you only need the 0 degree advance marks on the engine. Make sense?

Yea I was also worried that if I bought a used amplifier that it may die at any point like the last one did. With a stock engine I thought it was best to just use new parts. I'm actually in Chicago for the weekend but I'll be back out in the water Monday or Tuesday. The timing light makes perfect sense - I'll pick one up this week before I head out to the boat. Thanks guys