Moving on to the next step in our marine LS Engine build, we take off the old automotive oil pan and pickup and install a marine oil pan and pickup from Dooley.
Author: pb1-admin
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LS MARINE ENGINE CONVERSION: GM LS 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 6.2 – Building Custom Brackets
Another step on our LS Engine project done! With the engine stripped down and the new parts decided, we need to build some custom brackets to move the coils off the valve covers, mount the alternator, ignition control and electrical wiring.
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He Didn’t Want It, But He Still Loves It – Restoration of a 1978 Tahiti Mini Day Cruiser
Dan Dorsett didn’t want a boat, but his wife said if her uncle ever sells his 1978 Tahiti 21.5′ Mini Day Crusier, we are buying it! The boat was originally located at Precision Crane in Windsor, California. Dan’s father in law bought it from them in 1983 and kept the boat until 1989 where he then sold it to Richard, the uncle of Dan’s wife. Richard had the boat for 26 years until 2015 when he put it up for sale, wherein it was quickly sold to Dan and his wife and the restoration project began.
The first year they had the boat they ran it as they bought it. Not satisfied the next year they made some changes, adding a new carburetor, and a new distributor. Then the following year Dan had the boat completely sanded and a new clear coat put on. New gauges and new steering wheel helped make it shine more. Not one to leave the project half-done, once again the next summer he installed a new bimini top, new pump, hand painted the registration numbers and finally named the boat PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. The name PINEAPPLE EXPRESS came from the grandmother of Dan’s wife. Grandma lived with Richard the uncle and grandma oh so loved pineapples as she was born in Hawaii, so Dan and his wife paid fitting tribute by naming the boat after her as she passed away shortly after they bought the boat.
Last year, like many boaters, Dan decided he WANTED TO GO FASTER – and look good while doing it. The stock engine was removed, as were the interior and fuel tanks. The tanks were boiled and cleaned and updated with 3/8 pick ups from factory. The refurbished tanks were then fiberglassed in place with custom removeable mounts. All the upholstery was redone with cream diamond tuck, and new marine grade carpet was installed. The new engine was built to 500 hp with a new carburetor, MSD marine distributor and new exhaust risers were added with an update to 4” chrome exhaust tips. The entire boat got rewired and added dual batteries with blue sea shut off switches, ACR automatic charge relay and a ground bus bar
To say Dan likes his boat might be an understatement. Fun and fast for how big it is – Dan and his wife were about record a GPS speed of 70 mph at Lake Sonoma – with the engine still only having 8 hours on it and still breaking her in. Dan credits his local performance parts suppler CP Performance as a huge help getting him the right parts he needed to finish this project.
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New Product Feature: Hardin Marine’s New Gen 7 PLUS Sea Pump for 350, 496, 502 Mag
To quote Mark Twain, I’m in favor of progress—it’s change I don’t like. In the months leading up to the reveal of the new GEN 7 Water pumps , we were thinking the same thing as probably a lot of people: Hardin Marine will continue to produce the The Original GEN 7 pumps to compete with the flood of imported bronze pumps at its original affordable price, and the New GEN 7 PLUS will be a top-of-the-line seawater pump for, maybe, $500 to $600 and while many people will buy it.
Reliability, Durability and Beauty in one package, the pump is available with and without a pulley. When they announced the New GEN 7 PLUS pumps at $439 it totally changed our minds about the pump. Having spent thousands on non-rebuildable OEM replacement pumps we’ve used previous Hardin Marine performance pumps and it was a terrific pump We love it, but that was a multistage pump that was over $1,000 out the door.
Things have shifted so much in the marine industry. There was a time when the only way to get this type of engineering was in real performance or racing components. Nowadays these same engineers are putting in literally all they have to make OEM replacement parts far superior to what came from the factory no scrimp, no sacrificing . You could hang one of these polished stainless steel pumps on the wall as art, yet the price point is unbelievable.
The GEN 7 PLUS reminded me that one of the things we love about American companies is they have always been able to figure out how to make good products much faster and for less than the other guys. With 40% larger bearing, more seals, enhanced pump shafts, replaceable wear plates, providing endless serviceability Hardin Has raised the bar yet again towards their fame Moniker of “Lifetime Seawater pumps” Making this the last pump you’ll ever need to buy.
The Hardin pump showing off its larger bearings, wear plates and dual seals. If you are looking to upgrade over your stock OEM pump, you can get a new GEN 7 Plus Sea Pump from Hardin Marine or it’s distributors with and without a pulley.
#625-4131 – Gen 7 Plus Sea Pump with Pulley
#625-4132 – Gen 7 Plus Sea Pump Only -
LS MARINE ENGINE CONVERSION: GM LS 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 6.2 – Laying out the Parts We Need
Our LS Engine project is moving along! We’ve stripped off the old junky automotive parts from this engine and we’ve lined up what parts we need to make this build a reality. Follow along as we go over the parts needed to make this a complete working marine LS engine.
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Product Review: Steering Cable Seal Nut for Berkeley Jet
This steering cable seal nut made by Hardin Marine’s Pack-a-Jet product line for Berkeley and similar jet drives helps keep your steering cable in good condition by sealing the cable shaft from water and moisture and providing a zerk fitting for greasing the cable for smooth operation.
Interested? Get yours at https://www.berkeleyjet.com/p-15903-steering-tube-seal-nut.aspx
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LS MARINE ENGINE CONVERSION: GM LS 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 6.2 – Project Begins
We’re embarking on an ambitious project to convert a 5.3L Vortec engine from a 2001 Chevy Silverado truck into a High Performance Marine LS engine. Keep following us on Powerboat 1 as this project takes shape!
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Back from the Deep – Steve Smith’s 1971 Taylor 18′
The last time this boat was on the water, two years ago, it sunk. Raised from the deep, it has seen the water again after Steve Smith has put countless hours rebuilding the boat from the ground up. Steve acquired the boat about 6 months ago and started a full restoration process including all new paint and a new engine. The engine, a 350 bored .30 over has had its heads redone, with all new or refurbished internals. On the outside of the engine, a new intake, 650 CFM carburetor and everything from new spark plug wires to a new battery box finished off the engine compartment.
The hull got its makeover with a pearl white paint job by Tony Morello of East Side Customs in Marseilles, IL and the boat was given its new name “Hustle & Flow”.
A Jacuzzi jet pump was upgraded with an Energizer kit to propel this sleek beauty. Steve said the most challenging part was getting the impeller shimmed properly, but other than that the build was straight forward with little problems. The boat has been back on the water four times since the rebuild began and in testing has regularly reached speeds of 60 MPH. Steve plans on more tweaking to get more out of her as there’s a bit more speed to get from this engine and hull.
The jobs certainly not over though as Steve still needs to build and install a backseat for passengers and a new custom dash plate made for properly mounted gauges. Custom airbrushing of Steve’s own design to accent the pearl white hull will finish off the job.
Steve tows the boat with a matching year 1971 El Camino. -
VIDEO: Changing the Shift Cable on a Berkeley Jet Drive
Cables will always wear out over time and replacing your old shift cable with the correct replacement can be an endeavor if you aren’t sure of the correct steps. Follow along as Rick shows us how to change the shift cable on a Berkeley Jet Drive with a Place Diverter installed
Parts used in this video:
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Welcome to Powerboat 1
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