Ecotec Motor going into a boat

[4bait]

Started getting the Ecotec ready for a transplant into a boat it will still be a little way off as I'm waitng for a new sterndrive thats coming from the states and don't want to take the boat out of action until the colder months, so just starting to get things Ready.

heres a few Pics of the water cooled manifolds taking shape

Pay no attention to the dirty motor as it is yet to be stripped and overhauled.
I got the series 2 engine for $30 because the previous owner thought it was no good and didn't know what was wrong with it, but all that was wrong was a broken $20 valve spring.

Heres the manifold pics under construction built out of 316 stainless.

plasma Cut out the exhuast flanges




Drilled out the stud holes using the original manifolds as a template






bent up the angles needed and welded inplace whilst still bolted to the block to ensure the risers sat where I wanted them and to try and minimise warpage.







Heres one manifold almost finished just got to fit the anaodes and the water inlet tube and polish it up.





when finished they should look something like these ones that cost $2500
at least if mine don't work, I know I can buy them pre Fabbed Can also get some Cast Alloy ones From NZ for around 2K if need be.



these are the Alloy NZ ones that look real nice, there fitted to the same motor with a super charger and it delivers 300 plus HP, but I think the stainless will be longer lasting.
The Super charger may still be an option down the track.




This is the boat it will be going into





Cheers Andy

[Troy711]

Interesting conversion, keep us updated

[edals]

Very interesting, Good work with the exhausts. Hope it all works well. Be very smooth

[Blown V6 Hatch]

*Cough* L67 *Cough*

[CANYONERO]

pleasantly suprised, i was expecting a statesman

[Thomas1]

This is a cool project. Keep the pics and info coming

[4bait]

thanks Guys

will keep the updates coming but this project will still take a couple months as I want to keep the boat going while the fishing season is still good, Also the new outdrive is coming via sea so it will be 4 to 6 weeks before it arives. Grrrrrrr

Next job will be to cut and shut the sump and build adjustable engine mounts then rebuild the motor to make it nice and fresh.

Cheers Andy

[acarmody]

Nice work mate, no messing around with your bate, ey? Most people are happy with a 20hp motor, much less a 200hp motor.

Sometimes I think thats where my motor belongs, on a boat, at the end of a very long chain.

[4bait]

The second exhaust manifold is nearly finished.

.



Also got the front engine mounts done.

Made them out of Alloy, as I want to try and keep weight to a minimum.

They are fully adjustable up and down so I can Line the drive shaft up properly. They will bolt up to the stringers.

Next problem is that the oil filter sticks out too far to fit between the stingers so I need to decide whether to cut some stringer out of the boat and glass it up again for clearance, or whether to fit a remote filter.




Cheers Andy

[WogBoyz]

now thats one good flowing exhuast lol, looks good mate

[CommVTS]

Very impressive work there mate, good luck with it all.

[4bait]

Does anyone know the flywheel part numbers for the VS Ecotec or how are they identifiable vissually?

I purchased a series 2, 8 bolt flywheel but do not know if it is Vr series 2 or VS series 2 etc.

how can you tell the difference by looking at them?

I don't really want to fit the whole thing in and find out that the boat vibrates like crazy

My flywheel part number is 92061852 if that helps


Have just stripped the motor down for the rebuild and will hopefull be fitting it in over the next few weeks

Also curious as to who in the South East of Melb can do a cam shaft grind, and at what sort of cost, Looking for low down grunt and rpm between 1000 upto about 4800rpm for it to be more boat freindly

Cheers Andy

[MR_VX]

wow this is cool i can wait to see the end result

[4bait]

just bumping this

Does anyone know the flywheel part numbers for the VS Ecotec or how are they identifiable vissually?

I purchased a series 2, 8 bolt flywheel but do not know if it is Vr series 2 or VS series 2 etc.

how can you tell the difference by looking at them?

I don't really want to fit the whole thing in and find out that the boat vibrates like crazy

My flywheel part number is 92061852 if that helps


Have just stripped the motor down for the rebuild and will hopefull be fitting it in over the next few weeks

Also curious as to who in the South East of Melb can do a cam shaft grind, and at what sort of cost, Looking for low down grunt and rpm between 1000 upto about 4800rpm for it to be more boat freindly

Cheers Andy

[delcowizzid]

make sure there isnt a counterweight cast ito the back of the flywheel will tell you if its ecotec conterweight on buick

[4bait]

MMM I think ive sussed it out after many hours searching on here and elsewhare

Found a thread with these Flywheel part numbers
Vr 92061465
Vs 92061853

Mine is 92061852 one number different so close but no cigar, but makes me feel a little better since it is along way from the VR part number

then found a member on here who sold this VN to VR fly wheel on ebay because it vibrated in his VS.
(Funny thing is I remember biding on it at the time LOL)

this is the one he sold with a small weight built in to suit Vn to VR apparuntly



And this is my one with the extra weight built in and a cut out so being different to the other one and having a close part number to the ones listed I think it may be the correct one?????? Heres hopeing



Cheers Andy

[4bait]

Hey there mate,

First of all very interesting project you got going there! will be sure to keep an eye on the progress of it and im sure my old man would be more than interesting in it.

I still haven't managed to get my hand on the proper flywheel even tho the one i brought was that apparently was one but wasn't, but i could almost positively say that your in luck with the flywheel you have. Does not look like any of the Buick flywheel's iv seen as they all look similar to my one. Also the part number like you said is so close.. Although on that note i am not sure what the get-rag flywheel's are meant to look like as they were used in the series 2 vs's.

But, i was told no matter what flywheel balance i had to get it 'mirror balanced' to my vs automatic flex-plate.. im not sure if the motor you have, had one on it or was originally a manual but if it did, you'd be better off making sure and getting that done anyway.

Hope this half helps, Goodluck with the project and ill try assist with anything else you need.

p.s maybe copy this onto the post to help others? ..If it makes sense, bit tired

Thanks for your help it makes me feel a bit better now. I saw the one you sold and thought you may have the right one now and possibly be able to reconise mine.

I got the fly wheel for $200 delivered and the bloke just said it was a V6 series 2 fly wheel but didn't say what series it was LOL.

He did say it would fit COMMODORE VN VP VQ VR VS VT which I knew could not possibly be right (this was from a holden wrecker selling on ebay) but for the price I figured it was worth the gamble and would still be re-sellable if it was no good for my needs.

Cheers Andy

[GenReaper]

If you are going to cool this motor with see water make sure you got plenty of electrolysis blocks fitted.

[4bait]

If you are going to cool this motor with see water make sure you got plenty of electrolysis blocks fitted.

the motor is fresh water cooled with Glycol through a heat exchanger only the stainless steel manifolds will be salt water cooled.


Cheers Andy

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Are those 02 sensors in the exhaust manifolds going to see salt water? I don't think they're going to like that very much.....

[4bait]

Are those 02 sensors in the exhaust manifolds going to see salt water? I don't think they're going to like that very much.....

Nope the 02 sensors go through the water jacket in a dry place and are totally separated from salt/sea water and will stay dry. The manifold coolant (sea water) then mixes with the exhaust gasses further down the system before exiting with the exhaust.

Cheers Andy

[4bait]

.
As mentioned earlier on here The oil filter stuck out too far and would hit on the boat stringers when fitted.

Looked at several different solutions to solving this problem including remotely mounting the filter elsewhere and running pipes to it, and also cutting away part of the stringer to give it some clearance.

This is what I decided to do to fix the problem

First of all I needed a block of aluminium which I didn't have any the correct size.
So I fired up my home built Kiln and poured some molten Alloy into an old coffee tin roughly the right dimensions.
Did a couple of these so I have a backup if I stuffed the first one.



Next I machined the coffee tin off using the lathe to expose the alloy inside.



Then I machined the rounded surfaces needed and then put it in the mill to drill out and tap the oil galleries. Also while I was playing with the mill I decided some cooling fins and engraving could look cool.



This is the filter mount Before



And After



Unfortunately My skills at doing letters free hand in the mill need a tad more practice but the end result is quiet acceptable and it should do what it needs too.
One day I may have to upgrade the mill to full CNC LOL

Cheers Andy

[2DIE]

Nice job on the filter mount, looks pro to me.

[4bait]

getting closer now as the motor is all back together nice and fresh.

The only thing left to do is finish the sump and the oil pickup re-location then motor wise it is done.

next will be to fit the drive coupling to the flywheel and an adapter for it to bolt up to the mercruiser then it will be time to start fitting it in and sorting out the electrics etc.


here she is will probably paint the top cover black once it's all fitted





Cheers Andy

[v6lux]

Hey Andy,

Great job and hope it goes well out where your place in the food chain changes dramatically.

Anyway, I was thinking with the flywheel stuff you just went through and I'm no expert, but wouldn't you need only a flex plate in a boat?