Installing a BIG BLOCK CHEVY into my JET BOAT
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- čas přidán 30. 05. 2024
- I've been making outstanding progress on the restoration of my 1979 Centurion Jet Boat over the past few weeks. I recently completed an extensive custom gel-coated bilge, and I successfully epoxied the jet drive suction intake into the hull. Additionally, the rail kit installation is finished, using my mockup engine. With these tasks out of the way, I'm ready to move on to the full mockup phase.
After replacing the stringers and transom, the back of the boat is now a blank slate. I need to rig everything up, mount components, and get everything in place. There's a lot of problem-solving ahead, but I'm committed to taking my time and maintaining attention to detail. After months of perfecting the bilge, I want to be just as meticulous with this next phase of the build.
This part of the build is especially exciting for me. It's time to swap out the mockup block for the real engine. This stage is more rewarding than the earlier ones because we get to see new, shiny parts and lots of visual progress. You'll finally start to see my vision for this project come to life.
However, it's not all smooth sailing from here. I'm still encountering unforeseen problems that I need to think through and solve.
If you haven’t already, be sure to hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss any updates on this jet boat rebuild. Also, drop your comments below and hit the like button.
As always, I appreciate your support!
~ Nick
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📸 ~ IG: / _autotechnick_
👥 ~ Facebook: / theoriginalautotechnick
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Take a peek at some of my additional projects & content that you may enjoy:
• The abandoned 1972 Che...
• 1988 BMW M5 (E28) Rest...
• 1979 Centurion Jet Boat
• 2001 BMW M5
• Tech Tips & Technical ...
• Hot Rods & Domestic's
• Dinan E28 M5 (1988 BMW...
• 2006 Subaru WRX STi
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About AutoTechNick:
Growing up in rural Oregon, I was always around Hot Rods & Race Cars. I imagine my early exposure to this culture ignited a spark of interest in cars, which remains my passion.
🎓 I am a proud Alumni of Wyoming Technical Institute @WyoTechAutoMechanicSchool where I studied Automotive Technology, Performance Engine Building & Street Rod Fabrication. In addition to "WyoTech," I graduated from the BMW Service Technician Education Program, more commonly known as BMW S.T.E.P.
🏎️ I spent nearly ten years working in various BMW dealerships as a Master Technician. After a move back home to the PNW, I found myself no longer servicing German-made machines but now working with Italians. I spent nearly another ten years as a Ferrari Master Technician & Shop Foreman at a local Ferrari dealership.
🏆 Ferrari selected me as one of 12 technicians worldwide to compete in the "Ferrari Testa Rossa Awards" for four years consecutively. Finishing in 3rd place in 2016, & in 2019 I was able to place in 1st, winning the competition & earning the title of the "Top Ferrari Technician in the World!"
🚀 As my time with Ferrari came to an end, a new career path awaited me…. Aerospace. I am currently working at Blue Origin, helping to build & develop the BE-3PM and BE-3U rocket engines.
With my new career path, I needed an outlet for my automotive passion, thus the reason for this channel…
#jetboat #gelcoat #socaljetboats #transom #autotechnick #speedboat #hotboat #classicboat #stringers #berkeleyjet #centurion #bigblock #bigblockchevy #powerboat #boatrestoration - Auta a dopravní prostředky
What do you guys think is the cooler option for forced induction on the boat. A good ol' 8-71 roots blower, or a period correct Gale Banks twin turbo kit? I've always wanted to install a roots blower. But now I look at the vintage twin turbo kits in a different light knowing that it used to have one on it.
~ Nick
The Banks kit is very cool. They didn’t make a bunch of power though. (Compared to today). The tunnel ram is the way to go unless your going blower. Were you planning on taking the motor cover off for the tunnel ram? Or will it fit below it? My vote is for tunnel ram- simplicity vs the fitment problems of the others. And if you have to run without the motor cover, you’ll be showing off that awesome bilge.
Blower for sure brother. That thing would be epic
I actually think that I have a small shot at fitting a tunnel ram under my engine cover. It is in two pieces, so in a worst-case scenario, I would only need to rework the top section.
I am well aware of the power constraints of the Banks turbo kit. But I think that the coolness factor almost offsets that! If I went with one of the kits, I would want a clean and complete kit, so the chances of me finding one at a decent price are slim.. An 8-71 is REAL easy to find 🤣😂🤣
~ Nick
Looking good!
Thank you!
Enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
~ Nick
HTP makes a billet Alternator, bracket that moves the alternator up higher on the passenger side head. Very nice piece.
871 AL THE WAY Nick!!
Looking very good. !!
Thank you!
~ Nick
Great video and perfect timing for when I get back to Washington as I am fitting the rails and my SBC motor. In terms of future next steps Turbos seem to fit your packaging constraints best....I haven't forgotten
I still owe you lunch!
Looking forward to it!!
~ Nick
I’m running my tee from the pump under my bell housing. P-clamps with spacers to lift off the bottom suction housing. Looks clean for my set up.
Nice touch with the P-Clamps!!! I wish more people used them in their builds, rather than just letting the hoses lay loose on the hull.
~ Nick
Looking sweet nick .!! I must say I'm really enjoying this series of videos keep um coming 👍🤙🤙
Thank you!. Ill do my best to keep the videos on the way!
~ Nick
Roots blower for sure! 🤘
I am a sucker for some good blower surge…. I don’t even care that it’s not a good thing. 😂
Love the look of Tunnel Ram and Blower Jet Boats! Tunnel Ram would probably be the best to just enjoy the boat and build memories with your family out on the water. Turbo and Blower SetUps will just leave the boat in the garage for longer. I do gotta say that Tunnel Rams need compression to work efficiently. To suck down the air through those long runners. If it is just for looks, screw it and do it. 8-71 Blower would of course look bad ass. Again, time in the garage figuring it out the interior and setup instead of time on the water with your kids. Turbos are a rabbit hole. Crazy cool yes. But prepare for lots of tinkering and stopped runtime on the water figuring out what the hell went wrong.
Maybe finishing the family boat to just a badass stroked Big Block family boat and get a different smaller one like a Bonneville TR or Eliminator Daytona as a Drag Project with High Rise Headers and Blower or turbos when the family boat does family boating stuff.
In the end your choice and I will enjoy your videos anyway 🤙
I agree. The tunnel ram would be relatively quick and easy with minimal downtime. Any other option will cause significant downtime, which at this point I will avoid!
~ Nick
Keep it old, school nick with the turbos. You seem to be a lot like me, and at only 39 years young, i love the nostalgia of vintage boats and cars as i must have been born into the wrong error. 😂 You have taught me so much over watching your videos. I just recently boat my first jet boat. But mine wasn't originally a jet. it was a V-drive. But as i know very little about a jet boat although i have owned several jet skis over my lifetime... you have inspired me thru your channel to go ahead and pick up this boat from my friend. It has a 454 bbc in it. all dressed up with a nicson log exhaust system, Nicson three piece bellhousing, Offenhauser intake and a Offenhauser power port turbo-thrust 360 toped with a holley 750.
It has the original heads on its 😢 also been bored over .40 with a 292 comp cams cam. I dont know if thats a good setup or not.
Maybe you can give me alot of insight as to what im getting in to. 😂
Im currently rebuilding the motor and pump. Im ready to throw a rooster.
That is awesome to hear! I am glad these videos have helped and inspired others with their projects!! Congrats on the boat. Have you had it out on the water before you started the rebuild?
~ Nick
Haha, i saw the log clearance issue coming. I had the same issue , with a boat i built, recently. Had to do the same as you.
Awesome video and I just love the work that u do brother. Keep up the hard work and dedication towards the channel. And much love to ya from Maryland❤❤❤
Thank you! I appreciate the support!!
~ Nick
Tunnel Ram my choice for that build
Love how you're keeping it old school with the thru-hull as opposed to everyone else these days going with Headers or god forbid Zoomies. 🙉
I also enjoy the look of the old-school logs, esp. when polished. Plus it's hard to be their practicality!!
~ Nick
@@AutoTechNick Also your hearing will thank you thirty years own the road
Logs are pain for clearance but so are risers. A lot of risers limit access to valve cover bolts and/or spark plugs. Any thru transom exhaust requires modifications with rail kits. For the alternator, you can probably use a head/block bolt with spacers to align the belt and then buy a turn-buckle and put a mounting new hole through the front plate to move the alternator where needed. If that doesn't work maybe high mount it near the head.
Also you may want to prime and paint that u joint. I know you covered it but you will get water in your bilge at some point (given the pumps are designed to drip water from the packing) and it will flash rust fast.
Dont get me wrong, I dont mind working through these issues, I just REALLY dont like it when I dont foreseee them before hand... I actually enjoy the problem solving aspect of it. Good exercise for the brain. My father and I have talked about over the transom headers for years, but we always come back around to keeping the logs. The combination of the logs, enclosed engine and swim steps REALLY makes the boat much more practical, esp for the kids. I'll happily take on the extra work to retain those items.
I have considered the head mounted alternator, but I think I have a decent solution to that issue in the works.
~ Nick
Perfect time to be waiting at the airport!
Headed anywhere fun?
It's ironic that yours had a Gale Banks turbo kit at one point. Allegedly mine did originally as well and ran some big numbers for 1984 or so. So, with that being said, i think is only appropriate to go back with one at some point since the cover is already clearanced for it. Plus that should keep it pretty stealthy vs. a blower or big tunnel ram. I'd also have to think the logs would really choke it out with a blower.
Ironic indeed!
I actually think that I have a really good shot at fitting a tunnel ram under my stock engine cover. It would be close. It's two pieces so the worst case is that I lose or rework the top section. I am not terribly worried about the logs. If I go the route of FI, I will also invest in a set of Lighting Jacketed headers for the boat.
~ Nick
I’d think the tt setup will take more work up front. The extra torque over a blower on a jet drive plus less strain on the crank.. the hole shots! I say all of this with no idea how much the turbo is going to be 😂.
What efi would you use? It would be cool to see a sniper 2 review/install on it. I vote turbo!
I haven't really considered it I would swap to EFI with a TT setup, or just be old school with a carb. The old Banks TT kits used a draw through carb setup, so I would consider that. However, I would not run a blow through carb setup, at that point I'd switch to EFI.
~ Nick
As usual, excellent work!!! Excellent tip on the bottom housing bolts!. Where did you get the fancy inside fasteners for the transom housing? I would Lean towards the Turbo kit, but cant really say why? Since your not trying to win races , which option do you feel would be most dependable for the family??? Cant wait to see it run!!!!!! Dont worry about your minor issues, Im still struggling with stuff on mine!
The hardware for the transom housing is just regular 1/4-20 bolts, backed with "stringer washers" and a nut. Once I install it permanently I will dress them up a little more.... I am sure I can make them look better 😉
The most dependable option for the family would be the single-carb setup it has now.... lol. I think that a well-sorted turbo or blower setup will be equally dependable. But the key word in that was "well sorted". I think the turbo kit would take far more time to get sorted out over a blower. Both of which would take more work and time over the tunnel ram.
~ Nick
@@AutoTechNick Thanks! I think the washers look great the way they! way better than standard nuts and washers.????
Nice, lots of Powerrrrr!!!! Question: Is this 2 or 4 seats?? Hope 4??/, should have room for 4??? Thanks , Greetings from South Florida, only 97 today...... had a chance to buy Jet Boat, , 18 feet Side Winder, with Berkley, and Oldsmobile engine on it, loved the boat look, lines, but.... passed it, it was a not done all the way, bottom was done, needed Transom, + other finishing touches, plan is to buy one later....., was "cheap", $1700 only ;o)....Ps. how long is your boat?? 20 feet?? Thank you, youtheman =)
For seating, I am running two buckets up front, a bench in the back. 4 people comfortably, 5 crammed... LoL. My boat is 20.5 in length.
~ Nick
HTP makes a billet Alternator, bracket that moves the alternator up higher on the passenger side head. Very nice piece.
I heavily considered that bracket. But I chose not to go that route, it was just going to be too crowded on that side with the mechanical fuel pump. I ended up finding a pretty good solution that required minimal cutting of the engine plate.
~ Nick