THSCC Forums

Stories like this remind me of why I work on my own stuff 99.99999% of the time. Why pay someone to eff it up when I can do it just as well all by myself????


Seriously, I can't even begin to count the horrible repair jobs I've seen that have been traced back to someone paying a "professional" to do the work. There are plenty of competent mechanics out there, but it seems there are more complete moron jacklegs passing themselves off as competent mechanics.

I totally agree Bret - so far in my experience working on boats it's not so much about "Throwing money away" as it is "Throwing my time away". Man have I logged a lot of hours working on this thing. It's been really rewarding though!

I have a random question for any chevy/GM gearheads out there?

The original motor was a 92 GM 262 which had been replaced with a 96 GM 262 Vortec. Do the Vortec heads flow better than whatever was on there in 92? Know what the differences would be between a 92 and 96 specifically?

Reason I ask is ... after pulling my plugs, they are quite white ... not melted, and no flakes, but I expected to see a little tan. I'm wondering if I need to re-jet the carb a little richer to accomodate the better heads on the rebuilt engine.

Once I get the coil replaced I'm going to do some WOT reads of the plugs and see what they look like. (WOT read meaning, run WOT for a minute, shut down immediately (no idling), pull a plug and see what it looks like)

Here's a pic from yesterday, but it included a 10 minutes of 20mph cruising and few minutes idling at the dock:



Am I right? A hair on the lean side? Time to jet up a bit maybe?

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Yes. The Vortec heads have become a very popular swap because they flow so much better.

I'm not experienced with reading plugs, other than the extremes of "fouled out" vs. OK vs. melted.

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91 RallyX Audi Coupe Quattro
89 A-Team Astro-van demo derby winner at 2011 NC State Fair (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MrZqwENRqU)
Broken 89 Subaru GL-10 RallyX turbo wagon - need to sell it and all my parts cars

I would not judge a plug on an engine that has had the issues that you have had with it. Wait until you get the engine running properly and then read the plugs.

With that said, I would expect a bit of fouling on the plugs if you had ignition issues. Maybe the unburnt fuel was cleaning it off?

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In need of car.

Yeah, I've already started looking for a 600CFM Holley 4-bbl which as I understand it would pair nicely with the vortec heads

I just wish there was some way to put a wideband O2 or EGT sensor on there. This plug reading is too voodoo.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

There were versions of this motor that had fuel injection. I say find the relevant parts and go Megasquirt. You know you want to.


--Donnie

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My Blog

I do There are a few good writeups about the conversion. Sounds like a ton of work though. My wife and kids already haven't seen much of me for the last month

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

It's not a bad winter project, though. I mean if you're gonna be on the lake tinkering with a laptop, it better at least be cold weather. Hmm, wait, that might not be so great, either.


--Donnie

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My Blog

Winter>summer

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Silver Honda
Green Ford
Blue/White Suzuki
Red Triumph
Grey BMW

"Never let life be shaped by fear of its end"

No, you're a towel!

I just would like to say how much I appreciate this thread. Every time I get the itch for a boat I try to find somebody to tell me what they have had to do to for their boat and it gets me out of the mood. Now I will always be able to go back to this and remind myself I don't have the patience for a boat.

Now I have recently acquired a couple of Kayaks and I am enjoying them. So far, the only challenge I have had was how to secure them to my tire trailer. I decide the tire trailer was a better option than the 2.5k trailer the kayak place had!

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

As I started to look for another boat, my co-worker reminded me boats are like McRib sandwiches. We forget over time how nasty they are and when they are reintroduced, they look so tempting and tasty and sucker us right back in.

I have had a 20' 4.3L EFI boat and a 26' 7.0L EFI boat....this one will be a 4.3L boat No carbs and no 1mpg at WOT.

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

That's hilarious! Jason is sending me PM's trying to sucker me in to boating, do boaters get a bonus if they pull you in or what?

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

x2

i think it helps justify their decision to get a boat if others do as well

hey cline, i think you should buy a mini...oh...wait

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05 MCS

Glad to help.

Now I would NOT recommend anyone buy a boat like I did. I like to rescue vehicles, this one was no different. I'm still really happy with what I bought!

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Wait until the next time I skip work in favor of relaxing on the boat. I'll put you on my list to txt lake pictures to. What's your cell phone number?

The bonus is being able to call someone you know and ask for help when you're stuck in the water somewhere.

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In need of car.