Ive thrown around several ideas over the last season and a half. For any that don't know, I built the engine in my Skier and it (to me) was perfect. It would "run"! I was GPS'n 55/56 mph and it would get up and move! Then the rod cap decided to part ways with the #6 rod, left the ears; bolts, and nuts where they were supposed to be...... just no cap.
I put a beat up 350 in the ole girl to keep it on the lake but got nothing but headaches out of it. I knew as much would happen. Performance was lacking, oil pressure wanted to drop after warm up. It was tired and I knew it when I threw it in the boat, but I wanted to keep her on the lake while deciding on long term solutions.
After much mulling around I (this past weekend) bit the bullet and picked myself up a brand new 5.7 Vortec (full roller) crate engine. Advertised at 330 Horse and 480 ft lbs trq. Ill be installing this bad boy over the next 2 weeks and getting her broke in properly just in time for winter
The good news is, over the last 5 years I have had the boat out in December at least 4 of those years as it was in the 60's and above. Ill just have to see what the weather looks like this year.
Im pretty excited about the decision. I hope I don't regret it.