Page 7 of 10

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 1:51 pm
by honestcharlie56
I'm pulling my 318's Friday......wish I could follow in your footsteps!!!

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:26 pm
by javalin390
Been following this thread, the end result sounds great. I'm going through two schools of thought as I read the posts. First being I am a 25 year mechanic, specifically GM, second being that the best way to retain everyday reliability is to keep things close to stock. I say this from years of owning old hot rods, where I try to keep the ignition systems close to stock, only because, if I ever broke down with an ign failure, just simply pick up another module at any parts store, as opposed to some fancy MSD or Petronix where I would have to special order it. That said, being a GM guy, my opinion is the HEI is the best ignition system ever designed. You said you are running HEI's. I'm aware Davis Unified makes them for Mopars, and am curious what brand yours are. Do they have vacuum advance? Do you have any stats on them? Were they specially modified for marine use? Would love to know more.

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:59 am
by Trowerpower
Hey Jim, they built them specifically for the application. I have used them for two seasons with no issues. I have not touched them, Approximately 120 hours of run time. They cost $968 including their spark plug wires. I went with straight spark plug boots and added 4" to the stock 318 wire lengths to get around the exhaust manifolds. They fit well. I am running 11 degrees of advance, no vacuum advance for marine applications. Check out http://www.performance distributors. Com. I hope this helps.

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:22 pm
by Busia
If you don't have vacuum advance, I would guess you have mechanical or centrifugal advance (counterweights).

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:46 pm
by Trowerpower
I believe they are mechanical advance.

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 1:41 pm
by Fastjeff
Boats don't use a vacuum advance.

Jeff

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 5:37 pm
by EWRice
Mechanical advance is the primary method of spark control for (almost) all engines. The only exceptions I have seen are engines designed to run at one speed, ie generators. Vacuum advance is a supplement to mechanical advance to gain economy under varying loads at a given rpm, ie pulling a trailer up a hill at 2200rpm vs cruising down a flat highway a 2200rpm.

Some early marine engines used a vacuum advance until the mid 1960s. My Graymarine 327 has vacuum advance, but it is about worthless. There may be a very small range of speed/rpm where it might do something.

EST is full computer control of advance. Crusader started using the GM EST distributors in their engines, and now there is a kit available to put this distributor in any original Chevy V8, 4.3l V6, and the two I4 engines. Includes new distributor, coil, brackets, wiring harness and plug wires. Highly recommended for anybody upgrading a GM points or Thunderbolt ignition system. Uses same cap and rotor as 87-95 chevy trucks.

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 10:20 pm
by Trowerpower
Okay after further review DUI distributors have a weight and spring arrangement for spark advance. Now I am speaking over my head. My boat runs like a watch with these distributors. Contact Performance Distributors for more information.

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 7:20 pm
by Trowerpower
Happy New Year to all of my fellow Marinette owners. Plan to dewinterize BlueSky and the 392 stroker motors March 25th weather permitting. The engines are under warranty until mid July 2017 so i want to use them as much as possible. So far all is well. Lets hope it stays that way.

Re: 318 stroker motor 330 HP 349 cu.in.

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:05 pm
by honestcharlie56
awesome man, I can't wait to see video's of these bad boys under way......lets see it.