Very nice and capable rig.

Hell of a job you did !

Top area if no interference generally points to ring gap clearance or detonation.

Look for spalling on piston top and I would want to see the rod bearings.

Was the piston that broke on a corner (1,2,7 or of the engine?

The piston that broke can you post a few close up pictures of it ? Without seeing it and going off translation it would be hard to find a causation. Cylinders over time will also wear in an egg shape and as the piston travels in the bore they can under combustion forces experience side pressures. Wi...

Knowing Chuck I can envision a radiator capable of holding 5,000psi up on the grass rake built to bust brush as well as cool the engine.

Like something out of Terminator

Sounds like a great project for you Chuck !

I will enjoy following it's progress along the way.

The Levitator 7.4 aka 454 is probably best with a 3 blade JX at that length. The 4 blade will work but with the "advertised" 525hp at 5,600rpm there is not a real need to add the extra blade. I doubt you would be running much pitch with a 4 blade and you note your need is only for a "...

101 on gps Chuck Hawk 12'6" CF step hull "Step Child" pump gas 383 small block maybe 400 hp on a good day cast pistons 10.5 to 1 compression mild cam 480/505 at 226/232 Holley 650 double pumper 125 shot NOS wide open micro switch on carb 2.88 Ox box 79 inch 3 blade JR race layup I ab...

COME TO THE LIGHT !

Welcome back and enjoy the new car motor build

I suspected the cam would be the first component to source.
The heads and valve train you probably can put your own touches upon.
Will any current forged pistons be suitable for a cross? In the Caddy world early on BB Ford pistons had been used with Hemi rods.

Sounds very interesting and that you have a lot going on at the shop. Starting at 475 foot pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm what do you feel is the potential yield for a WT modified version ? Are the new Godzilla engines a totally new push rod engine design or will you be able to draw from existing com...

Prayers sent

Richard and his father have both left their mark in airboat history.

They made a lot of boats and have a road named after them!

When your alone in the swamp that BIG GIRL will get you off !

2.55 OX and 4 big old S blades.....PUSH IT...PUSH IT REAL GOOD

Joel if your going to run a Cadillac 425/472 or 500 on a drive you face limits in using a stock valve train. If bone stock a 1.53 Rotator would give you a gain in usable power and if your careful and don't push the rpm a 1.77 range can work. When you get beyond that you risk breaking the valve train...

Not certain but I think Mr. Gerald did a boat with them not to long ago.

Try Southern Airboat member "NEWOLDGLORY" he is on Facebook too.

Welcome to SA

Great starter boat it won’t be long and you will want more power.

Electric trim tab ? Look at Lenco

Great info !

Are you taking the readings off the same point on the engine ?

With Cadillac pressure will fade from front to back if clearances open up.

If you two gauges are off one T fitting I would be inclined to think one of the gauges may be defective.

I can attest that I have had to run up to the parts store before to purchase a oil pressure gauge and plumb it in to verify a reading. Probably for a airboat addict having one in the bin of odd spare parts it’s $25 well spent.

Great to see you back Dave.

I have a Sena set up from Ben and it worked great.

Never have seen one in Florida but heard of guys who used VW and Corvair engines to propel ice fishing sleds.

Wow this sounds like a great opportunity to get a prop on sale.

Thanks for the post !

Typically a 383 of a generic high performance auto specification would make its peak HP in the 5400 rpm range and max torque around 4600 rpm. My friends with very high quality small blocks like to run them set at 5200 to 5500 for ride boat use. They play around with gear ratios from 2.37 to 2.68 mos...

Sounds like a plan

Have you tried pitching the prop to allow you to get 5300 rpm on the trailer?

My experience was those blades liked to spin a little faster.