New ecotec concerns

BOONSNAPPER · Post by **BOONSNAPPER** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:50 pm

New to forum and have a few questions.
Can any chime in on ecotec rigs and gearbox options... Belt or gear who offers them ?
Prop syles and blade counts and what seems to work best for best hard push .. No need for speed here
13x7 1/8 alum hull with 2.4 turbo tuned to aprox 260 hp

DynaMarine · Post by **DynaMarine** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:28 pm

2.3 Ballistic gearbox with 2-blade 74" NGQ works quite well, could also run a 3-blade

chuckitt@earthlink.net · Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:48 am

I agree with Shane on the 2.3 Ballistic gear. It is the only direct fit gear box. There is a 2 to 1 ratio belt drive from Century Drives but it has a max rating of 250 HP. It is good for the non-turbo Ecotec's.
Which 2.4 do you have and what year is it? What turbo was installed? Set-up right, you should be over 300 HP.
With 260 HP and a 2.3 gear, I would use a 74 inch short 2 blade Maximus Prop.

Thanks, Chuck

BOONSNAPPER · Post by **BOONSNAPPER** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 12:21 pm

Engine is in play Will be a 2008 Le5 2.4
lnf turbo / manifold
Dont want to kill the lil engine just want the extra punch
Im leaning twords a two blade and a 2.3:1 gearbox
Maybe precision gear...

getchasumairboats · Post by **getchasumairboats** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 6:08 pm

if I was gonna do an Eco motor I would definitly talk to chuck. He has more experience with them on an airboat than any other builder.

Deano · Post by **Deano** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 7:10 pm

BOONSNAPPER wrote:Engine is in play Will be a 2008 Le5 2.4 lnf turbo / manifold
Dont want to kill the lil engine just want the extra punch
Im leaning twords a two blade and a 2.3:1 gearbox
Maybe precision gear...

Granted, budget can have more than a passive impact on your plans, but as Chuck already pointed out, Ballistic makes a 2.3 box that will bolt right to your Ecotech. With the Precision you will additionally need to use an adapter to even bolt it up.

Running the recommended 2.3 will be more longevity friendly than running a 2.0, and will likely perform better in the meantime.

Olf Art · Post by **Olf Art** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:25 am

BOONSNAPPER · Post by **BOONSNAPPER** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:10 pm

After doing some research, it seems that the ecotec 2.4L and the 2.2L have a bolt pattern of there own (one bolt on the pattern cant be used) all the rest 2.2L (non ecotec) 2.3L---2.5L---2.8L---3.1L---3100---3300---3.4L---3.4(dohc)---3400---3500---3800---3900 all have the same pattern as small block chevy.

In conclusion our gear drive will fit your engine but you wont be able to mount one of the bell housing bolts which
should not be a problem.

Hmmm
Does anyone run this drive.

DynaMarine · Post by **DynaMarine** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:30 pm

Which drive?

plumcrazy · Post by **plumcrazy** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:21 pm

balistic is the only direct fit gear box for the ecotec platform i know of... stiger will have to have a adaptor plate not a easy thing to find chuck had designed one for his project boats... best talk Shane for a balistic great product

JB550 · Post by **JB550** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:07 pm

Love mine. Got 70 hours without a hickup. I have a 2.0L and it bolts directly up. Very clean setup.

BOONSNAPPER · Post by **BOONSNAPPER** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:03 pm

Gotta admit the ballistic does look real nice. Good fitment and design

BOONSNAPPER · Post by **BOONSNAPPER** » Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:58 am

Ok ... Talked me into it
Ordering my 2.3 ballistic box and a 74 ngq for the build
I feel i made a good choice

bonecollector · Post by **bonecollector** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:46 pm

Hey, Chuck I have a customer wanting to run a eco tech on a 16x8 in Alaska and be able to haul 2 guys and 1000 pounds of gear also he wants an enclosed cab on the boat. I don't know anything about these engines but it seems to me that it will be to much boat for that engine since he will need to run over mud flats and rocks and things any input will help Thanks, Jeff

DynaMarine · Post by **DynaMarine** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 6:29 pm

I haven't built anywhere near as many Ecotec boats as chuck, but I've built a few. That said, there's no way I would but a 200hp Ecotec on a heavy 16ft boat...and even the 325-350hp turbo motors have had their issue when run hard. JMO, but I'd recommended a V8 for that type of boat and performance requirements

bonecollector · Post by **bonecollector** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 6:56 pm

Thanks, Shane that's what I am telling him I don't believe it will live very long under that kind of load.

chuckitt@earthlink.net · Thu Dec 24, 2015 10:45 pm

The new Ecotecs will out live any other engine when set up properly with the right engine on the right boat. Got a big boat, the 3.6L Twin Turbo can get you 500 HP with no mods. Cadillac Racing competed in 39 races this past season and won the Pirelli World Championship with this stock engine and didn't blow one up. They were running 600 HP on these stock bottom ends. They used a little bigger turbo.
The one we are setting up now is for a 23 ft boat that is 100 inches wide. We are not worried about having enough engine for the boat even when loaded with cargo or people. The hull is built, just waiting for the special reduction unit to be built.
The only Ecotecs you hear having problems are the ones the owners wanted to make mods for more power. If you need more power, go with a bigger Ecotec or a LS engine.

Merry Christmas, Chuck

SWAMPHUNTER45 · Post by **SWAMPHUNTER45** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:58 am

The dual turbo V6 used in the ATS-V has crazy potential!

It comes stock with titanium connecting rods and Cadillac engineers were very forthright that the engine was extremely detuned for the ATS-V application.

OneBFC · Post by **OneBFC** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:54 pm

Yep, keep the 2.0 Ecotec at no more than 23 or 24psi and it is reliable. Depending on what turbo you have it will be 300 to 400hp @ 5200RPM.

Not a single problem with mine that wasn't giant hole in radiator self inflicted over heat damage.

Only lesson I have learned is that the factory engine nanny can't be relied on. Just keep an eye on your Temps as you would any other engine. Mine runs 165 to 200 year round, regardless of how hard you run it.

If you think you will need more than 250hp constantly, I would look at something bigger than the 2.0 Eco. Most people don't need 300 to 400hp for hours at a time unless they have a work boat.

Factory engines are solid, good luck with your build.

DynaMarine · Post by **DynaMarine** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 3:11 pm

chuckitt@earthlink.net wrote:The new Ecotecs will out live any other engine when set up properly with the right engine on the right boat. Got a big boat, the 3.6L Twin Turbo can get you 500 HP with no mods. Cadillac Racing competed in 39 races this past season and won the Pirelli World Championship with this stock engine and didn't blow one up. They were running 600 HP on these stock bottom ends. They used a little bigger turbo.
The one we are setting up now is for a 23 ft boat that is 100 inches wide. We are not worried about having enough engine for the boat even when loaded with cargo or people. The hull is built, just waiting for the special reduction unit to be built.
The only Ecotecs you hear having problems are the ones the owners wanted to make mods for more power. If you need more power, go with a bigger Ecotec or a LS engine.

Merry Christmas, Chuck

Chuck is this using the dual sync drive water walker designed? With 500hp 3.6L id be curious to see how well it pushed a 23' boat loaded. If it ran dry I'd be super impressed! That's sure a lot of boat for any motor.

The newer Ecoboost motors are equally impressive and from what I understand are already being used in standalone offroad applications with full tuning capability.

Gotta love innovation!

Tony480 · Post by **Tony480** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 4:13 pm

500 horse with NO mods??? They don't make 500 from the factory

chuckitt@earthlink.net · Fri Dec 25, 2015 5:51 pm

Hey Shane, the hull is Kevlar with epoxies layup and Vacuum bagged. Almost bullet proof and will weigh about 800 lbs. It will be using a Dual Sync Drive. We want need polymer.

Tony, Vince tuned his Cadillac CTS-V to 499 HP at the rear wheels. He said for Standalone, he could give us a calibration over 500 HP.

George Thomas 16 X 7 hull runs dry with a 1.8L NA, about 150 HP. Don't believe it, PM Daddy Dave.

Thanks, Chuck

Tony480 · Post by **Tony480** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:17 pm

I thought you were saying with no mods,the way it came from the factory

Olf Art · Post by **Olf Art** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:17 pm

I'm still a big fan of David Wine's Blue Lightning belt drive. I think 'lightweight' is beautiful.
Would that fit a 2.3 L motor?

JB550 · Post by **JB550** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:29 pm

Tony what he's talking about is that they just did a retune nothing new to the motor no add ons. Same thing they did with my motor which was basically 260 horsepower bone stock and with no modifications just a simple retune they got just over 300 horsepower out of it.

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