Whites Performance Chevy 540 BBC

[John3:16]

Is there any body on here running a Whites 540 Big block ? if so how do you like it ? what's fuel economy like compared to a 502 or 454 ? Thanks in advance . any help would be greatly appreciated .

[ak375hh]

I’m also considering a whites 540

[loudmouse]

There are 2 engine builders with the White name. I'm not familiar with Whites Performance but have had several friends use Skip White Performance and were happy with the engines they received. A 540 or any BBC that is carbureted will be thirsty.

[ak375hh]

My thoughts were I have a 454 now, if I switch to the 540, wouldn’t I be able to ad pitch and run less rpm therefore get better consumption?

[loudmouse]

It doesn't work quite that way. Ur also feeding 96 more cubic inches. Prob would be about the same as now or a touch more. Many factors to consider. Cam too large will increase fuel consumption in the lower rpms.

[SWAMPHUNTER45]

There is a guy over this way running one but I don't recall the ratio or prop he is running. It's a 16 or 17 aluminum boat and he rides loaded with the entire family on it. Been a while since I have seen him.

It does ok. I recall him saying it had to go back to the shop for something but they made it right and he didn't seem to bothered by it.

If you match prop and drive ratio to a cam you will improve your efficiency. Be sure to plan that out and include the builder in the discussion. If not usually you get something that won't have a wide torque curve.

[Prototype]

Not really a fan of chinese internals within an American big block or small block, regardless of price!

[SWAMPHUNTER45]

There have been some excellent alloys that have been exported in the past 15 years on the cheap. Problem is consistency. It varies from one lot to the next.

That said plenty of big name US products are Asian with a brand name stamped or etched on the item once imported.

Unless your buying top tier it's a coin toss wth most of it.

A highly sought after race gun frame came from China for $200 back in the day. It was when America was melting it's Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals for scrap. Google the Norinco 1911 frame.

[loudmouse]

Prototype, I also felt that way until I figured it out. Maybe it will change. U can pay high $ for an American name brand part only to find out it was made in China and reboxed here. Then there are those that are completely made here that are 3 times the price and out of range for most of us or more than we are willing to spend. I personally haven't had any more trouble with the cheaper parts than the higher ones. Never been able to buy the highest priced ones so not much info there. They are all hit or miss nowadays. $33k for a new engine that only lasted 50hrs and not covered under any warranty (true recent story from big name airboat engine builder) with a rod through the side. That won't be me! If I scatter one it will be my own fault not somebody elses on my dime. Just sayn.
I believe GM knows how to assemble an engine and the parts have more quality control checks than most others AND after it has been tested for a 100,000 miles, it might be worthy for an airboat

[loudmouse]

Posted and then seen swamps post and I agree with him.

[JAMES]

Not really a fan of chinese internals within an American big block or small block, regardless of price!

ScAt or eagle or better 90% of engine builders use scat or eagle somewhere along the line And white does not use no Chinese shit on anything over five 600 hp sbc or bbc They don’t use the pro copperheads no more they have an assembly line of their own

[ak375hh]

So, does anyone have a real review based on their experience with a whites performance airboat 540? Or have ridden with somebody who runs one? Anything?

[akmike30]

So, does anyone have a real review based on their experience with a whites performance airboat 540? Or have ridden with somebody who runs one? Anything?

Pull trigger most likely last you a long time. Plus a new set 4 blade super wide sensenich. You have a bank climber. Heck if they can get built by April you can have skip pick up and bring back up here. Save ya 1k in shipping.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ak375hh]

Pulled the trigger today.

[bkmail]

Congrats, bbc's get the job done.
Can't wait.
Bk

[F0zzy2]

I didn't see any warranty on White performance page. I see that they're using howards lifters. I personally have broke link bars on comp cam and howards lifters. Call and talk with Mike at MAS he has 3 year warranty on his airboat motors. You need to run a GM style lifter or the rivet in the bar will break, the lifter will twist and wipe out your cam. Mike doesn't understand why they don't live in air boat motors but he said he has had to warranty to many and only runs the dog bones now. You can get the dart block machines to accept the dog bones. Just something to think about.

[ak375hh]

I did see the lifter information. I did speak with them about it and asked why they used the link bar style lifters and if they would change to the gm style. skip had mentioned the link bar failures you’d experienced to me and told me to address it with them. They told me they have had failures in the gm style lifter and they expressed they hadn’t had problems with the link bar style. They have an 18 month warranty and do put out quite a few motors. 13-15 a week. I called alumitech who uses their engines on a number of new boats and asked if they had any issues with the motors and they had nothing but good things to report. I do know that the spider retainer can fail in an oem style lifters and those can rotate as well. Not easy without any real experiences with engine building having to sift through the opinions.

[SWAMPHUNTER45]

I am told that there are a handful of actual manufacturers making lifters in the United States. Morrel, Johnson, Eaton and Melling are names that I recall.

The dog bone style retro roller lifters sold by CompCams and Howards appear to resemble Morrel. I have been in the Branch engine shop when deliveries from CompCams were made and have seen lifters come out of their packaging with no ID markings on them. It if my understanding they outsource the production. I personally have run Howards and choose them based on personal bias having run both brands.

While an orange to a tangerine comparison between Cadillac and Chevy, Branch has never had a link bar fail in thousands of hours of airboat use running aggressive high lift roller cams with fast ramp speeds. We have fatigued the internals (springs) in my 542 but these cam profiles are extremely aggressive.

If Whites is using an American made lifter and camshaft then properly assembling the engine I can see no worry with the dogbone. I worry about corporate greed and counterfeit parts made in China slipping into the market place but right now it appears that has slowed up.

Good luck with your new engine, break it in properly and use good oil as your builder will recommend. May I suggest a series of short runs allowing the engine to heat and cool fully as a good way to allow the bearing surfaces to mature.

[ak375hh]

I am told that there are a handful of actual manufacturers making lifters in the United States. Morrel, Johnson, Eaton and Melling are names that I recall.

The dog bone style retro roller lifters sold by CompCams and Howards appear to resemble Morrel. I have been in the Branch engine shop when deliveries from CompCams were made and have seen lifters come out of their packaging with no ID markings on them. It if my understanding they outsource the production. I personally have run Howards and choose them based on personal bias having run both brands

Howards with Id markings.

[SWAMPHUNTER45]

Interesting, I have used 4-5 sets of Howards in the past 3 years and none of the ones I purchased had the engraved (UP) on the link albeit mine were for a Caddy not BBC.

[Prototype]

There have been some excellent alloys that have been exported in the past 15 years on the cheap. Problem is consistency. It varies from one lot to the next.

That said plenty of big name US products are Asian with a brand name stamped or etched on the item once imported.

Unless your buying top tier it's a coin toss wth most of it.

A highly sought after race gun frame came from China for $200 back in the day. It was when America was melting it's Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals for scrap. Google the Norinco 1911 frame.

NO!
Its selling and ho motor designed for airboat rpms with internal junk....................
Not to mention flying bolts of there escorts to dodge!
Take a 3/8 metric in the head from your escort and get back to us!
Yes your boat tossed a bolt and my head caught it.
Never escort a whites motor within range again!
Fine you feel china junk can withstand but my op is about like there drywall or kids toys to embed real toxic junk.
Go check your china supplied whites for cadium or other junk they want to rid china of for less than cost of proper disposal
Hey, lets mix it in with shit going to the US for 50% of both cost.
Lucky china didn't need to get rid of junk in the old days cadillac motor?
So what are you wearing now days with china need to incorporate the need to get rid of toxins discretely ? Again!

[Slidin Gator]

I ordered a bunch of Chinese lead a while back. Had to reject the whole shipment cause it was contaminated with kids toys.

[SWAMPHUNTER45]

Just don't buy any Chinese condoms !

Especially the ones that GLOW IN THE DARK

[Msa4x4]

Here is my input on whites...... first I will say that I should’ve listened to all the people I private messaged on Facebook, and I hope you take my advice here.

I ordered a white 383 515hp motor and a 700r4 trans for my Chevy truck (dec 22 2018). Upon ordering, the shop was very helpful in talking about the product, answering questions, so forth. Ordered and paid for half, they tell me 6-8 weeks on my order. A week later and I revived no invoice for my order but they charged my card and I thought ok No big deal, I’ll call and have them email one. Well called got the “I’ll send one right over” deal. Couple days, still no invoice. Called again and this time I also asked for a dyno service to be added to my order and to send a invoice for that as well. After no emails I began to worry. I call again and finally get them to email an invoice (about 2 weeks after I ordered).

Jump to week 8. Never received any type of update on my order after I emailed and called. I call again and get the shop run around and they say I will
Call back in 5-10 min. Never got a return phone call, called the next day spoke to another person, he went to check on engine supposedly and said it would be another few weeks. I’m getting more worried.

Week 11 comes still no update from whites so I call again asking for an update. They could not give me any info as to where my motor was or where it was at in production. I immediately demand a refund. They apologized and said they would make it right and send me a motor with a few upgrades. I kindly decline and still want a refund. They finally agree after holding 225 in fees. I get an email about 5 min later from my original sales man saying that he can have an engine at my door by the weeks end. This left me in shock. I could not believe a company could go from not even knowing where my order was at in production, to them sending me one by the week.

The lack of customer service is completely ridiculous. I see more and more bad reviews now and I know why now. I sent numerous emails, voicemails, and texts that were NEVER responded to or called back. They are cheap engine for the power and have OK parts but when it comes down to it, do you really want an engine builder states away with horrible customer service? I would never recommend whites to anyone. Spend the extra couple grand and buy from a local quality builder.

I did received my refund today 3/27/19.

[rowdy1]

I had a buddy purchase a set of aluminum BBF heads from Whites (Pro Comp) for a budget build mud truck. They claimed to only use bare heads from Pro Comp and work them up with premium parts. He paid for minor runner and bowl work and premium valves and springs. He got bowls and runners that look like they were cut with a bush axe, and Chinese everything. We couldn't get any of the spring pressures or heights to jive. They wouldn't take them back as they were ''custom'' and it took $1000 worth of Ferrera valves, springs and keepers to get them runnable. By the time we fixed them he could had Cobra Jets or almost P51s.