All this engine talk

Got my GT40 block back today after spending only a month in the shop. Number 8 had been burned so bad that pieces had ended up in the tops of other pistons in addition to aluminum stuck to the cylinder wall. On initial inspection it was thought that maybe the block could be saved without a bore but in the end .020 was needed. I'd bet in times past .003 Ford pistons could have saved it but now days I'm told it is getting hard to find regular common pistons let alone special Ford service ones. Ended up with Speed Pro hypereutectic aluminum ones with Total Seal moly rings. Without even mentioning it to the machinist he told me,after he had found them,that these pistons were for the early Ford Lightning trucks. Crank only needed a polish,deck was fine- even the cam bearings passed muster. Not much to show since I don't want to unwrap it until it's ready to go back together in the spring,but here a couple of shots-











Alot of parts to clean and paint, still have some to go but I'm done painting for the year. No fancy colors just the original black

MrMcD wrote: Sealed Power did make the pistons for the Lightning Trucks and they had a supercharger so the pistons saw a lot of horsepower and held up just fine. Did you discover why your piston detonated and failed? Your parts are looking good. Mark

The Chevy guy is mixing up his lightning engines and superchargers

There wasn't a 351w Lightning with a supercharger from the factory.

Very nice. Its gonna be nice looking to. Enjoy

The Shamrock Zach, I even found the fresh water cooling parts to go with it.

What’s this “Spring” talk Gary? There’s no difference in our seasons. Oh, you must be up north and not around the Conch Republic. Don’t make your Shamrock too nice, I’ll be on a budget when you sell it to me.

Keno, you are correct and memory failed me once again.   
I remember the engineering guys were jumping through hoops trying to determine if the engine bearings we supplied would hold up against 500 HP. These were bone stock bearings, not performance bearings.   The Lightning never made 500 HP at the crank but the bearings were exposed to the load of an estimated 500 HP because the engine had to turn the Supercharger driven from the front of the crank while driving the car out the rear of the crank. Supercharger load at 5,500 RPM was estimated to be nearly 100 HP.
That engine was actually the 5.4L over head cam engine rated either 360 or 380 HP with supercharger and did not come out till 1999, it was not the 351W.

The 351W Lightning was rated a wopping 240 HP but in the smog engine years that was a lot. Odd that our GT40 Pro Boss 351W from the same time frame was rated at 310 HP and is basically the same engine..
Could be the Ford HP Rating was the modern SAE? HP rating and the Marine version was the older method.
The older method measured HP at the crankshaft with no accessories mounted and open exhaust, the newer method, I think they call it the SAE method measures with all components on the engine and factory Air Cleaner and exhaust.   The more realistic engine measurement started in 1971 for Automotive use. HP estimates dropped by about 20% under the new measurement process.
Sealed Power not only made Pistons for Ford but also for GM and Mercury Marine, all the 383 Engine stroked 350's that Mercury Marine sold had Sealed Power Hypereutectic Pistons. They work very well in Boat applications.

Donald80SN wrote: phatsat67 wrote: Very nice, I was thinking, uhhh I hope he’s not rebuilding the super sport motor already haha. This was my concern too. I was also thinking you might be putting it in the SS Mustang. Pulling out that old hard to find parts for Ford Motor that is in it.    Donald

That would make for a very fast Mustang.

The Mustang is safe with it's HM guy's. Stuck with the Ford because I feel I have more of a handle on them to keep them going. Plus my 95 has always impressed me with the way it runs. And with two I'll have to keep less extra parts around which will keep costs down.
As to a fuel return I'm thinking a Y into the fuel fill pipes,I have heard problems with using the vent line as a return they sometimes spit fuel out back. Something I need to check out because the vent would be easier.

We don’t want any Florida Man boat fire stories from your neck of the woods!

Fire in the hole!

Good idea but.... early Shamrocks were built on the concept of simple and easy service, the original builder was a mechanic who decided he could build a mechanic friendly boat. They came with no fuel senders but were supplied with a stick with graduations marked on it. Very accurate unless you lose the stick
The other problem is there are two tanks so you need valving to pull and return to the same tank. Dad replaced the tanks years ago when he brought it north otherwise if I needed new ones I’d just have a bung welded in. Some had diesels in them so I’m sure it has all been done before. There is a guy in Tampa who was one of the original employees of Shamrock and still supplies most parts sourced from the original companies who supplied Shamrock, recently even acquiring deck and hatch molds. I even understand their 17 foot models mold is available, I think Reid still has his 17

My 78 Nautique Gauge worked but was not very accurate.   I made a stick like the ones in your pictures and that stick let me use the full tank of gas even though my gauge would say I was empty when I had 1/3 still in the tank. Handy and easy to use as Pete said.

Well Pete I did not say he invented the stick - his concept was to keep everything easily accessible to work on.- no fuel senders, no problem with them going bad. The idea worked until people wanted more. In the end just before he sold the company their flagship model was a Grand Slam,a 31 foot 11.25 beam twin. 454 or Cummins powered. Not so simple to work on that’s for sure.
As to the valve,I believe Moeller makes what I need, I’ll have to look can’t remember off the top of my head.

No problem Pete. I'm impressed with Chris Craft's stick,pretty fancy. Found the link for the valve it's a Groco link

Gary are you guys south of us already?



john