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I am looking to build a Riviera with a roller cam Ford 302 engine I have torn apart. I was wondering what the max power i should be looking to make for this craft. I am not looking to make it the max, i just need to decide if it is worth stroking it or not to 331ci. And secondly, are the parts that much cheaper and more available for chevy engines to justify hunting down a GM block. I am in th US so performance parts are readily available for both, but, I know exhaust manifolds and such are more difficult to find.

I don't know too much about the particular engine you looking at but I installed a 5.7L pushing 343 ponies.

To be honest, this is far more engine that the boat needs. I had to throttle the engine down with the prop. With the initial prop I had installed, the boat hit just shy of 70mph and about scared the $%^& out of me. The engine more than redlined. It is now throttled to hold no more 5200 rpm which pushes it about 55mph given the wedges I installed to hold the bow down from porpoising. At this speed you can feel the lightness of the boat on the water and even folks in the rear cockpit talk about the "feather feel"

This is a light boat even with the engine. The boat is not designed for the engines we are now installing and you will have to make adjustments to keep it under control.

Keep us informed. There are some very good engine folks on this forum

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

Is it worth getting aluminum heads to save 40 lbs or so? And what target RPM range should i be designing the engine to run around. I might take it up to 55+, but i have no need to go 70, especially since this will mostly be used in rivers and lakes.

I will honestly say you need weight. Cutting weight is not important

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

We'll need more details about your engine before we can try to answer your first question e.g. automotive or marine, Year, Carb or EFI, HP and torque numbers (if you have them) and performance expectations.

Glen-L's Inboard Hardware Catalog lists Ford Square-Type Exhaust Manifolds for 221, 260, 289, 302, 351 (Not Cleveland motors) under Item Number 90-755.

Google'ing for the search term Ford 302 marine exhaust manifolds will turn up several leads.


The weight savings of aluminum cylinder heads is a major advantage, but better flowing heads are at the top of the list if you want to make more power.


Speaking of aluminum heads ... don't spend too much time reading the 331ci articles :

AFR Article Archive - Small Block Ford Articles

If you missed it, you may want to check out the Riviera Power thread.

... I don't know why the Ford guys haven't shown up yet ...

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Paul Kane
Kane Custom Boats Ltd.
Chelsea, Quebec

Building the Glen-L Hot Rod : http://www.kanecustomboats.com

Glen-L Boat Video Directory : http://www.kanecustomboats.com/pages/vi ... ctory.html

I have an automotive ford 302 out of an '89 Mustang convertible. I am planning on going with a carb. I was considering gt40 heads or AFRs, but honestly, if i can make plenty of power off of some explorer GT40 iron heads without stroking it and using the E cam I already own, that is my plan. If saving 40 lbs on aluminum heads is not worth spending an extra 8 or 9 hundred bucks, then i will just go with the iron heads. I appreicate the input though, this is great info!

Your problem is not in finding sufficient horsepower but in putting to efficient use what a modern V8 engine produces. Dave Lott has documented on this forum his experiences with the Riviera hull and a 350 cu. in. SBC. The hull design comes from a boat designed around a 160 hp. in-line 6 which was of similar weight to the his 343 hp. SBC. The original six weighed 940 lb. with transmission while the V8 is 1100 lb. with transmission. The power output, however, is more than twice. The old boat was good for 40+ mph. Dave Lott achieved 70+ mph with stability problems. These boats are not racers but showpieces and family conveyances. It is my belief that driving this hull too hard invites an adverse result and moderation in powerplant selection is a virtue. I selected a 305 cu. in. (5.0 L) SBC of 275 hp. for my Monaco build and so far have been more than pleased with its performance. Only 6 hours on it at this point. Using a 13 X 13 prop I have hit 45 mph with throttle not yet at WOT point. I have a GPS speedometer. If I remember correctly, Bruce Dow's boat has a 283 cu. in. SBC with a carburetor. Dave and I have FI engines. I have not seen complaints from Bruce about performance expressed on the forum.

One modification you might consider is the installation of a roller-lifter cam. The sustained high rpm rates in marine engine use are hard on flat based cam lifters and the attendant camshaft. Roller lifters are more durable in this service and seem to be the standard in purpose-built marine gasoline engines.

Just my $0.02 worth.

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Bill

Built a Monaco named: Princess

That helps put it into perspective. I guess in the grand scheme saving 40lbs isn't that much of a concern. I am definitely not trying to go 70mph. Just dont want it to struggle with my family in it (5 of us total.) Roller lifters are not cheap, but i can see what you mean about durability at sustained high rpms's.

All this being said, the Riviera is a dream in the 35-45 mph range . It just seems to lock down and go. It loves this speed range. Just goes to prove what this boats were designed for.

Midnight Cry will be the lead boat for the 84 mile cruise at the International ACBS this Sept on Table Rock Lake. The ACBS standard for these cruises is a cruise speed of 20-23 mph. I have already advised the event manager that I am going to lead the cruise in the 27-30 range and unless the boats can keep up they don't need to make this long cruise. BTW. I have room for 4 more on Midnight if anyone wants to take a half day jaunt up and down Table Rock.

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

Dave and Bin$$waggin,
This is totally off subject, but what is the range of your boat?

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
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I was going to chip in on this. Some above posts pretty much said the same thing.......
ANY V-8 in there will do the trick nicely.

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God Bless our Troops; especially our Snipers

DEPENDS I am getting about 5-7 miles to the gallon depending on speed . I have only a 19 gallon tank so I am limited on some days. On Table Rock, I can make the run from tip to toe and back on a tank but then looking for fuel.

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

If you plan to use a automotive motor be sure to change to a marine cam the grind is to prevent reversion, witch will suck water from the exhaust into the cylinders,you can read up on it on any cam manufacturs site.As far as using aluminum heads or intake I would plan on a closed cooling system, here where we live salt water eats that stuff.I have aluminum exhaust that is 7 years old in salt water like new on the inside ,had to replace risers this year the only place the sea water gets into, were showing corosion on the outside I knew it had to be on the inside too.Was not taking any chance with my motor.