I finally blew a piston - I am selling a bunch of parts

[Keith302]

I blew a piston this weekend. So I am doing full forged bottom ends and selling my Raylar 103 cams. Anyone interested? They are basically good for a Mag guy looking to go to the HO with a little more zing! They are truly just a hair more power than HO cams but a great upgrade if you are thinking of going HO anyway.

I am selling the Tyler Crockett heads too - any takers?

BTW - I am selling because I am going to the Raylar 105 cam.

[BajaDan]

Man that really sucks after doing all that exhaust work and right here at the start of summer. I hope you have fun putting something interesting back together. Let us know what you do and how it turns out. I enjoyed the exhaust thread.

Dan

[Keith302]

I am evaluating all my options now. it looks like the Raylar forged balanced internals, heads so either the Raylar 525HO (my intake) or the 600HO (his intake)

[Dieselstrng]

Hey, I have a mag and am interested in one of your 103 cams..what are u looking to get for one? Also maybe you would know...would I need to do anything else to make my mag work with the cam?

Thanks Dave

[Dieselstrng]

Oh and by the way I also installed Dana's on my motor too...love them..powder coated candy apple red..great looking exhaust, and easy install....

[TWIN-SPINS]

I am evaluating all my options now. it looks like the Raylar forged balanced internals, heads so either the Raylar 525HO (my intake) or the 600HO (his intake)if you have the raylar 525 intake,,,i thinks it is the same intake used with the 106 kit,,,what intake do you have now???

[Keith302]

if you have the raylar 525 intake,,,i thinks it is the same intake used with the 106 kit,,,what intake do you have now???

I still have the stock piece of shit 496 intake. I have about 15 different variations of what I might do.
1. Full 600HO kits
2. Forged bottom end with bigger cam and my Tyler Crockett heads & intake
3. Full Raylar long block with my intake
4. I am even looking at a set of 500 EFI's

Dunno - still calling people and putting together ideas.

[Twin-Kyle]

I'd do the 500 efi's. That blue would look great with your boat!!!

[Twin-Kyle]

I found a 525 on another site I so desperately want to install in my boat but just can't cut it this year. Tired of the 496 Mag.

[Keith302]

I'd do the 500 efi's. That blue would look great with your boat!!!

They are going to be blue no matter what. Raylar has blue 600HO's

Dont forget, I am in salt water. So, if I consider 500 EFI's I need to find a flush system that is good and easy. The key here is EASY.

Anybody know anything about the flush kits you just plug into a hose and doesnt require starting the engine?

[Dieselstrng]

Did u sell those cams keith302?

[Keith302]

Did u sell those cams keith302?

No, not yet. We have to tear them down first.

[TWIN-SPINS]

do you think you cracked the piston,,,hit the valve or what???

[Keith302]

do you think you cracked the piston,,,hit the valve or what???

There is no piston... its gone.

I noticed some rattling during starts and I think the piston cracked then imploded and the crank ingested it.

[Dieselstrng]

Let me know what u would like to get for one of your 103's, after you tear into them

Thanks Dave

[TWIN-SPINS]

what did your crockett heads flow on the bench

[Keith302]

The Crockett heads actually flow as well as Raylar. The difference is that Raylar has a different combustion chamber design and his are aluminum. They can push a little more compression and not be prone to detonation. A lot of people say the Tyler heads or others flow better and it is true but the aluminum head combustion chamber design really is hi-tech and from people like RM Builder and people that work at Edelbrock they said the dude that designed them from GM spent 2 years designing them Darrel somebody.

[TWIN-SPINS]

i think raylar plays with the head gaskets to increase the compression ratio

[Keith302]

i think raylar plays with the head gaskets to increase the compression ratio

That too but side by side the aluminum still has a smaller combustion chamber. Honestly, other than the fact that my Tyler heads and his heads have the same size valves, they are TOTALLY different. Raylars heads are Waaayyy more advanced than the stock cast iron heads. You can make good power with the stock heads after they are ported and you use a .040 head gasket if you run 91 octane. But, the Raylar heads have a completely different combustion chamber layout like the plug is on more of an angle toward the exhaust and it is shaped for a more thorough and quicker burn. The stock heads are 1960's hi-performance technology and raylars are truly state of the art. For $3 grand they should be. But, like I said, a lot of engine builders said the dude who designed them is one of GM's best hi-performance guys.

[TWIN-SPINS]

what ever you do dyno that puppie,,,with some good exhaust temps for each cylinder,,,fast is fast,,,but i want the engine to live another day also,,,

[Keith302]

what ever you do dyno that puppie,,,with some good exhaust temps for each cylinder,,,fast is fast,,,but i want the engine to live another day also,,,

What is the verdict on the extension boxes?

[Sonic69]

Let me know a price on a cam also. I wasn't going to do it this year, but if the price is right I would consider it.

[Keith302]

Let me know a price on a cam also. I wasn't going to do it this year, but if the price is right I would consider it.

Do you have a Mag or HO?

[TWIN-SPINS]

What is the verdict on the extension boxes? the 12 inches fell more like 24,,,so far its just what i wanted,,,no problem getting on plane,,no blowout,,still have a few more props to test,,,talked to jeff at hawkeye,,,he wanted to know how they worked on the 35

[TWIN-SPINS]

hey,by the way what piston let go?

[Keith302]

#7

I talked to 2 other guys that had the same one let go. Between piston slap and the stock intake, I think the two of them are the problem. After talking to a few peole about it I think it would have happened weather I had the mods or still stock.

[Keith302]

BTW - If anyone needs 496 parts, I found a bunch of stuff in Florida.

496 Mag HO long block from an 08 boat (crashed)- $2500
496 Mag HO that needs a piston $2000
496 long block (Volvo) same thing as the MAG $1600

[Sonic69]

Keith, It's a mag.

[Keith302]

Keith, It's a mag.

OK, when I pull it I will contact you.

[Sonic69]

Thanks. I look forward to it.

[BajaDan]

Keith, don't want to hijack the thread but I am curious as to the number of hours on the motors and drives and feel the others following this thread may be interested also. Are the drives Bravo 1's or something more robust? You not only live in an area where you can use your boat often, you do use your boat often and that makes you valuable (or at least interesting) to the rest of us.

Thanks,

Dan

[Keith302]

good question:
The engines have 655 & 672 hours. The one that broke was the one with more hours. In the end, I optimistically think they are (were) around 465-475HP nobody knows... I was up to 77-78 MPH on a 1/2 tank so they must be close.

Raylar 103 cams
Tyler Crockett flowed/CNC ported heads with 2.25/1.88 valves
Whipple stage 3 program ECU
Port matched ported and flowed intake (as far as they could get)
Special flowed & bored throttle bodies 79mm that could flow at 980cfm
Dana long riser 105 exhaust

Drives are new-reman Mercury XR uppers with stock lowers and IMCO lower shafts (1 inch)

Stellings extension boxes with the drives at 3 3/4 inches bravo 28 BBlades labbed. I did have drive issues but think it had most to do with the stellings bearing carrier. Once you get the carrier set up right, your problems go away.

FWIW - the 496 is a very robust engine. Mine have idled most of their lives but been WOT the rest of the time. The #7 piston seems to have issues. The 496 weak link IS NOT the crank as a matter of fact the stock crank is good for over 800HP this is from Ray and 2 other guys who know these motors and the cast crank can handlle it - the cast pistons are the weak link. Some 496's have a piston rattle that turns into a piston crack then a failure. If it werent for the cam and advanced timing and increased compression with thinner head gaskets this wouldn't have happened - but in the quest for speed, what can you do. Stock 496's should be good for 800-1000 hours from what I've heard.

I'm still pondering on what to do. More then likely the best deal money wise is re-sleeve that cylinder or Raylar 525 or 600's. Blue engines sound great but you cant find a set for under $30K that are complete so its out of the picture.

I just got married in October so this will have to be done gently....

[emilsr]

Keith; Have you looked into Raylar's "trade in" deal where they send you a fresh motor in exchange for the old one?

[BajaDan]

Drives are new-reman Mercury XR uppers with stock lowers and IMCO lower shafts (1 inch)...I'm still pondering on what to do. More then likely the best deal money wise is re-sleeve that cylinder or Raylar 525 or 600's. Blue engines sound great but you cant find a set for under $30K that are complete so its out of the picture.

I just got married in October so this will have to be done gently....

Interesting. I would have thougth the 1 inch lowers would be the weak link and not the uppers. It is my understanding that the XR's are straight cut gears. Any noticable gear whine?

I understand about the marriage. I bought a $12k lawn mower (yes, I mow a lot of grass) and I made sure to do that before I got married!

Dan

[Keith302]

Interesting. I would have thougth the 1 inch lowers would be the weak link and not the uppers. It is my understanding that the XR's are straight cut gears. Any noticable gear whine?

I understand about the marriage. I bought a $12k lawn mower (yes, I mow a lot of grass) and I made sure to do that before I got married!

Dan

Funny you mention gear whine. YES! The XR's sound like little blowers. If you have an XR you wouldnt notice it - but if you upgrade from X or bravo spiral cut gears like I did a year or two ago, it is actually kinda annoying the first few hours and now I dont even notice it.

Well, now I dont notice much of anything running on one motor! :)

[TWIN-SPINS]

dose raylar have a kit that gets 650h.p. with the stock crank,,,or is it a stroker crank with 650 h.p.

[Keith302]

dose raylar have a kit that gets 650h.p. with the stock crank,,,or is it a stroker crank with 650 h.p.

Stock crank 610-620 700+tq
Stroker crank 650-660 800+tq

[Dieselstrng]

Hey kieth let me know also on the cam...sonic 69 and I will most likely take them both off ur hands...

[michaelscott1980]

are the heads for sale still?

[Keith302]

I didnt even pull it out yet. I am in the middle of moving so it might take a while.