Official 330 Express Cruiser / 340 Amberjack 1997-2003 Thread

I'll have to get my paperwork out this evening when i get to the boat to give you exact specs but i'd be happy too. They are factory specs though if you want to look that up in hte mean time. 4 bladed props with the ZF drives. September of 2014 new port side trans, and both props scanned and repaired to factory specs at Wolverine Propeller in michigan.

Here is how i typically run though. Wife two small kids roughly 160lbs. Unless we are anchoring (i.e. once per year if that) i never fill my water tank, no gen, and typically 1/2 fuel. I'll fill up for trips obviously but our typical boating is island running and i hate dragging around excess fuel.

I run very light which i believe helps me in the MPG/GPH department.
 
I was also reading up on the 8.1s and found they have a known issue of dropping pistons? Supposedly they had crap cast pistons and they were dropping like flies so they discontinued it and replaced it with 8.2 525ci model. Any thoughts?
 
I was also reading up on the 8.1s and found they have a known issue of dropping pistons? Supposedly they had crap cast pistons and they were dropping like flies so they discontinued it and replaced it with 8.2 525ci model. Any thoughts?

Not sure where you are getting your info but i have never heard of a piston issue. The 8.1's were replaced by the 8.2 because GM stopped producing the block. THe 8.2 is a Mercury developed engine. i believe, and in its infacy at that...
 
You are correct. They stopped the production of the 8.1 because nobody was taking that option. At the price point of the 8.1 option it was only pennies more to go to diesel so it fell off and they only offered the 6.0 or duramax at that point. Well anyway so keep going with the prop conversation and motor conversation. It's getting good! Getting me excited
 
From what I know, GM closed the plant casting the 8.1 after the 2008 meltdown that almost killed the company. It was a small facility in the NE USA. The 8.2 apparently is a bored out version of the 7.4 where the 8.1 was a completely new block. Because its cylinders are the same bore as the 7.4 but the stroke is longer than the bore is wide it produces more useable torque. Consider it a "stroked 7.4".
The regular 8.1 had cast pistons while the HO version has forged pistons and a more aggressive cam. Never heard of an issue about the 8.1's other than water intrusion from using aluminum exhaust manifolds with salt water exposure. This engine has a lot of computer control and safety features that make it less prone to an early death from being in a marine environment.
The 370hp version of this engine is way "detuned" and as a result should experience good longevity. If you want, there are performance upgrades that bump the hp over 500 with new intake and heads. Apparently the stock heads are quite restrictive. Personally, I'm not interested in getting there any faster…
Replaced by the older 8.2 or 502cu which was notorious for burning oil, Merc apparently changed the piston rings which claimed to have solved the oil consumption issue. It's bore is bigger than the stroke is long, so it's designed for higher RPM's and not so much focus on low end torque.
Too bad that GM didn't continue production, but they had to simplify their production to reduce costs.
 
They seem very impressive but also seem very expensive to get parts for if you can even find them. I couldn't find a base price for the engines tho. Any ideas?
 
At this time, I don't think the engines are available for anything but Volvo IO's. It just surprises me that VVT has been boosting engine power for cars now for some time, but the marine industry seems to be "missing the boat" for the most part. I'm sure Merc won't be too far behind on this - sure would be interesting to see a big block with VVT!

I'd still go with the 8.1's if you're repowering!
 
I think I'm going to go with the 8.1s just waiting on word from my mechanic and insurance company and the breakdown will begin.
 
Hi all- well things of changed I'm keeping my 30 Sundancer and now my dad is thinking about a 33 express cruiser. There is a1997 close to us with 7.4 mercs. Do you guys know if they had issues with the water intrusion on these motors? Thanks in advance
 
Hi all- well things of changed I'm keeping my 30 Sundancer and now my dad is thinking about a 33 express cruiser. There is a1997 close to us with 7.4 mercs. Do you guys know if they had issues with the water intrusion on these motors? Thanks in advance

Absolutly no water intrusion issues on the ec. They have lift style mufflers and 3 inche riser blocks the elbows sit plenty high over the water line. Great boat and the 7.4s move her nicely. My performance with the 7.4 is 3450 rpm at 27.5 mph burning 34 gph. (Your results may vary)
 
Hi all- well things of changed I'm keeping my 30 Sundancer and now my dad is thinking about a 33 express cruiser. There is a1997 close to us with 7.4 mercs. Do you guys know if they had issues with the water intrusion on these motors? Thanks in advance

Not that I'm aware of. the exhausts are above the water line and the exhaust are "Lift" type.

--Mike
 
Well ladies and gentleman. I got the call last Thursday morning that my boat was back in the water and the seat rial went perfectly. She was running better then ever. So I booked a slip at flynns in fire island and got my labor day weekend in !. So no new motors and no new transmissions were needed. I dunno if anybody knows what happen but 4 weeks back on my way to bock island to meet the crew for the csr rondevu I hit a 12x12 by 8ft long rail road tie. I hit it perpendicular to my boat so the final damage was 2 brand new shafts 2 brand new struts 2 brand new rudders 2 reconditioned props 2 new cutlass bearings 2 new dripless seals and very minor glass work. But that's all in the past now and I'm running strong and back to spec. Big thank you to Jones inlet marina in freeport for once again getting me out of the water asap (3 hours after the incident) and back in the water as fast as they did and for doing all the work perfectly (again)
 
I think its amazing just how tough the drive trains are on these boats! Glad to hear it was a much simpler fix than originally thought!
 
I think its amazing just how tough the drive trains are on these boats! Glad to hear it was a much simpler fix than originally thought!

My transmissions have gone to hell and back and all never miss a beat. I heard there bulletproof but didn't believe it. Now I do
 
I got a question for you guys. When you come off plane to idle speed, do you feel as tho your bow dips down pretty far? I'm not up there to look but of I had to guees my bow dips down to the point were my anchor is about a foot and half from touching the water. It comes right back up to normal attitude just seemed word to me. It has always done this since the day I bought her. 10 foot of chain then rope and no water or extra weight in the bow. I don't think anything is wrong I'm just curiouse if others have the same thing
 
As you come off plane, your bow wave that you climbed over to get on plane is behind your boat and it continues forward. This lifts the stern of your vessel which in turn gives you a bow down attitude. Depending at what speed you continue to go forward during this process it can take a longer than average time for the following wave to get past your boat. If you just power down to an idle fairly quickly, the following "bow wave" will pass under your boat all that much quicker.

I've experienced the same thing on all of my other boats. However, you may feel it more on this model since it has a more neutral balance where most are already stern heavy. Also, the helm on our boats is a bit further forward for its length than most so you're that much closer to the bow down action.
 
Do any other owners have a plumbed livewell? I have livewell in the cockpit floor and the only evidence it was plumbed was two empty holes where the fill and overflow used to be. They have caulk so it looks like the previous owner removed the plumbing. The reason I'm asking is that I would like to run my washdown as a raw water washdown vs. as it sits now drawing off the freshwater tank. For the life of me I cannot find where the old livewell pump was mounted or the thruhull that it would have drawn from. I pulled both the fishbox and livewell and crawled around the bilge with a flashlight and couldn't find a sign where it was.
 

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