repower 400ec gas to cummins
- Thread starter wildfire
- Start date
sprink56
New Member
- Oct 28, 2008
- 1,288
- Boat Info
- 1979 255 Liberator
- Engines
- twin Mercruiser 450 HP I/O on Bravo I Drives
You must really love the boat to even consider that job. Got to run into tens of thousands of dollars.:thumbsup:
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
This is a big job that runs into big money quickly. I owned a 390EC that we loved and would still own had she been diesel powered. We went thru the process of pricing the re-power and was suprised at all the work required to change a 7.4 powered boat to Cat or Cummins.
Here's a list......new engines, new transmissions, new shafts, new props, new generator, new fuel system plumbing to add return lines, new gauge package, new sending units, rewiring portions of the boat, new shaft seals, 3-4 weeks in the boat yard, disposing of the old gasoline, etc. etc......in 1996-7 the cost was about $74,000.
I am familiar with the 400EC and that particular boat has a problem that must be addressed when repowering to diesel. The diesels are longer so there is going to be a very tight fit between the bulkhead and the engine. You will need access to the front of the engine for changing belts, zincs, etc, so you cannot just use a manufacturer's exterior engine dimensions. You have to be sure the engines fit where you can work on them.
My conclusion, 12 years ago was that it made no sense to invest almost what the boat was worth in re-powering and it would be a smarter move to sell the gas boat and replace it with a later model diesel boat. Even if you trade your 400EC for a diesel 400EC you will be money ahead.
Here's a list......new engines, new transmissions, new shafts, new props, new generator, new fuel system plumbing to add return lines, new gauge package, new sending units, rewiring portions of the boat, new shaft seals, 3-4 weeks in the boat yard, disposing of the old gasoline, etc. etc......in 1996-7 the cost was about $74,000.
I am familiar with the 400EC and that particular boat has a problem that must be addressed when repowering to diesel. The diesels are longer so there is going to be a very tight fit between the bulkhead and the engine. You will need access to the front of the engine for changing belts, zincs, etc, so you cannot just use a manufacturer's exterior engine dimensions. You have to be sure the engines fit where you can work on them.
My conclusion, 12 years ago was that it made no sense to invest almost what the boat was worth in re-powering and it would be a smarter move to sell the gas boat and replace it with a later model diesel boat. Even if you trade your 400EC for a diesel 400EC you will be money ahead.
douglee25
Well-Known Member
Another thread I was following somewhere else had a memeber who priced a diesel retrofit and he too was in the $75k - $100k price range. He nixed the idea as well.
Doug
Doug
tobnpr
New Member
What Frank said. Fuhgeddaboutit- especially in this market.
