1977 Dimarco 5/8 Runner Bottom - redo

[Tahoe540]

My buddy picked this boat up about a year ago and it is a beautiful original boat that was well taken care of. Well like most of us he can't leave it alone. He decided to do a complete rebuild and here are some pics of the new paint job and scheme changes. We are building a new 548 BBC with a huge solid roller and dual dominators up top with a dry sump. He is also getting a new prop made for his new setup. Lots of cool parts to make for this too.

Here is the boat in the condition he bought it.

 

[Tahoe540]

Here is the new paint scheme, still needs pinstriping and clear coat. He is also having new cav plates and hardware installed.

 

[bagged97taco]

Looks awesome Who painted it?

 

[port austin pirate]

Here is the new paint scheme, still needs pinstriping and clear coat. He is also having new cav plates and hardware installed.
View attachment 735877 View attachment 735878 View attachment 735879 View attachment 735880 View attachment 735881

Very nice

 

[cofooter]

Wow, looks great, love the paint

 

[Tahoe540]

Looks awesome Who painted it?

TNT Marine and Auto Painting in Reno, NV. My friend could not be happier. He is going to buff the inside and repaint the black areas. Will keep updates when the motor build starts next week and the boat goes to pin striping in 2 weeks.

 

[wzuber]

TNT Marine and Auto Painting in Reno, NV. My friend could not be happier. He is going to buff the inside and repaint the black areas. Will keep updates when the motor build starts next week and the boat goes to pin striping in 2 weeks.

Beautiful work!
He should order a nice work cover to protect all that beautiful work from @wannabe mom. Very reasonable and well made. I'd bet they already have the patterns too. Looking forward to seeing the progress and maiden voyage vids.

 

[Tahoe540]

Short Block is going together and the clear has been applied. Moving along and should have more motor pics this weekend. We need to get the heads on so we can build a bracket for the dry sump tank.

 

[Tahoe540]

Done with paint off to the pinstriper. Motor work and rigging next.

 

[cofooter]

Paint looks great, who did you floors? They look great, too!

 

[Tahoe540]

The painter did the floors as well. He redid the black paint and shot some clear. I agree it really does look great. Looks like motor parts are coming home today so more updates coming soon.

 

[oldschool]

Nice looking flat .

 

[Tahoe540]

Boat is back from pinstripper and it looks great. Also moved the name to the sides and off the bow. Got the short block painted along with some other parts. Hopefully heads will be done this week so motor build and rigging can continue.

 

[Tahoe540]

Changed directions and went from a dry sump back to a wet sump system. Did some piston to valve clearance and always find issues with studs and shaft rockers.

 

[Tahoe540]

Back on track, had some life get in the way. We got the motor finally put together. Here are a few specs on the motor, should be a screamer. Should be on the dyno next week.

BBC 548 cu in
Dart Block
Crower crank and rods
14:1 compression
Brodix BB2 Xtra heads port matched to intake
Old school Weiand tunnel ram with twin dominators.
Crank Trigger
Big cam over .800 lift can't find the cam card for specifics

 

[bagged97taco]

Can’t wait to see this together.

 

[warpt71]

View attachment 751382

May I make a suggestion? The lines coming off the water pump, if you took the left and routed it to the right side of the block, same for the right side line to the left of the block, it would be a straight shot in and eliminate the 90* fitting. Also it may end up bringing those hoses in tighter, cleaner and lower.

Love me a good dragboat resto

 

[One2go]

Super cool, looks sweet

 

[Tahoe540]

Been a little slow lately getting all the small things done. Finally got steering back in so boat is ready for the motor this weekend.

 

[bagged97taco]

Looks great. Digging that ski tow!

 

[oldschool]

Looks great. Digging that ski tow!

X2. Might want to use a recoil tube on the rope when he tows someone, it will keep the rope from getting tangled up in the alternator pulley and keep the rope from scuffing that new paint. Bitchen boat.

 

[wettrthebettr]

Your project is coming along Great
I'd like to make a V-drive box Brace like yours
Could you shoot up a photo how it connected to the drive?

 

[bagged97taco]

Your project is coming along Great
I'd like to make a V-drive box Brace like yours
Could you shoot up a photo how it connected to the drive?

It just bolts to the mid plate for Vdrive.

 

[wettrthebettr]

I do not have a Mid plate, I have a Champion ace v-drive
It is mounted with a 1 1/8 round stock to box mount and stringer mounts.
I would have to bolt to the box mount
Photos are worth a thousand words

 

[Tahoe540]

I will try and get some better pics of his setup but those struts bolt to the stringer then to the midplate.

finally got the motor in the boat so now a bit of wiring and little more plumbing and hopefully we can start it this weekend.

 

[wzuber]

that thing is sweet...pure badassery right there. With those motor specs he may find those k&n'n filters a little restrictive. I ran them on a pump gas 540 and they were at the edge efficiency then. Will you be dyno'g the motor at any time? It would be cool to have those #'s to see right where the power band is and see what max tq/hp is. I'm guessing around 950-1,000 hp. what a beautiful ride. Well done gentlemen. Pleeeeeezzee post video of fire up day and final tune if you can. My ears and spirit could sure use some popncackle. Can you tell I'm living vicariously through you?
Do you happen to have any spare new 548 pistons hangin around?

 

[Tahoe540]

I have some used 548 pump gas forged pistons. I think they are Icon?

 

[oldschool]

Your project is coming along Great
I'd like to make a V-drive box Brace like yours
Could you shoot up a photo how it connected to the drive?

This is how my C500 is braced, you might be able to do something similar.

 

[oldschool]

Cant wait to see this when its done.

 

[renodaytona]

Bad Ass. Can't wait to see it at Lahontan. I need to get my motor going, life definitely got in the way for me to get that project going.

 

[wzuber]

that thing is sweet...pure badassery right there. With those motor specs he may find those k&n'n filters a little restrictive. I ran them on a pump gas 540 and they were at the edge efficiency then. Will you be dyno'g the motor at any time? It would be cool to have those #'s to see right where the power band is and see what max tq/hp is. I'm guessing around 950-1,000 hp. what a beautiful ride. Well done gentlemen. Pleeeeeezzee post video of fire up day and final tune if you can. My ears and spirit could sure use some popncackle. Can you tell I'm living vicariously through you?
Do you happen to have any spare new 548 pistons hangin around?

interesting but a little scary at the same time. I'm not sure there's a part in an engine that gets abused more than the piston. What rod length...6.385 or 6.535? did you run any power adders with them? Have any pics? specs., part # yadda, yadda? thx

 

[Tahoe540]

These have about 10 hours probably? No power adders and they have the coated skirts. I can get you pics. 4.250 crank with a 6.385 rod. I went to a 555
https://www.summitracing.com/nv/parts/uem-ic814-064/overview/

 

[Tahoe540]

OK back on the water and getting things tuned up with a little set back.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/w1hZui3NSLvvpgFp6

 

[Roaddogg 4040]

OK back on the water and getting things tuned up with a little set back.
View attachment 767735
https://photos.app.goo.gl/w1hZui3NSLvvpgFp6

Oooooos, not fun.

Steve

 

[Tahoe540]

Should be back on the water this weekend for another good flogging. Ended up damaging the number 3 lifter bore for some reason and causing some valve train damage. All is fixed and ready to try again.