The Engine Name Game – You Game?

Maybe call the Engine “BIG RED”?

Well, here we go, the Trusty W is going to be retired to the shrine of vintage iron. She is running fantastic and because of how I use her, I don’t want to ruin it, since W parts are getting tougher and tougher to find. Not to mention I use it a lot and in brackish water. So WECATCHEM is getting a souped up small block engine so I don’t have to make a new engine box.

350 in Grey marine Green

Chris Craft Blue

She will put out around 285 HP, and be teamed up with a Paragon transmission, which is the ONLY way to go in a 25 Sportsman.

Hemi Green?

A simple sticker could add an aged look

She is being built to be a reliable engine first, but look the vintage part when opening up the engine box. The plan is SIMPLE, utilitarian and almost like it was pulled out of a Navy pursuit boat in the mid 50’s.

Stinky is getting ready for Dora

After all its all about the story. And just a new Mercury engine is.. well. Not me. So, as we named the “Pass Gas Special”. We want to name the new Engine. Color is also part of it all.

Not my engine, but love the color

Scripps Grey. A lighter engine is that color to show any leaks.

White Caddy Engine?

LOVE this color – maybe call the Engine ” Green Lighting”

Thanks for playing.. NAME MY ENGINE!

 

/37 Comments/by
37 replies
  2. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Good decision whatever color you paint the engine. Just make sure you keep the W so you have the original package if you ever do decide to part ways with Wecathem. Congrats!

  3. Matt
    Matt says:

    WECATHEMS original engine will be made a shrine. And ready. I dont want to ruin it anymore by use. Sadly her parts are getting tough to find. Like Manafolds! Which salt water uses up fast

  4. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    You have a great “I” for color so I will leave that alone.

    For name: How about WEPUSHIT (That would be WE PUSH IT, not WE PU SHIT which can be a play on WECATCHUM and STINKY all together.)

    At first I thought of WEPOWERUM or WEPOWERIT, but I like WEPUSHIT much better!

    • m-fine
      m-fine says:

      Ha!!! I like it, but only if he adds fresh water cooling! Being in brackish water, it is the sensible move, plus, if done right, it can be super simple to “winterize” or freeze proof which could drastically expand the usable season in Virginia.

  8. Old Salt
    Old Salt says:

    The Substitute
    The Replacement
    Transplant
    Pursuit (Playing off the name WeCatchEm)
    Interceptor (Playing off the name WeCatchEm)

    Be bold, paint it bright yellow!

  11. Frank@Falmouth
    Frank@Falmouth says:

    OK, this may be “other there” and may test ones knowledge of mythology, (and google is only a click away) but heres my vote for the name of your new powerplant…that WAS the question,… Oh and Im with John r on color.

    Prometheus as the name for your new powerplant

    This would be a play on NEW power in an OLD boat. Kinda like Frankenstein .. The full title of Mary Shelleys book was “Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus” isnt Frankenstein what we essentially create when we combine new with the old…

    I wont take up a lot of space here detailing the references or analogies to power, fire or Zeus” disdain …..its good reading online..
    “Zeus could be the “original power only” crowd. “not that theres anything wrong with that…

    Might even be a few references in one of my favorite movies “Young Frankenstein” and you could yell “Its Alive” when you first fire it up.. 🙂

    Prometheus with a Paragon
    Powered by Prometheus
    Prometheus Powered

  14. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    M-fine must be happy with this as noted. M-fine….are you joining us at Dora this year! Hope so.

    John in Va.

    • m-fine
      m-fine says:

      Completely up in the air on Sunny Land at the moment. Somewhat literally. I have recently fallen off the wagon and resumed my aviation habit, which is sucking up time and cash flow, but I may fly down for a couple days if timing and weather work out.

  15. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    My color vote would be one of the Chris Craft blues, probably post war V8 light blue like a late 50’s 283 because that’s what the engine will look most like. Any color will work though and you can have fun with it. I painted a Chevy 350 Ford blue which gets under the skin of both the Chevy and Ford faithful!

    I would suggest an electric fuel pump near the tank (with oil pressure safety switch on the engine), an HEI type ignition, and carter/eddlebrock carb. That will give easy starting and modern reliability without looking like a 2020 Merc.

    It won’t look period correct, but spend a couple hundred more and fresh water cool it. Run antifreeze through the block and make the raw water pump, lines, and heat exchanger easy to drain so you can use her (near?) year round and not worry about anything freezing.

    I see the argument for a big block and also the issue of fit in the dog house. Done right, a 350-400 cuin SBC will have more power and torque than the W did, and especially with a 1.5:1 gear. You will get more speed with a big block or pushing the SBC with a direct drive, but how often will you want to go over 30-35 in that boat anyway?

    As for names? “The Better Late V8” as in better late than never!

  18. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P)
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P) says:

    If I were putting in a small block V8. I would go one of two ways.. The color Chris Craft used the first year it was offered. Orr Mercruiser black with finned aluminum valve covers, polished aluminum exhaust manifolds, chrome flame arrrester, Accel wires. Go fo the WOW factor when you open up that engine box. The mouse would be a good name. This is what drag racers called the Small Block Chevy in the 60s

  19. Dick Dow
    Dick Dow says:

    Matt, closed cooling is a “must” for your location and application/use. I won’t put together a boat for my use without it. I also agree with the 1.5-1 reduction suggestion. That is what I ran in “Tango” my first Red & White and what I am putting into “Aknota” behind the 454 I’m building for that boat. Aside from that, color it as you will – whatever pleases you. You are going to really enjoy the boat with upgraded power! 🙂

  21. Mike U
    Mike U says:

    My name suggestion – ‘Mistress’ – she’s younger, slimmer & has more energy. Paint her lipstick red too.

  22. Herb Hall
    Herb Hall says:

    Assuming you are starting with a 283 flywheel forward conversion, if you are going to use the manual Paragon 2XE box, it it’s ability to take more than the stock 185hp is marginal. You might want to consider finding a donor Chris Craft engine with a Paragon HF7 hydraulic box. Better yet, find a good tournament boat take out, Pleasurecraft or Crusader with a Velvet Drive 71. my two cents.

  25. Joe Zelinski
    Joe Zelinski says:

    These work in the salt with heat exchangers and stainless headers. Some manufacturers cool the engine and manifolds on the glycol loop, becomes a very easy flush.

  26. Mike D
    Mike D says:

    This is way late but would it make sense to convert the W with fresh water cooling? That would pretty much end most of your concerns about color and appearance. Just asking!

  29. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    I may have an HF7 hyd. gear……..but doubt I have any 1.5 reductions in the shed….got 2.5….big cruiser gear…..but you can have the hydralic unit if you need it.

    John in Va

  30. Jim G
    Jim G says:

    I probably have some HF-7’s or the later P series Paragons with 1.5 to one reduction. I also have the adapter plate and flange to convert the 283 flywheel forward from the manual to the hydraulic gearbox.

  31. thomas d
    thomas d says:

    the last picture of the green Gray marine is mine. I may have to paint it now cause I thought it was gray… I’m a little color blind. the guy I got the engine from said Van Ness rebuilt it.

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