New Woody Boater Engine Confusion Just Got More Confusing.
WECATCHEM’s new VANNESS 350 CU, 325HP – Paragon Transmission
Okay, you may need to actually pay attention here today. Sorry, I know its Saturday and yesterday we talked about the engine that drives Woody Boater the website and brand. As in a Server. Okay, thats in the works for Sunday Night. But in an odd coincidence and usually they are. We also were informed that our engine was ready for WECATCHEM. Yes, in the same day. And to confuse things even more, I WARNED YOU. I am confused on the decal situation. So you all need to decide. Remember, TWO different engines. One a digital mess on a rack in some cold wearhouse, the other a small block chevy 350ish cocktail we had made from VanNess.
Plan A. Decals to match the 185- 283 decals 427 300hp ones, but make a custom valve cover decal.
Just like the original ones with changed numbers
PLAN B. Name the engine.. BLUE FLAME, or WAKE BUSTER, SCREAMING V
PLAN C, design a decal that fits what might have been done by Chris Craft in 1948 ish, yes I know, but a decal can slightly alter the look
I designed this within the spirit of design style of the 40’s and early 1950’s My gut feels like back then a V8 would have been a special thing, and words like Special were still not over used. So would have indicated something..well, special?
So there you have it. What do I do with the engine name? She is a 4 bolt main, monster of a 350. Paragon with reduction gear, and a big fat Rochester Carb to move it along. She is getting a special vintage flame arrester as well. The W, will be placed in a pickled state and made into a shrine in the barn for another time. I plan on stamping in the serial number of WECATCHEM with a V8 next to it on this ones plates to keep it all in the family. SO.. A?B? or C?
Definitely plan A. The other stuff is very creative but not how Chris Craft labeled their marine conversions. Let’s see what Staib says.
By any chance has this “monster” 350 been stroked to 383? If so, you could pretend its an early model with no decal on the valve covers and simply stamp 383 in place of 283 on the brass tag. Sleeper stealth.
Hopefully we are actually talking about 3 engines here this morning. Server, actual and one pictured. You did say pay attention.
The engine pictured does not have a reduction gear. You’ll need one in that application
I thought the same thing..
I like A
I’ve always liked the classic Woody’s but I’m sticking with my 375 ho Volvo Penta 8.1 in my reproduction “Veronica”. 😁
I’d go with the “Special V8” without horsepower. No exhaust tags either.
Plan C
Special V8
The others are too common.
Now that Van Ness 350 is an engine I can understand! The driver engine for this site (or watever you call it) not so much.
Plan Number C. Might as well have some creative fun with it and it looks neat. Plan A would be second choice with the vibe of what an in-period engine replacement might have looked like. And finally Plan B – maybe some play on Wecatchem? “Wemakemgo” “WeRevEm” “Wetorkem” etc.
isn’t that monster going to need a bit of gear reduction or something other than that straight reverse gear?
Good move to do this conversion for that great boat.
John in Va.
In the words of John in Va.:
Put her in and GO BOATING!
The saying in the biker world is “Chrome don’t get you home.”
Plan C. A is 2nd choice. As for plan B – didn’t Chevy call one of their inline 6s “Blue Flame”?
The 53 Corvette had a multi carbed truck engine labled Blue Flame Six
I’d go with C. But thanks for the Blue Flame. Brings back memories of my childhood. Fastest Natural gas powered vehicle ever. Google it.
C I I love the design you came up with! I like Jim’s idea of no horsepower, But that’s the first question people ask you. I Just like a boat, even though the years painted on the transom, the first question is “what year is it?”
A looks a little to modern, C is the way to go.
Wish I could get my new engine…
c but dont spell it correctly
kinda like wearhouse
C
Matches your creative jeans genes
I like C
Special V8, definitely
Uhh, It’s A V8, it has 350ci, and what more “special” secrets does it have? I suggest, leave the Chris Craft Engine plate and stamp a Big “R” next to it, let everybody imagine what that “R” means. Go out on the lake and show your “R”! I hope you have a modified exhaust with it…..
Good Luck!
You are all 100% regarding the Reduction gear. We discussed it at legnth and decided not to now that I recall. . I love C as well, and yes agree on removing horepower. Love the mispelling idea. HA Thats funny as hell
Blind leading the blind
OneEye, will be King in the land of blinds..
R4 means; ReImagine, Racing, thus Reduction gear or Repair….You may Reimagine replace with ReEngineer… Anyway, prop, prop shaft, tranny might need a Reconsideration 🙂
Don’t know what a W is rated at, but the WBR’s in AB were 200HP so if this 350 is really putting out 325 you are increasing HP by more than 50%. WECATHUM should scoot!
Has the “Blue Flame” been dyno tested?
Oops
Wrong pic.
Matt,
Just to point out the font is wrong on your plan A decals.
On the 283/350 conversion I do. I just put the 283 decals on it. Nothing like a sleeper.
Yes, the font was not dead nuts on.. Good eye..
The USPS must’ve handled my write-in vote. Still sitting in post office somewhere in rural KY or VA.
I am re-voting for choice C, with the Horsepower or Cubic Inches, then A, then B.