Lets Get This Pumpkin Party Started!
Pumpkin’s 454 waiting! But not for long!
Yesterday, Jimmy and I ran up to Katzs marina to pick up Suzy and bring her home and ready for spring. It was a beautiful 60 degree day here in DC and about 45 up in Jersey, so it was a perfect day for towing. While up there we of course were able to see the progress of Pumpkin and other boats being prepped for owners. The place was hopping. Everyone cranking full throttle and getting stuff done. We are excited to announce that Pumpkins 454 is all ready to go in, this week.
Dave Van Ness did his magic in very short time. This is Van Ness Engineering’s new Performance Division. Van Ness Performance Marine and Automotive. Pumpkins motor is set for about 500hp. The rebuilt jet drive is now rated for 800hp..
The three stage pearl Orange is rated X and new lettering from Alan Johnson is rated for smiles.
Sweet!
Alex just threw up in his mouth a little bit.
LIKE
Oh me oh my! We are going to wave to Smurf Bye Bye!
Always be careful when racing a tortoise. They can be crafty.
I think more than a little!
so shiny, so bright. looks like its going to be a fun ride.what no special big orange shirt for Florida this year.
That thing is going to swallow gas at 40+ gallons per hour! Is the plan to put in larger fuel tanks or to use a long hose so you can keep it hooked up to the fuel dock at all times?
The paint job looks fantastic, and we know that engine will sound great. Warm shag carpet will feel amazing on our frost bitten toes. That leaves two senses left. Any special plans for scents or flavors? Scratch and sniff interior?
I guess we can always convert Smurf to a refueling tanker for Pumpkin. Wil Pumpkin be able to idle slow enough for that?
Gallon per hour? WHO CARES! Live life out of the no wake zone and show off your receding hair line! WOO-HOO!
Pair a big engine with a jet drive and a small fuel tank, and it becomes important to know how many MINUTES you have living life at full throttle! Otherwise you need to make that embarrassing call for help and you end up a Woodyboater feature story.
I like your Pumpkin!
Dam, I am going to go find me a pumpkin!! or two!!
Looking good.
beautiful work! the typeface is perfect for the boat.
what compression are you at and what kind of pistons have you used? only asking after a disaster with some forged high-silicon aluminum alloy in a pair of Ford 427’s.
Hi Norm, to be honest I dont know. I just know it was souped to meet a 500hp request.. I will ask though.
One things for sure…She’s going to get noticed whatever she does!
Alex I think we need to look into borrowing one of the V12’s from Miss America IX. That would shut everyone up.
The crew is suited up and ready.
scheeesch that boat is going to fly!
He who speaks vaingloriously, yet fails to have his boat 110% sorted before the cameras roll, pisses in his orange shoes.
“Pumpkin” looks absolutely fantastic! However (and you knew there’d be one), you might want to consider a few weight loss/power/asthetic mods: aluminum heads w/roller rockers, 3×2 intake/carbs with progressive linkage on a polished aluminum manifold, finned aluminum valve covers with orange between the fins, K&N 2×4 aluminum flame arrestor modified for 3-2’s, aluminum exhaust manifolds/risers (painted orange, of course), finned aluminum timing case cover and water outlet block-off plate…I could go on.
Not criticizing, just hopefully making suggestions for consideration. I have a “thing” for pretty engines. One more thing I might mention is that fuel should never be run through copper lines.
I’m not a jerk…honest!
Why should fuel not be run thru copper lines? Gotta ask!
There is a theory that pure copper lines will spoil the gasoline… However the cunifer type alloy lines are specifically designed for use with fuel applications.. Also, some states have regulations about what materials are acceptable between fuel pump and carb. I know when I rebuilt my 327Q I replaced all the copper lines with stainless (a little pricier but they look awesome and will never corrode or affect my fuel).
I’d also like to know why you shouldn’t use copper for fuel lines. Especially since chris craft used copper for fuel lines from the 20’s through at least the mid 70’s.
Ethanol plus water in the fuel can make it conductive and lead to galvonic corrosion between dissimilar metals.
I am a lot more worried about welded aluminum fuel tanks than I am copper fuel lines, but I was considering running new fuel lines on our boats this spring to clean up other issues, and I probably will not use copper again if I do.
Wow, all this engine talkin stuf and fuel lines thoughts is just waiting to stir up a lot of schools of thought so I gotta chime in. Matt , great boat, great paint ,great power plant putting out crazy tourqe and all going to what kind of propeller? I hope not the old one, I think you should consider one that is factory fresh that has been tested and inspected. Keep the old one as a spare as it might have been reworked at one point in its life and might have a stress crack or inclusion hidden in the inside. I would guess one with a heavier hub thickness to digest all that new torque that the old prop had never seen. Hope there is not so much that you flip. Wish I could see it in action.
Prop? We don’t need no stinkin props.
Relax guys, I am pretty sure between Katz’s and VanNess they have a few hours of boating experience and have a little knowledge about power.
Thanks Cliff. Its a Jet boat, jacuzi pump. All the inards including the shot impeller were replaced. Stainless steel stuff. One of the draw backs of these jet boats was the pump. They were the weakest link. Thats why it was souped up..
Some one is paying attention.
Mmmmm, Pumpkin soup. My favorite!
After the Sunnyland Show, I’ve got another show you might be interested in.
Gosh…All this talk of Pumpkins and fuel lines….It is the first day of daylightsavings time and that means Spring is here and boating season is upon us….Hallaluya..
Oh ! and Tavares is right around the corner…
This “Pumpkin” should be a little better on fuel.
Per ABYC for Gasoline powered inboards; Fuel distribution and return lines shall be seamless copper, nickle copper, or copper nickle with a minimum wall thickness of 0.029 inches or USCG Type A1-15 hose if the line is within an engine compartment.
There is also a requirement that metallic lines connect to a flexible hose before the engine to isolate it from vibrations. The old all copper from tank to carb setups are not legal per CFR 33…
Sec. 183.558 Hoses and connections.
(a) Each hose used between the fuel pump and the carburetor must be “USCG Type A1” hose.
Sec. 183.562 Metallic fuel lines.
(a) Each metallic fuel line that is mounted to the boat structure must be connected to the engine by a flexible fuel line.
(b) Each metallic fuel line must be attached to the boat’s structure within four inches of its connection to a flexible fuel line.