PYTHON 8.2LITRE CRANKSHAFTS

[NEIL]

My beast has died. The crankshaft in the phyton 1999 8.2litre engine has given up and we got it remilled but cannot get oversized bearings. A new crankshaft through PCM is $2500, while looking up web sites , I came across www.paceparts.com. Here they have the GM 502 cid 8.2 litre forged steel crankshafts (forging ID 14097044) designed for use in the 502 block v8. It is a Gen V and Gen VI design with a one piece rear main seal. It is externally balanced, nitrated and cross drilled. Costing about $900.
Would this be the same shaft as that originally used in the boat?

[ffmedic74]

RE: PYTHON 8.2LITRE CRANKSHAFTS

I would call summit or jegs and see what they have to say.

[NEIL]

SUMMIT / JEGS

WHO ARE SUMMIT OR JEGS? IS THERE A WEB SITE?

[mfloski]

RE: SUMMIT / JEGS

what size bearings do you need?

[NEIL]

bearings

Have no idea of bearing size as engine is with mechanic. He searched and was told a new crankshaft with normal bearings is needed, but there is such a variation in crankshaft prices while looking up web sites.

[Miljack]

Neil,
sorry to hear about the engine. You can match up this crank with the following info;

Main journal dia.
Rod journal dia.
Stroke

Is your mechanic capable of measuring these with a caliper?
Then you just need to go through the GM performance catalog and match it up. They have "crate" engine 502's in there, as well as parts to build them up.
I would consider getting the whole rotating assembly balanced while you have it apart. I don't think it would be that big a deal as the "flywheel" on the engine is just a "flexplate" for the starter and attachment to the trans.

BTW, what happened to the engine to make it eat the crank? How many hours on your engine?

thanks,
Jack

[83sn2001]

I would think the crankshaft is the same considering it is forged and the engine is l/h rotation. These engines are basically truck short blocks anyway. I also agree with checking with someone, although I would call Vince at skidim.com/ 803-345-0996. He should know the best route to take on this issue.

[Miljack]

Neil,
I probably need to amend my last post. I forgot momentarily about the rotation of these engines. I'm not clear on the rotation of this engine. I know the prop is RH, but I can't remember if the engine rotates that way.
Jack

[ffmedic74]

jegs.com or summitracing.com

[Rick]

If anybody would have the oversized bearings or new crank at a reasonable price it would be SKIDIM. Is your mechanic a boat or car mechanic. If he is not a boat mechanic you need to let him know that the engine he is working on rotates in the opposite direction as the ones he is used to working on. The seals are the big difference. Vince at SKIDIM can explain it all to you he's great.

[ag4ever]

Are you sure it rotates in the opposite direction?

I thought some had LH rotation engines with the transmission changing the direction.

[thejack]

Hey Neil. Question for you. I am looking at getting a nautique(super air) with a python engine in it. Am I am going to see a big difference in fuel consumption? Is the engine a lot louder and does it vibrate a lot more? I am just going to be wakeboarding and driving around a litle. Not going to be doing a lot of driving fast. Thanks for any input.

[NEIL]

FUEL CONSUMPTION

I find that while wakeboarding with four in the boat we would get a long evening out of a tank, a couple of runs each. As for comparsion with other engines available I would not be able to compare. Before this we had a Mecury 90hp outboard on a ski boat, which overall I thought was harder on the juice as she waqs kept at high revs. The python engines normally runs at about 2500rpm while boarding giving a speed about 20mph. It does vibrate alot but the noise is fantastic. But as said before if you have drive the **** out her at top speed you will need an old tanker beside you. Well worth the buy

[MHayes]

RE: FUEL CONSUMPTION

thejack, if you are thinking about a Super Air with the Python, you should definitely go take a test ride in one. Before my brother and I bought our Air, we took a 01 Super Air out with the Python. Yes, it sounds mean when you crank it up and ideling, but when you get going forget about hearing the stereo or having a conversation. Those things run straight pipes, and after a while I would imagine that the sound would become overbearing. And yes, the vibration is a bit more than you would experience with a GT40. Bottom line, go drive one and make the call yourself.

[Miljack]

8.2 Crankshaft UPdate

Neil,
I had our boat out last weekend, and I paid attention to the crank rotation, and the engine rotates CLOCKWISE when viewed from the front. This makes this particular engine a standard auto rotation version, so you should be able to use any heavy duty 502 big block crank. There are a TON of Hi-perf auto and marine engine parts houses here in the US, a good place to start is www.jegs.com, www.summitracing.com, and many others. PM me, and I can help you sort out some other sources.

Also, please post what caused your python crank to fail, I'm very curious about what could have killed one of these engines.

thanks,
Jack