perkins marine engines

[rdrose]

i have a friend that has twin t6-354m turbo diesels in his boat and would like to know how to get a few more hp's out of them not much is need just a little. the engines are from 1979 and installed in 1981. this is a 40 cabin cruiser. they are 165hp models. the drives are rated at 182hp. they are inline 6cyl.

 

[Ncostello]

I know very little about the perkins engines. But for some reason all I can keep thinking of is the 1st JAWS movie where the guys boat is billowing out smoke from the stack and its knocking real bad. Then he opens the engine hatch and smoke is pouring out of the hull. He wouldn't want that happening with a shark swimming round would he?



I know this won't help but I'd leave a good running boat engine alone if its doing OK. Trouble on the water isn't no fun as I once remember my uncles 40' floating around in the high sea waves off the coast of Florida with me in it. I was 10 but remember the fuel pump went out. Lots of cursing and fuel all over the place.

 

[Marco]

Perkins

I don't know that type of engine.

Anyway, last year I've overhauled my Perkins 4. 108 ( 4Cyl nat. aspirated ) engine. ( Sailing boat )



My engine was rated @ 36 hp but the spec sheet for the 4. 108 showed also 43, 46, 50 and 56 hp. After a looooong search I've found out that the rating is due to different injection pump calibrations. No other part in the engine is different. Since the injection pump has been overhauled too I asked the shop to use the 56 hp calibration... .



Runs VERY good now.



Just as a side not. Perkins marine engines have a great reputation. Very stout engines. A little heavy but they last forever.



Marco

 

[AWM]

I had a 354T in the old chevy before the cummins, it had the same pump as the first gens. , should be just a matter of turning up the fuel screw. Bob

 

[JLEONARD]

I had the predecessor... a 78 vintage T6. 354 rated at 160. Lots of iron... . I repowered with a 6BTA 270 hp Diamond 4 years ago.



I know lots of guys who have your 165 hp engine in their boats. (Mainship 34's)

Perkins made that same engine in 200 and 240 hp. Those models are intercooled with different turbos and larger capacity injectors.

Those parts should be available... but be advised Perkins marine parts are pretty pricey.

Also most of the 200s turned 2800 (3100 High Idle I think) under load whereas the 165s were mostly 2400. So your friend could safetly turn the governor up a bit as well as turning up the fuel aas was suggested earlier.



If he needs info on these engines or wishes to participate in an owners group where probably half the members have Perkins T6. 354 engines, send me a pm and I'll give you the link.



Jay

 

[rdrose]

thanks for the info since i have p7100 pump i will have to reserch on the 1st form on how to turn up the fuel. thanks

 

[JLEONARD]

The Perkins engines use a Lucas/Cav pump.

The 1st gen Dodges use a Bosch VE.



Some of the early Cummins 6B marine engines used a Lucas/Cav, as do some of the industrial 6Bs.

 

[AWM]

mine has a bosch VA looks identical to a VE

 

[ronco]

rdrose, your friend may do well to have his props "blueprinted". I read an article a couple of years ago about taking the props and having the pitch on every blade accurately measured and adjusted to make sure each prop was true. This does two things, ONE, the props are well balanced and will not cause drive problems (bearings, vibrations, etc... . ) and TWO, the props become more efficient for the input power. In this article, the diesel engines were older and expensive to modify. This guy picked up four knots top speed and reduced fuel consumption at all engine speeds. He was told to increase power to make four more knots of speed he would have had to spend about $4,000 total. He spent a lot less on the prop truing. This was a forty foot commercial fishing boat. Very good article.





Ronco

 

[JLEONARD]

Just about any good prop shop today will have equipment to acurately measure the prop.

"Prop Scan" is one brand ... . the other popular one is made by Hale Machine. I've had props checked and tweaked by both... both are comparable, but of course they each claim their's is better.

Most prop shops will measure and give you the print out free. Only takes a few minutes.

Props today can be tweaked so much better than they could just a few years ago thanks to this technology.

Jay