Bracker I think you're missing the point Chris was making. If hassle free use vs working on the boat is your goal stick with an off the shelf setup,
A quench style piston is easy to find from a reputable manufacturer. The manufacturer simply pulls it from their shelf.
that has a warranty, and can be serviced by any reasonably qualified independent technician or dealer.
Please explain why servicing a GM built SBC engine would be any different than that of servicing a SBC engine built using a Q/E into the combustion chamber!
We use the same or similar C/R, the same or similar cam profile, the same cylinder heads, the same ignition system, etc.
This is NOT about building a High Performance SBC. It's about reducing the potential for Marine Load Detonation, allowing for better performance and torque.
If your passion is for the project and you don't mind working through some issues have fun with it.
Once Bracker makes his parts selections, he'll be on his way to the build.
Chris's advice is really protecting his clientele in terms of fixing it once and fixing it right being worth money up front, which is the correct approach.
First off, Chris isn't building this engine for Bracker.
Secondly, if this is not the correct approach, you must be in agreement that men like Dennis Moore (SBC Marine Performance), Jeff Smith (Super Chevy and well known SBC enthusiast), Marlan Davis (Hot Rod Network) Larry Carley (expert on engine combustion), John Erb (Chief engineer KB pistons), Jon Cobalt (crankshaft coalition) are all wrong!
My only additional thought ought would be make sure what ever machinist you use is very familiar with this build.
Any good machinist/machine shop will know exactly how to set this up.
If they do not..... it would be time find another machine shop.
Some people who do not understand this build, nor understand the advantages, will be the same people who will Foo Foo it as though they do!
I would suggest to anyone that they educate themselves as to the "why" and "how", before dismissing this type of build.
Seems a lot of posts like this where some one wants a custom hopped up engine,
Please understand that this is NOT a Hot Rod or High Performance build.
Again, I would suggest educating yourself as to the "why" and "how", before dismissing this type of build.
poster gets plenty of free advice (other people spending your money), tend to see a fair number of issues down the road where poster has to go back into engine and there is some type of mismatch or machining issue.
Please give us a few examples regarding this type of build going bad!
This is not being a nay sayer, just reality of what you see on this and similar sites.
Ok.... getting down to the basics here, and while asking you to be very specific and detailed........, what are your exact reasons for being so against a Marine SBC Q/E build?