Click for Abeking Click for Westport Click for Mulder Click for Burger Click for Nordhavn

37 Bertram 6v92 550HP shaft size

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by Breckster, Aug 17, 2018.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Breckster

    Breckster Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2013
    Messages:
    52
    Location:
    Bay City
    im told to expect 2500hrs.. but i just want to have something "ready" if needed. the guys that have done work on them have said, "A LOT of life left in those girls!" haha..
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Take good care of them and keep your foot off the last few RPS.
  3. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    There were also BIVENS 16v96's that put out 1700 HP. I know a boat that had those. I also knew someone that ran a boat with 24v71's and they were always constant problems with them, but they had so many hours on them.
  4. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Naw, the 24V71s were sweet. Usually chromed out under clear deck floors.

    I did not realize they did mate the V8V92 blocks. Don't know how Bivens bored out wet liners to make a 96. Must have been crank throw mods.

    Just found this; Yep, crank mods..

    https://www.yachtforums.com/threads/16v96.11262/
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2019
  5. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    He made A LOT of mods for 92's. He even has a patent on changing the valve geometry and several other items. The custom SF from that era had Bivens......Montereys, Jim Smiths, Tributes, etc...….Merritt OTOH seemed to love those 903 cummins. Interesting read, as Bivens was a true mechanical engineer instead of just another DD hot rodder……..

    http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5590625.html
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Lots of folks were re-inventing the wheel back then.
    The original PanTropic Marine was doing some heavy DD mods also.
    I was glad when Penski came on and shut down most of the heavy mods to DDs.
    DD was getting a bad rap and not their fault. You can only get so much H P from an engine for so long.
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I was doing the same rocker mods on GM MK IIIs.
    Just needed longer valve stems and springs. FRP valve covers gave me the room.
    Finally found an old school cam grinder that lit up my motors.

    Now, You tell anybody I worked on Gas engines I will have to beat you with a stale noodle.. Just between us,, rite??
  8. Julianna Rose

    Julianna Rose New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Amityville, NY
    Breckster, did you ever repower your 37?
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    With the mechanical Detroits. I hear of guys taking 8v92 DDEC's and switching to 6 port injectors, a larger HEUI pump and having someone burn the DDEC computers with a custom program and reliably getting 1000+ HP out of them.
  10. Breckster

    Breckster Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2013
    Messages:
    52
    Location:
    Bay City
    No... i sold the boat and purchased a 40 Cabo convertible w/Man CR6-800's
  11. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    The Biven’s conversions were not exactly a big hit on the marine pleasure craft market except for a small group of SF builders who were not exactly promoting reliability over top speed.

    https://mymarinetracker.com/invento...oit-diesel-8v96ta-biven-pair-w-gears-meg4593/
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    That's all they were designed for. Bivens was a small producer and all of the custom SF guys looking for the highest top speed used them for their power to weight ratio in expense of longevity (just like any engine, more HP it makes, shorter it's life). These custom SF, like Jim Smith, Tribute, Monterey, revenge etc. were doing almost 50 knots WOT in the early 1980's. Dick Moroso owned the Speed Merchant with Bivens 8v96s and even had Nitrous on them for the CAT Cay bimini starts and had a spare set of complete engines in his garage ready to install........fun times back then......I ran a 1991 58' Stiker that by 2003, had the J+T stock 12v92's majored 8 times, essentially every 500 hours and know of half a dozen other boats I was involved with over the years that the 8v92's or 12v92's only went 1000 hours between rebuilds.

    But I hear of people now, getting 1000 HP or more out of DDEC 8v92's by programming the computer and injectors and Huei pump and they seem to have a pretty good lifespan. One Arneson boat that was underpowered with the 760HP, I used to manage the guy did this to them 4 years ago and they're still running fine and the boat runs like a raped ape now. Before with full fuel you had to run it WOT to stay on plane, at 1/2 fuel 90% load to stay on plane......then 80% with a little less. It had to do 27 knots to stay on plane. Now last I heard, 80% load it runs 35 knots and fuel load is not an issue.
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    You kids do realize were working on a resurrected year old thread?
    The resurrection question has been answered.
  14. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    You kids do realize were working on a resurrected year old thread?
    The resurrection question has been answered.[/QUOTE

    That’s it, that’s all you got to say about reliable 1000 hp or more 8V-92:s ???

    I think the quote got messed up but I got the question.
    My reply;
    There is no such thing as 1000HP reliable horse power from a 8V92.
    Not sure how to turn the volume up any more.

    Any time you kids can bury this old pipe dream would be fine.
  16. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    There you go, just checking in on a Saturday night, thanks Pops ;)
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Oh, It's been a fine Saturday night. Just got chimed from Carl. Not opened it yet but I'm still logged on.

    Pops, nicest handle I have ever received. Thanks kiddo.
    Remember, one day you may grow up and have the scars and attitude us Crappers do.
  18. Julianna Rose

    Julianna Rose New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Amityville, NY
    Must be a big speed difference. Other then that how does the Cabo compare to the Bertram?
  19. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    The 40' Cabo is a much better boat in every aspect than the Bertram. Speed, build quality, ride, etc.
  20. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    It is cheaper to buy the Cabo than try to fix an old Bertram.
    Dam that was hard to type. I luv old Bertrams.

    Newer technologies, equipment, engines and more, now days are better in today's quality boats.
    Now, Not all new boats are quality boats.
    Don't think many new boats can slam down like an old Bertram with out splitting like an egg. With that, newer boats should not be slammed down but till that happens, they can run all week on a tank of fuel. Our 42 year old Bertram gets 2 gallons per mile going slow. Nuf said?