Wette Vette Found....
 

Or at least part of it. The LT5 engine just surfaced (no pun intended) on eBay.
Anyone know if this is the real deal?
H
:cheers:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F282973344459

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

That's a cool piece of history if legit. Too bad it was pulled from the boat.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

My bet is that someone bought it from Rick Kirk's estate and is now trying to make some money on them. This was in his collection.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

So, why isn't it in the boat? Where is the boat? --Bob

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

The engine was removed by MerCruiser a long time ago & the boat sold. Story goes that a big block was installed in the boat & the new owner was killed when the boat crashed (I recall the boat hit the dock @ high speed). Boat was probably destroyed, but not 100% verified. Rick tried to locate the boat but was never able to confirm its existence.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Bingo!!

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Hi Jerry. This is what I remember hearing. I might even go so far as to say I think that I heard the owner was decapitated in the accident.

I say "them" when describing the motor in my earlier post, because I think there might have been a second LT5 modified for boat duty, as well.

Rick had ALOT of collectibles. I hope the family knew/knows what to ask for all of this stuff.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

I think we all know this... How awesome it would have been to own the Wette Vette as it was in 1991. I wonder why the motor was separated from the boat?

Can any of you imagine what this boat would have been like as a 415? :p

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Thanks Jerry. It might be fun for someone (not me) to find a similar boat from the era (a 1991 24 foot Baja 223 Bandit) and make a replica using the actual engine and stern drive. There is a 1991 for sale for $15,000 -- here's a link to its ad: https://boats-from-usa.com/baja/baja-223-bandit-132075. Sounds like a project for Brett Henderson! Here is a link to a video of the Wette Vette running on a lake. --Bob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=v0YsfogqYLo

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

The second one you are referring to is a “show display” unit, mock-up without internals.




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Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Wette Vette engine was MerCruiser Black

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Uh HUH! Well, at the 2011 Stillwater Reunion, I was fooled then and assumed that the silver "show engine" sitting next to the Mercruiser Black (Wett Vette) engine was "IT". I did get one pic of the actual engine (black) but my picture left a little to be desired and is a fuzzy closeup that doesn't show the headers/exhaust. Oh well.

I do see that the MerCruiser Black engine has white cam cover lettering. It also has the Mercruiser logo on the plenum. I will have to learn how to post pics here, post Photobucket era...then I could post my pic.


The engine noted by the OP on Ebay is the "show engine" then, not the actual working unit.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

If this is the display engine it would have no internals and therefore not run. Funny the seller doesn't mention this. Wouldn't a buyer be surprised to discover no pistons or crank! But the seller does not take returns...Good luck!--Bob

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Here are my pictures from the 2011 LT5 Reunion. These were at Rick's

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Hmmm...So,didRick have both the actual running engine and the display model? Also, I wonder what the engine numbers were on each. --Bob

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Yes....

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Anyone know how many aqua miles were put on that LT5? And I think it would be cool to restore the Wet Vette set-up and display it at the NCM....

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It had 286 nautical miles. Just kidding! I have no idea!

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Thanks Dennis! Your pictures are better than mine would have been.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Keep in mind marine engines live at high rpms, since there's no gear changes on a boat. Propeller in that video seemed like a midrange pitch, because it gets up on plane so quickly. A top speed prop choice will look like it's struggling to get up onto plane, but will reach higher mph once it gets into its range.
Service intervals for fluids on marine engines should be done much more frequently, 10-30 hours of use. Exponentially more torque is required in the water to reach a higher mph. My 24 ft Challenger reaches 84 mph with 690hp 650 tq, 540cu BBC. Yes, the LT5 spins higher rpms, but without the torque it won't see 6500 rpm unless propeller is sized to match, thus affecting speed in the water.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

1989 Challenger Super-Vee
24ft fully rigged, minus power & drive (just begging for that LT5 combo!)
Currently available. Attachment 7504

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Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

I remember hearing a story that they had to design a special prop for the LT5 because of the high RPM

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Did you see the Dunn heads the same seller has for sale?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F282973265403


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Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Yes, very unusual cam covers too. Makes you wonder if standard cams and such will work in those heads.

Did you see the photos of the other engine and misc parts in the first listing the seller says will be posted later?
H
:cheers:

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

I thought it was cool and pretty wild looking myself.

I saw that and it prompted me to see what else he had out of curiosity. Sounds like a nice stash of some good stuff. Thanks for sharing the link.



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Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

No photos of cam covers to see if numbers match cyl heads. May be worthless for anything more than souvenirs. Heads are bare with only valve guides. IF the heads are even serviceable, they will need;

16 Intake Valves
16 Exhaust Valves
32 Valve Spring Seats
32 Valve Spring Retainer/Caps
32 Sets Valve Spring Keepers
32 Valve Stem Seals
1 RH Dunn Tensioner Sleeve
1 RH Dunn Tensioner Cover

Guides Reamed
Seats cut
Valves/Seats Ground/Lapped

It's expensive to outfit heads for a 32 valve engine.

Re: Wette Vette Found....
 

Buy it Jerry; you have all the parts.....lol.


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