The GN550 Tub of Fools boat was and will be the arch nemesis of the Teague Custom Marine GN77. The two boats, which were just about as opposite in setup as the class would allow, traded places at the top of the national GN standings in the late 80's. We got our hands on the GN550 Raysoncraft in order to bring it up to a competitive level for modern endurance racing.
The boat was originally driven off the snout as a raceboat. After it was retired and sold, the engine was turned around and reinstalled with a powerglide transmission. Immediately prior to TCM's involvement, the boat was running with a 540 roots blower motor. Due to the omission of any sea strainer, with the oil cooler before the engine water pump, seaweed clogged the system. This resulted in catastrophic failure from spun rod bearings, caused by sustained high RPM operation with overheated oil.
We began a complete overhaul of all the boats rigging systems. A 1450 HP Quad Rotor Whipplecharged engine was build and outfitted with a dual stage Latham water pump, while retaining the original reverse mounted dry sump oil pump. An electric fuel pump was added in tandem with the 6 port mechanical pump. To prevent further failures, a 10" deep TCM Strainer was added to the boat, combining the flow from both cavitation plate pickups and featuring pressure relief. The two stage pump then feeds the filtered water to the intercooler from one stage, and to the oil cooler and engine from the other stage. The intercooler outlet water is expelled through the transmission cooler to the V-Drive oil cooler, and dumped into the shaft log, as well as a dedicated -10 dump for sufficient flow. New mechanical pressure gauges were installed and plumbed to the engine's systems, as well as a new (old) Nordskog 120 MPH water speedo. The rigging hardware was also modernized with new flush SS dumps, bulkheads, and adapters. The V-Drive was removed and given a much needed rebuild and regear from 45% to 55%.
Prior to the 2014 Enduro, the Tub of Fools was tested and ready for action. During the final dam to dam testing run at race pace, the only piece of the boat not prepped by TCM, the tired Powerglide transmission, failed. There was not enough time to have it properly rebuilt and the race effort was scrapped.
The boat came back to Teague for a final round of enhancements. The existing single wall dry headers were showing signs of stress from the exhaust temperature and extra power, much like the headers that failed spectacularly on our GN77. The exhaust was replaced with CMI Big Tube fully jacketed SS headers and custom in house fabricated turn out tailpipes. Proper color matched valve covers and polished aluminum carb scoops were also installed. A custom recirculating puke tank for the V-Drive was also fabricated and installed.
The Tub of Fools is now again a power to be reckoned with on the race course. Reports from the owner show better fuel mileage at a faster average speed than with the previous, smaller engine, as well as "insane power anywhere from idle to redline."
Look out for this boat on the Parker strip, looking good at Fox's or maybe even winning next year's Enduro.
The boat was originally driven off the snout as a raceboat. After it was retired and sold, the engine was turned around and reinstalled with a powerglide transmission. Immediately prior to TCM's involvement, the boat was running with a 540 roots blower motor. Due to the omission of any sea strainer, with the oil cooler before the engine water pump, seaweed clogged the system. This resulted in catastrophic failure from spun rod bearings, caused by sustained high RPM operation with overheated oil.
We began a complete overhaul of all the boats rigging systems. A 1450 HP Quad Rotor Whipplecharged engine was build and outfitted with a dual stage Latham water pump, while retaining the original reverse mounted dry sump oil pump. An electric fuel pump was added in tandem with the 6 port mechanical pump. To prevent further failures, a 10" deep TCM Strainer was added to the boat, combining the flow from both cavitation plate pickups and featuring pressure relief. The two stage pump then feeds the filtered water to the intercooler from one stage, and to the oil cooler and engine from the other stage. The intercooler outlet water is expelled through the transmission cooler to the V-Drive oil cooler, and dumped into the shaft log, as well as a dedicated -10 dump for sufficient flow. New mechanical pressure gauges were installed and plumbed to the engine's systems, as well as a new (old) Nordskog 120 MPH water speedo. The rigging hardware was also modernized with new flush SS dumps, bulkheads, and adapters. The V-Drive was removed and given a much needed rebuild and regear from 45% to 55%.
Prior to the 2014 Enduro, the Tub of Fools was tested and ready for action. During the final dam to dam testing run at race pace, the only piece of the boat not prepped by TCM, the tired Powerglide transmission, failed. There was not enough time to have it properly rebuilt and the race effort was scrapped.
The boat came back to Teague for a final round of enhancements. The existing single wall dry headers were showing signs of stress from the exhaust temperature and extra power, much like the headers that failed spectacularly on our GN77. The exhaust was replaced with CMI Big Tube fully jacketed SS headers and custom in house fabricated turn out tailpipes. Proper color matched valve covers and polished aluminum carb scoops were also installed. A custom recirculating puke tank for the V-Drive was also fabricated and installed.
The Tub of Fools is now again a power to be reckoned with on the race course. Reports from the owner show better fuel mileage at a faster average speed than with the previous, smaller engine, as well as "insane power anywhere from idle to redline."
Look out for this boat on the Parker strip, looking good at Fox's or maybe even winning next year's Enduro.
