Who knows about BEVIN built DD's

[riverrandy]

I stumbled upon these beauties today!
I am told they are 8V96's! a custom Detroit built by Jack Bevins of Stuart FL now past. I have read a little bit about them, but the highlight are that a change in the crank shaft, timing, and exhaust push rods drove the HP up to 880, and increased Horsepower per gallon of fuel burned from 18 to 21.5. I do not know what that means exactly, but seems very good. If I can work it out, I would love to replace my tired 12v 71's with these old school hot rod engines, and not push the hell out of them.

Would love to hear if you ran them, or what if you know any thing else about them.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Stick with your 12v71's

 

[Cricket]

Most of Jack Bivens engines were put in Florida built custom sportfish boats and some repowers, that was a long time ago. Those boats were all easy to push and super light from builders like Monterey, Smith, Garlington, American, etc..
Those same builders were the first to install the MAN's and they were pretty much bullet proof in the light weight boats, v12 @ 800hp. MAN's problems started when they raised the HP and then started putting them in harder to push heavier boats like Viking and Hatteras.
There's lots of custom parts on those engines as well as various settings/timings. Not sure if there's anyone that could work on them anymore and there's probably no way to get those custom parts.
You do realize they are bored out 92 blocks with custom liners for just 32 more cubic inches per engine.


If you're going to go through the trouble/expense of a repower modern reliable 2 stroke engines that make a lot of HP probably make much more sense, CAT C18 @ 1000hp might work.

 

[edward]

Cost of a CAT C18 1000hp engine ?

 

[madhatter1]

An arm and a leg. Maybe throw in an eye.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I would stick with your existing engines. I can't think of a better recipe for a bad outcome than putting in engines that are 1) built by someone no longer in business? 2) hotrodded with parts you can't get now 3) not the most reliable form of the DDs 4) have to be custom fit into you r boat

If you want to go faster, invest (a fortune) in a modern repower. Better yet, maintain what you have, and use your boat a lot, because for the price of a modern repower, you can buy truckloads of fuel, oil and spares.

 

[riverrandy]

Thanks for the input, and advice. I appreciate what you all have to say.

My goal is not speed, but fresh engines. I would love to stumble upon some newly rebuilt 12 v 71 near me for similar money. Fact is I could rebuild what I have now for close to the same money as having these installed. One brought up the point about unique obsolete parts, I have that now with Capital gears. The Bivens engines have Twin Disk gears. The shafting would not need replacing, and the props could be updated to deal with the extra 220 HP.

Has anyone on this site ever run Bivens before?I am sure there are a number of J&T folks or Covington owners, was just hoping to find a Bivens owner.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Thanks for the input, and advice. I appreciate what you all have to say.

My goal is not speed, but fresh engines. I would love to stumble upon some newly rebuilt 12 v 71 near me for similar money. Fact is I could rebuild what I have now for close to the same money as having these installed. One brought up the point about unique obsolete parts, I have that now with Capital gears. The Bivens engines have Twin Disk gears. The shafting would not need replacing, and the props could be updated to deal with the extra 220 HP.

Has anyone on this site ever run Bivens before?I am sure there are a number of J&T folks or Covington owners, was just hoping to find a Bivens owner.

I thought you had V-drives on that boat. Are you sure those could handle any more horsepower?

Plus, if you repower with anything other than the 12v71's, then you have to change exhaust, instrumentation, maybe even battery cables, fuel lines, etc. as those may all need to be routed differently. In frame rebuild will always be cheaper than removing/replacing.

 

[kelpy]

Those engines are sitting on pallets for a good reason. Are they zero time units with warranties?

There is nothing wrong with well maintained Capitol gears.

 

[JoshuaHall]

I briefly considered those engines a year and a half ago. They've been for sale at least that long. I declined for the same reasons listed here. Common sense prevailed, and I opted for a pair of 12v71s. I do wish Pier 77 would do more wheeling and dealing. Lots of goodies in that warehouse.

 

[riverrandy]

I thought you had V-drives on that boat. Are you sure those could handle any more horsepower?

That is actually the best question. I do not know if it could?!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I thought you had V-drives on that boat. Are you sure those could handle any more horsepower?

That is actually the best question. I do not know if it could?!

I met a guy up here in the Great Lakes with a 64. He claims to have a rebuild schedule where he completely rebuilds his V-drives every so many hours. I asked him how he cruises the boat and he told me he always runs on plane so that may add to the wear. It sounded like the V-drives were the weak link in that setup.

BTW, I love that layout of that boat with the ER in the back. I don't know why they didn't build more of them. I'll bet she's pretty quiet up in the pilothouse with the engines so far back.

 

[jim rosenthal]

It is a great design and I have always wondered why it wasn't more popular.

I think if you have the option, rebuild your 12-71s. Would it be possible to take the heads off and have them done off the boat, and do the rest in the boat? I have not been on a 64MY in a while and can't remember how much room there is in the engine areas.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

It is a great design and I have always wondered why it wasn't more popular.

I think if you have the option, rebuild your 12-71s. Would it be possible to take the heads off and have them done off the boat, and do the rest in the boat? I have not been on a 64MY in a while and can't remember how much room there is in the engine areas.

There is a ton of room in that aft engine room. The only problem is going down that ladder from that side door.

 

[riverrandy]

It is a great design and I have always wondered why it wasn't more popular.

I think if you have the option, rebuild your 12-71s. Would it be possible to take the heads off and have them done off the boat, and do the rest in the boat? I have not been on a 64MY in a while and can't remember how much room there is in the engine areas.

I can rebuild in place. funny you mention it, but heads are at machine shop now. The engine room is giant! 6'5
' of head room, nearly 18' wide and 15'+ long.

I used the forward davit on the starboard side to reach over the entire boat, and down the engine room side door. With head strapped to a 2x12, hauled it up to the deck, over the rail, and back down onto the finger pier. ill post a picture going back in...

 

[riverrandy]

I think this is the best layout ever. I do believe the v-drive was the weak link, though in her history I only see one drive ever needing repair. My real desire would be to put state of the art engines with V-drive transmissions attached. thus moving the engines all the way forward to the ER bulk head and creating about 8' plus to the transom. Making a LOT of room aft! For now, some elbow grease, and a few tweaks here and there. she runs well and is super smooth.

 

[jmooney]

Great layout, a few years back I met an owner who put a lot of money in a very nice 64 ,electronics and engine rebuilds etc. I then saw it for sale with new John Deere engines. Probably a trawler now, but so what, someone got a great boat.

 

[edward]

How about VOLVOs and pods ! Great layout!

 

[jim rosenthal]

I believe these were Walters V-drives, weren't they? Supposed to be very reliable if the maintenance is kept up. Very nice layout.

 

[riverrandy]

I believe these were Walters V-drives, weren't they? Supposed to be very reliable if the maintenance is kept up. Very nice layout.

Jim, you are correct sir they are Walter V-drives. I hope that is the case. one of them blew a CV joint 6-7 years ago, but turns out in the industrial world the parts are still available. There is a limit to the amount of Torque they can handle I think. So I need have to learn more about what the limits are. My guess is being 47 years old they are not as strong as they once were