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Pics or it didn't happen.....

Way to go, Dick! It will be interesting to learn what makes the difference.

My guess is local law enforcement may pay you a visit about the time you get the 5th carb dialed in........ LOL!
...

Hey Dick,

You underestimate the value of your Hillsdale testing. The Looper Beast started easily and planed the boat. You learned the mixture is too rich and there may be a spark problem, but...

Hi Jeff,

There will be two beasts on the water....... After replacing the reed set, the turbo is back to its wickedly powerful self.

Tim

Hey Dick,

It's good to hear you are planning Hillsdale this Friday. My turbo 56 was freshened up, tested this weekend, and ready to provide chase. A GoPro will be attached to the cockpit side to...

It's possible the rod may have been brittle due to improper heat treat; the bolts would have torqued perfectly, then threads or other features fractured with a rap on the throttle. Suggest...

Or, possibly an oversized rod bore, undersized crankpin, or any combination that allowed the overtravel. Could even have been something as simple as a defective rod.

The answer is bad rod bolts and/or rod threads, or under-torqued rod bolts, that allowed rod over-travel.

Just a few thoughts: 1) The closest I've been able to run piston to head clearance without damage for OMC triples (with lighter/smaller reciprocating assemblies) spinning 8000-8500 is .028" (factory...

Whoa Dick!
Sorry to see your beast had a hiccup. Best of luck with the repairs.
Tim

Gotta jack this thread........

Mark Suter's annual AOMCI antique outboard show Saturday October 18 in Byron, MI just north of Fowlerville will feature Dick Austin's fabulous "Looper Beast" to...

An incredible piece of work! Will you fire it this fall?

Tim

Ohhhh wow! You've got to love it! BTW: Great story about the gearcase.

Tim

Simply fabulous!

Think Hillsdale, September.

Simply stunning........ can't wait to see & hear it!

Condolences on your loss; I'm sure your dad's spirit will beam with delight when you fire it. Again, simply fabulous! I hope you can make it to Suter's if just for fun.

Tim

Much as we’d all like to see and hear the sixes run, planned attendees are unable to participate due to a myriad of technical and personal challenges.

Anybody that brings a six will get a chance...

Clarification: Dick Austin is likely unable, but the event is still alive. I'm looking for a roll call for testing Friday and the exhibition Saturday and Sunday. So far, confirmed are:

Rich...

An OEM contact once confirmed Quincy loopers were known to deliver an astounding 6HP/In3 (over a very narrow powerband). Taking a conservative view at half the output, the "Looper Beast" should...

Aluminum art will be full song at Hillsdale this September 6-7-8 at the IOA “Carl Kiekhaefer 6-cylinder Mercury Memorial Exhibition”. Testing is Friday afternoon, with exhibition heats Saturday and...

Hey Dick,

We're all patiently waiting to see your looper beast up close. If unable for Hillsdale, please consider display at Mark Suter's Saturday October 19. http://www.aomci.org/events ...

Hi Dick,

Agree completely with Gene. Simply fabulous! Will we see it at Hillsdale? Mark you calendar September 6-7-8!

Tim

What can you say but....... Wow!

Any chance you might demo "The Beast" at Hillsdale?

Tim

Awesome! Can't wait to see it run.......

Tim

Thanks for posting more images, Dick.

What else can you say but incredible! Keep up the great work. I can't wait to hear the "Beast" run......

Tim

With one-offs, often the greatest challenge is figuring out how to accomplish a change in architecture. Hats off to Dick for his clever methods!

Tim

The OMC 2-bbls can be mounted on 3.500" centers with out modification. With minor mods 3.400" is achievable.

Tim

Hmmm, less than 0.6" needed (there's space between the OMC carbs at 4.0" centers). This weekend I'll measure up the 2-bbls to determine if they can be altered to work on 3.400 centers. It's too...

Hey Dick,

Jim Robb measured 4-1/2" carb centers on his 2.5l 120 motor, with space to burn. If your bore centers are 4.00 or more, 2-bbls are possible! For reference, the OMC Mod-50 uses three...

Hey Dick,

The OMC 2-bbls are installed on 4.000" centers top to bottom. Not sure about the Merc's, but have a request out to a friend with a 120 motor.

What is your cyl-to-cyl centerline...

Fabulous work Dick - it looks positively fearsome!

You might consider splayed 1-bbl carbs similar to the 666 if vertical space is an issue. Better yet, you might consider six two-barrels which...

Concern about converting carbs to adjustable needles - not recommended! With one barrel per cylinder it will be impossible to tune properly unless you peak each with a test wheel - nearly impossible...

Freakin awesome!

Carb centerlines appear very tighly spaced. What carbs stack that close?

Tim

Looks like you should have room for a 3/32" port which should be plenty if the plugs are relatively cool. Having blown two gaskets in the turbo in short succession begs the question: What do you...

Have you given consideration to an external water jacket? Though cross drilling will introduce water between the plugs it will also weaken the head.

The attached image is a 4-plug head for my...

Thanks again for traveling to Hillsdale and providing such a wonderful, nostalgic show. That shriek still sends chills up my spine.
Please keep posting images as your project progresses. Your...

Second the motion with an enhancement: This is a labor of passion!

Tim

Hi Gene,

Then you must have had Roger Hinsdale's 444.2 (serial #2). You get a lot of credit for not peaking. Not to worry, the images posted on the 666 thread will answer your questions.
...

Gene is correct; no offense taken. While the 666 is a dramatic improvement over the Merc reed cage system, it's still a deflector, no match for a looper on gas or alky.

Alan suggests 2 HP/Cu In...