Cummins VT-903-M Resources / Advice

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BisforBuild

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I have a 1990 Riva Tropicana with a set of VT903M one of the engines sprung an oil leak that wasnt noticed due to a faulty gauge and it ran dry on oil. Now it has a slight knock.
We're pulling the engine from the boat tomorrow and will start the tear down to figure out the damage.
I was curious where i should be looking for documentation and parts lists and to source parts for the repair, ive heard nightmare stories of how hard it is to source parts for these engines.
Also just any advice from people around these forms that knows these engines, all information is very welcomed. Im trying to learn as much as possible so i can make an educated decision on
fixing the one engine and refreshing the other, or just repowering the boat and being broke for the rest of my life.

Cheers!
 
burgundyben said:
I replaced a pair of Perkins T6.354 with Perkins M265ti. Next s pair of Mermaid Ford Dorset 180hp replaced with Cummibs 6bt. At the moment in the middle of taking out a pair of Leyland 4/98 and putting in a pair of Cummins 4b 80hp NA.
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so you haven’t repowered any 903 boats? I’m asking because i’m curious the engine selected to replace the 903. Most engines in its comparable power range are 40-50K used, and i assume most boats originally equipped with them don’t hold the value to add another 100K+ of engines.
 
BisforBuild said:
so you haven’t repowered any 903 boats? I’m asking because i’m curious the engine selected to replace the 903. Most engines in its comparable power range are 40-50K used, and i assume most boats originally equipped with them don’t hold the value to add another 100K+ of engines.
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Ah. I see your point. You have 300hp @ 2600rpm?

I would think QSB6.7 if you wanted new, but yes, thats £40k each.

Used Cummins 8.3CTA are out there for £15k each? If an inline 6 will fit where a V8 comes out.

You are right that finding good used pairs is very hard. I got lucky first time a pair fell in my lap. Second time they came with the boat on pallets, a stalled project in a right muddle.

This time I found one and that seller led me to the other.
 
Might be worth talking to Mermaid Marine about the FPT N67.

Am I right in thinking the 903 needs careful setting up of the injection gear timing? Special tools and knowledge?

Any spare 903 in Nelson circles? Worth asking on the Nelson facebook group.
 
BisforBuild said:
I have a 1990 Riva Tropicana with a set of VT903M one of the engines sprung an oil leak that wasnt noticed due to a faulty gauge and it ran dry on oil. Now it has a slight knock.
We're pulling the engine from the boat tomorrow and will start the tear down to figure out the damage.
I was curious where i should be looking for documentation and parts lists and to source parts for the repair, ive heard nightmare stories of how hard it is to source parts for these engines.
Also just any advice from people around these forms that knows these engines, all information is very welcomed. Im trying to learn as much as possible so i can make an educated decision on
fixing the one engine and refreshing the other, or just repowering the boat and being broke for the rest of my life.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Hi, I'm Italian, I would like and follow to buy a Riva Tropicana 43 like yours; the Cummins 425 engines smoked (I saw some Tropicana and they all smoked!) and was it possible to resist the smoke? How did the engine change you did go and which engines did you mount and with what result? Do you have any photos of the change to send me please? Thanks
 
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