DD 6V53 Turbo - Angel Marine

[bigjohnbates]

Hello - I am pretty new to this site .. at least as a poster. However, I have read a ton of posts on here over the years as I have had 5 previous boats. I recently purchased a 1986 Angel Marine 43 Sportfisher and all the info I can find comes from the hand-drawn electrical and plumbing plans that were on board. Any other information or direction on Angel Marine would be great as I know nothing except the Taiwanese boat-yard she came from seems to be high quality; as is this boat.

I am also looking for info on Detroit Diesel 6V53 engines (yes, I do have the repair manual). My engines run but unfortunately all four turbos have either seized or the housing has cracked. These "Screaming Jimmies" are each supercharged (blower) with twin exhaust turbos. However it seems to be difficult to find these turbos and I understand they were discontinued about 2016. I am wondering a few things:

1. Would anyone have leads on finding these turbos either used or rebuilt?
2. Any thoughts on running the engines without turbos. There would be a significant loss of power I understand, as well as some re-plumbing/welding to ensure the exhaust is safely dealt with.
3. Has anyone re-powered from a 6V53 footprint?

Thanks in advance, I hope that someone here has some experience with these beasts as I am looking forward to getting this vessel underway ; ]

John

 

[bajansailor]

Welcome to the Forum finally John!

I do not know anything about Detroits, however I am sure that you will get a good response on here.

You could also try posting the same questions on the YBW Forum in England - there are a few lads on there who are very knowledgeable about rebuilding Detroits, and I am sure that they would love to get involved in a thread like this.
Motor Boat Forum https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?forums/motor-boat-forum.14/

 

[Scuff]

When you say the housing is cracked do you mean the turbine side? The supercharger is really a blower in this application it keeps the air moving in the right direction. Any data tags on the turbo's?

 

[bigjohnbates]

Welcome to the Forum finally John!

You could also try posting the same questions on the YBW Forum in England - there are a few lads on there who are very knowledgeable about rebuilding Detroits, and I am sure that they would love to get involved in a thread like this.
Motor Boat Forum https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?forums/motor-boat-forum.14/

Thanks Bajan Sailor, I will try that. I appreciate the idea!

 

[bigjohnbates]

When you say the housing is cracked do you mean the turbine side? The supercharger is really a blower in this application it keeps the air moving in the right direction. Any data tags on the turbo's?

Hi Scuff ... Two of the turbos are cracked completely off where they attach to the engine. Another is cracked but still attached and the fourth hasn't been inspected yet. The turbos are R8926100 and the engine serial numbers are PORT 6D0235606 and STAR 6D0235688

 

[comfisherman]

1. I'd call a Detroit company. Detroit has been slowly phasing out support of these engines for a long time. Doesn't mean the parts don't exist, just that a non oem now makes them usually for an international market. I think the original might of been a Garrett. Guessing there is a similar footprint version, Detroit might know who makes one.

2. Some definite differences in turbo vs non turbo on the fuel delivery side. Most notably injectors. The marine put out near 200 hp with n50 injectors the natural with just the blower was under 150 with 40

3. It's been a while but yes, we did a 210 cummins 5.9 liter for a 6v53. It was a miserable swap on an alloy boat. The inline 6 didn't like the same footprint as the relatively short and squat 53. If you have the room and budget probably a nice upgrade, but a really expensive option.

 

[bigjohnbates]

1. I'd call a Detroit company. Detroit has been slowly phasing out support of these engines for a long time. Doesn't mean the parts don't exist, just that a non oem now makes them usually for an international market. I think the original might of been a Garrett. Guessing there is a similar footprint version, Detroit might know who makes one.

2. Some definite differences in turbo vs non turbo on the fuel delivery side. Most notably injectors. The marine put out near 200 hp with n50 injectors the natural with just the blower was under 150 with 40

3. It's been a while but yes, we did a 210 cummins 5.9 liter for a 6v53. It was a miserable swap on an alloy boat. The inline 6 didn't like the same footprint as the relatively short and squat 53. If you have the room and budget probably a nice upgrade, but a really expensive option.

Hey ComFisherman - thanks for the info. That's good to know. They quoted 310 HP with the Garrett turbos and blower, don't know how that works out but I can hope. Either way I don't want to change 12 injectors.

I will try Detroit, I've been looking in WA and FL but MI is a good angle. Sounds like the Cummins swap is messy, going thru the center of the boat woudl be pretty awful and i'm in no huge rush. Appreciate you sharing the knowledge!

 

[comfisherman]

310 is a lot of power out of a bit over 5 liters. They do a fair. Bit of that nowadays but that was a lot out of one. Going natural would really, and I mean really bring power down.

At one point almost all my boats were Detroit powered. Some had been built by various shops. They were kinda the 350 big block of the diesel world. My last pumped up one was a 6v92 that a second hand diesel shop had built. It had a monster of a turbo and injectors off of a 149 series. Smoked like a booger on idle but ran a long time.
We had a heck of a time finding a replacement turbo as it had been a performance shop type unit from the 90s.

We ended up getting close to spec and buying a modern turbo and adapting it. Wasn't super cheap but beat repower prices. You might be able to find a decent fit that doesn't take a ton of adaption.

 

[bigjohnbates]

We ended up getting close to spec and buying a modern turbo and adapting it. Wasn't super cheap but beat repower prices. You might be able to find a decent fit that doesn't take a ton of adaption.

Interesting, and yes I thought that was a fair bit of power for a V6. The silver series is significantly aspired tho ; ] I think your solution is likely where I will go though it has only been discontinued for 5 years so the optimist in me thinks there must be a few around ... somewhere. While I search I am going to remove the existing turbos (or what's left of them) and see if there's any rebuilding options. Perhaps then someone can suggest a modern turbo that is close. Thanks again for your insight.

 

[Scuff]

R-8926101 | Detroit Diesel Remanufactured Turbocharger | 53 https://www.dieselpartsdirect.com/r8926101

You might contact these guys .. if this isn't the correct turbo they may be able to help you out. You could also Google Goldfarb they're on the east coast of the US. I've bought cores from them in the past they are very knowledgeable and may be able to help. Good luck I love the sound of those engines.

 

[Lepke]

ebay is a good source for used Detroit parts. Also surplusman.com Diesel Parts | Shop for Marine Diesel Engine and Transmission Parts for Detroit Diesel, Cummins & More - Diesel Pro Power https://dieselpro.com has turbos also www.powerlinecomponents.com.
I've been running Detroit 2 cycles for 60+ years and turbo models since they came out. I've never seen a cracked housing. Makes me wonder.
Turbo failure is often because of poor maintenance, not proper oil changes, and the line to the turbo becomes restricted or the oil is thick with soot. Less oil flows, cooling effect of the oil is lost and the bearings and seals fail.
Turbo engines have a lower compression ratio than naturals. Running a turbo engine w/o the turbo creates less hp than the natural model unless you change pistons.

 

[bigjohnbates]

I've been running Detroit 2 cycles for 60+ years and turbo models since they came out. I've never seen a cracked housing. Makes me wonder.
Turbo failure is often because of poor maintenance, not proper oil changes, and the line to the turbo becomes restricted or the oil is thick with soot. Less oil flows, cooling effect of the oil is lost and the bearings and seals fail.
Turbo engines have a lower compression ratio than naturals. Running a turbo engine w/o the turbo creates less hp than the natural model unless you change pistons.

I have contacted all 3 of the places you suggested, thanks! Waiting to hear back from one still. Seems to be a hard part to find but a bunch of places rebuild them. Looks like I might only need two as well, I'll be taking them all off over the next few weeks.

Sounds like I will lose efficiency along with horses if I can't find turbos and have to change injectors and have new plates welded. I also have to wonder what cracked them. One was completely broken tho I think someone might have leaned on it accidentally.