Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
01-22-2006, 10:00 AM
#31
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Location: long island, newyork
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
an engine built to make 600 h.p is pretty mild from today's outlook.as far as resale, in certain cases a factory engine will be easier for resale, as well as bring more $, because not every buyer know's or understand's the reliability or credibility of a Zul or a J.C . therefore in their eye's the value of the vessel with the radical enines is less desireable because of price for reliability, due to ignorance of this industry.
not every one is a 100+ m.p.h boater although there are many who fathom to be , look at the insurance statistics over the last few years which proves this.
for reliability i believe these engines are the mack of mack daddy's. but i would rather let the builder's them selve's make claim's of expectancy as far as hours go, from a more conservative point of view.
i can tell you this much. i ran a 36 eliminator cat w/ 525's around the poker run circuit .bricked from the start of the run to the end. the engines ran mint as they did everytime out. this was last season.
this year i ran a 36 gladiator with zul 750's, same run's, 6000+ rpm. bricked the entire time. but this time there was a difference. my customer had this to say.
thanx,,,,,, BIG RICH.
not every one is a 100+ m.p.h boater although there are many who fathom to be , look at the insurance statistics over the last few years which proves this.
for reliability i believe these engines are the mack of mack daddy's. but i would rather let the builder's them selve's make claim's of expectancy as far as hours go, from a more conservative point of view.
i can tell you this much. i ran a 36 eliminator cat w/ 525's around the poker run circuit .bricked from the start of the run to the end. the engines ran mint as they did everytime out. this was last season.
this year i ran a 36 gladiator with zul 750's, same run's, 6000+ rpm. bricked the entire time. but this time there was a difference. my customer had this to say.
thanx,,,,,, BIG RICH.
01-22-2006, 10:02 AM
#32
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Originally Posted by gsmith9898
DING DING DING....we have a winner! That is what I am trying to say. If the engines are equal in quality than the lesser horsepower will go longer before tear down.........which equals more reliable. So the 525efi would be more reliable than the 900sc. Zuls 650hp would be more reliable than his 1000hp. Bob teagues 650hp would be more reliable than his 850hp. When the funny cars and top fuel cars tear down after every pass, it is not because they have nothing better to do or that there engines are cheaply built , It is because when you build that kind of power, you have to stay on top of things. Where as the mild street car class tears down twice a year does not mean they have better motors, just less power. I will not waste any more space in this thread. If you want to know about horsepower and reliability, call Richie Zul or Tyler Crockett and they can explain it better than I. 
01-22-2006, 10:08 AM
#33
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Originally Posted by gsmith9898
What are you smoking ? Call Zulls, Sterllings, Tyler crockett or Bob Teague and ask if more horsepower requires more frequent tear down. The question that was asked was what was more reliable. If you want reliability than stay with a low horespower quality engine and you can almost run forever with no problems. The 525efi dynos at around 540hp, I am sure that Zulls is around 650hp. If you called Zulls and asked what would be more reliable, his 650 or his 850. I am sure it would be the 650 hp. Now put your crack pipe down and make the call.
01-22-2006, 12:37 PM
#34
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Originally Posted by offthefront
Hardly any fuel ???? 
01-22-2006, 12:42 PM
#35
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Originally Posted by TwinStepGun
I can run from Miami to South Key West (160 miles) and more than halfway back on one tank of fuel running over 80mph the whole way. I've done it 3 times. Sean H and Nauti Kitty will back up the claim. They burn a fraction of what the 525's burn and my boat will run in the low 90's consistently.
240 miles on how much fuel ? Interesting because I always thought one advantage of EFI was fuel Compsumption ...
01-22-2006, 12:55 PM
#36
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Ive seen stock 454/365Hp throw rods at 200 hours, and Ive seen some go 900 hours before a rebuild. So its not all about how much HP it has. You can take a 500HP GM crate 502, and a 600HP Richie Zul engine, and I'd put my money on the ZUL engine lasting a lot longer. Merc 500HP motors are great, however they need attention too. For instance, a 540CI making 600Hp vs. a 454 making 600HP, obviously the 540 is going to be more reliable becuase you can run less compression, smaller cam, and only have to spin it to 5200 to get the power. I dont think its so much about the HP ratings making something unreliable, its the setup. I had a 540 with 600HP and it ran as smooth as a 454/365 and idled like one too around the docks
01-22-2006, 01:02 PM
#37
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Originally Posted by offthefront
240 miles on how much fuel ? Interesting because I always thought one advantage of EFI was fuel Compsumption ...
I know but like I said I have witnesses here that will tell ya. Sean was in my boat this year on the way there and back. Parnell has been running next to me 2 of the years.
01-22-2006, 01:19 PM
#38
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER
Ive seen stock 454/365Hp throw rods at 200 hours, and Ive seen some go 900 hours before a rebuild. So its not all about how much HP it has. You can take a 500HP GM crate 502, and a 600HP Richie Zul engine, and I'd put my money on the ZUL engine lasting a lot longer. Merc 500HP motors are great, however they need attention too. For instance, a 540CI making 600Hp vs. a 454 making 600HP, obviously the 540 is going to be more reliable becuase you can run less compression, smaller cam, and only have to spin it to 5200 to get the power. I dont think its so much about the HP ratings making something unreliable, its the setup. I had a 540 with 600HP and it ran as smooth as a 454/365 and idled like one too around the docks
01-22-2006, 01:23 PM
#40
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Re: Zul 650's vs Merc 525's
Originally Posted by TwinStepGun
I know but like I said I have witnesses here that will tell ya. Sean was in my boat this year on the way there and back. Parnell has been running next to me 2 of the years.
