James all I can say is a stock engine will go to the lake, start and run every time. A lightly modified engine will almost all the time. When you start using pieces from the aftermarket then fitment becomes the issue in reliability.
I have been fighting an intermittent problem for 3 months. I've found many possible reasons, but found the John Deer tractor alternator intermittently charging 18+ volts. That shuts the engine computer down. Runs like a harsh rev limiter, not a fun thing. OK throw a new Chinese voltage regulator in it. Now 3. I've come to the conclusion today the rotor inside the unit is shorting when it spins and is knocking out the regulator.
OK, pop the belt off and run it as a total loss system. Well that's OK for a short time but because the engine is electronic fuel injected and battery powered ignition and the big fuel pump, the computer doesn't like the voltage surges and constantly dropping voltage. Then the starter gets s l o w.
That said I still was going to run a few miles with the car motor boat guys any way, up to Las Tables where the topless show usually starts about noon. I'm waiting, and decide to make another quick pass, crank the engine but the starter doesn't sound good, sorta spins weird. Pop the cowl and find one of the after market starter mounts broken and the starter moved away from the after market flywheel. Luckily one of the allen bolts no the second aftermarket mount had backed out and gave me a clue something worse was about to happen had I just run it. Second lucky thing I had the correct allen wrench in my boat tool kit.
So before I run it again I have to have a friend machine a new am mount and find another am alternator then have it machined so it will fit under the am flywheel.
So if you want to do it, do it. But remember I are a mechanic, I don't charge myself to do all this trouble shooting and work.
All in all I did Open the Can O Woop A$$ on the 800+ hp blown jet , the flat bottom and some big tunnel that thought they were quick. My friend with the blown jet did greet me by asking if I was going to give him his a$$ wooping again, I just said yep. And smiled. And told him I'd try not to embarrass him in front of his friends to much. I post a video but my GoPro and Photo Bucket aren't talking nice nice.