wowchad

What is/are the best mods for the money on a carb 454?

I want to keep the engine in the boat and just do easy bolt on stuff.

My application is on a 1997 208 Baja Islander with Corsa quick & quiet exhaust, where the exhaust goes through the hull and the prop simultaneously.

I already have aftermarket BARR MARINE polished exhaust manifolds and an MSD ignition system.
Should I figure on eliminating the quick & quiet? (I really would like to leave it on if it's not eating up too much horsepower)

Are there any other main things I should look at?

How about a water pump bypass?
Intake manifold?

Caincando1

What happened to the Obsession? So you bought a 97 208 islander instead?

Dave M

Is the engine a MAG or a standard 454? The MAG has better internals and can be modified with better success than a standard 454. A small blower may be the best bang for your buck. Or, intake, cam, and exhaust combo.

wowchad

Man you don't miss a beat, what do you do for a living?

I called my Uncle Tom, (the guy who's been going to your run every year now), and asked him to come test drive the Obsession with me.......
Well to make a long story short he gave me a deal on his boat I shouldn't pass up.

I'm still going to drive the Obsession to be sure, but a few things turned me off about it.

#1 Poor resale (unknown builder)
#2 It's a 1995 (very outdated teal/pink color scheme)
#3 Small engine (It's a 4000# boat with a 350 in it)

Dave the engine isn't a mag so blower is out.
Carb/intake sounds good to me , but I may just wait and freshen the whole top end then I can think heads also!
If I do alum heads / intake / exhaust I should be into the 450HP range and lose some good weight also.

Caincando1

I sit here all day and try to figure out what boat you are going to buy next. I local buddy emailed me this weekend and said he was going to make a deal on a 22 nordic and should be home with it today. I wonder if it was the same one you looked at.

The obsession is allot of boat though. If it has a 350 does that mean it has an alpha? If so that would be the pits. Beat them up on the buying price to make up for poor resale.

Good luck with the Baja. If the deal fits your needs and makes you happy then that's all you need. The Islander is about the same size as your outlaw with and open bow isn't it? I may have some ariel pictures of the boat from the poker run. When I get time I'll look.

wowchad

How many 22' Nordic's can there be around here for sale, must be the same one
It's wet....rotten wet
I offered them 20K via email and they turned it down.
They probably get so many inquires a day they think it's sold, but it's been back on boattrader 3x now. Every time someone see's it they walk away or lowball 'em and get turned down.

It has mold in it.....shame for such a nice boat (only68hours!)
It's much smaller than this Baja 208 I'm looking at too.

The Obsession does have a Bravo so it could be repowered with something bigger, just not what I had in mind for my investment.

Wife wants a turn key people hauler, newer, but in the 18k-23k price range. Nothing we like so far comes close.
I'm waiting for a 25' Nordic mid-cabin, but around here it's not happening.
If I buy the Baja with the 454 it's in the cards to sell it with-in the next couple years.
If the Obsession works out I'd keep it and hope the engine holds out until I could afford to re-power.
This would work well

"GM Performance Parts build the ZZ383 with 425 hp @ 5400 rpm and 449 Ft.Lbs torque @ 4500 rpm.
Price from Pace Performance is....4869.95
Installed cam is perfect for marine use too."

Caincando1

To many choices.

I didn't know the Nordic was rotten. If it is the same one I hope he passes. He is a MWBP member that live near by.

I can get you a smoking deal on an 01 Baja H2X with a 454 MAG 385hp. It about 10 grand more than your price range. But it would be a lot easier to finance becasue its so much newer.

wowchad

With a family of 6 I need an open bow or the like. I don't think an H2X would be roomy enough but where is it? May just have to look

Caincando1

It's here in Rochester. It's some locals friends from Great River Harbor. They just bought at Eliminator 25 Daytona. So he would like to sell the Baja before winter. So there is a good deal to be had.

I hear what your saying about the space. The H2X is a good all around boat. The thing jump on plane and stays on plane at slow speeds for water sports. Yet it a rocket and will run damn near 70 out of the boat. The back seat is WIDE so there will be plenty of room for the 4 kids. plus they can play in the cuddy.

Where was the Nordic for sale at? Sorry didn't mean to Hijack your thread.

wowchad

No worries, I'll PM you.