Well back to this subject again. Jeff was up and we measured the drives and came up with 7.25" so they are too deep. I'm back to thinking extension boxes. with shorties or running the stellings.
I've found a few other things that need corrected as well. But these only have to do with speed and performance not the blowout issue. Anyone know why the 302 likes to shoot the moon in the rough stuff? I'm thinking the boxes would help with this as well as a set of 380 plates to replace my 280's.
Well back to this subject again. Jeff was up and we measured the drives and came up with 7.25" so they are too deep. I'm back to thinking extension boxes. with shorties or running the stellings.
I've found a few other things that need corrected as well. But these only have to do with speed and performance not the blowout issue. Anyone know why the 302 likes to shoot the moon in the rough stuff? I'm thinking the boxes would help with this as well as a set of 380 plates to replace my 280's.
7.25"?!!!! That is in the basement! You need -3" drives.
I assume your referring to Imco Extremes and boxes.
Are you running Stellings,Latham or Imco boxes?
Yea, I run IMCO boxes. I like them better because they are easier on the drives because they keep the Mercruiser rubber coupler.
Stellings uses a 2 piece driveshaft that bolts to the flywheel. I think with anything under 550 hp a person is fine with the Stellings box, but I think the driveshaft & added u-joints & lack of a coupler are harder on the drive. Also the lack of the coupler sends bad joo-joo down to the drive by way of harmonics, in my opinion.
BAJA OL 650HP/ SABER 28 Gellner unlimited with konrad ace
Quote:
Originally Posted by irishtornado
Well back to this subject again. Jeff was up and we measured the drives and came up with 7.25" so they are too deep. I'm back to thinking extension boxes. with shorties or running the stellings.
I've found a few other things that need corrected as well. But these only have to do with speed and performance not the blowout issue. Anyone know why the 302 likes to shoot the moon in the rough stuff? I'm thinking the boxes would help with this as well as a set of 380 plates to replace my 280's.
your shooting to the moon cause of drive height, if you can get the 3'' raised boxes from imco, other wise just do the 2'' shorties. but don't go with straight boxes you will be even deeper, once you bring up the drive height the boat will fly more level, been there
If you do +3 boxes from IMCO you have to raise the engines 3" which means raising the exhaust 3" which means custom tails if you have headers.
A neutral IMCO box with -2" shorties will get you where you want to go.
Stellings with -2" IMCO lowers will give you the most flexibility & that would be the route I would take in your shoes.
your shooting to the moon cause of drive height, if you can get the 3'' raised boxes from imco, other wise just do the 2'' shorties. but don't go with straight boxes you will be even deeper, once you bring up the drive height the boat will fly more level, been there
I know every boat is different. When I bought my boat it had 2" imco shorty's and no boxes. I shot straight in the air and blew the drives out. After adding imco neutral boxes the boat gets on plane very easy.
Irish, I did all this over the summer on my 342. I went with Stellings which some love and some hate... But I wanted the adjustability. Either way, you have to buy new tops for your latham steering to keep your present rams. Then, becasue of the way they are connected, you need a new tie bar too $1600 when it is all said & done. You can always do IMCO and use shorties but I think shorties slow the boat down under 85 mph because they dont give enough bow lift like stock merc lowers. Also, the cost of 2 shorties takes the project up another $6000. FLEG is right though - 4.25 is the area you need to be for x dimention. FYI - If you go with the Stellings, PM me there are a half dozen things you need to be prepared for.
I had a 302 and extention boxes would do wonders for it... Heck, my 342 feels like a different boat.
I used my existing steering and kept the same tie bar. No major changes. I have latham and if you talk to them they will tell you you have to do everything that was said above. You don't! Works perfect. After it was done seems too easy.
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