surprise attack

Hello, I am new so go easy guys! I just bought a 1999 28 ZX w/ the 502 ci / 500HP.
Has anyone tried to remove the factory exhaust tips? I wanted to take them off and replace them with Hardin Marine 10"straight pipes for improved flow, breathing and sound. Seams the existing factory tips with silencers are glues/sealed inplace and I am worried about spalling the gel coat on the transom if I pound/force them out. Any ideas for removing them? Anyone have any thoughts about the straight pipes? Good, bad?

Thanks alot

LAKESIDE RESTORATIONS

We sell their tips as well as many others. The tips are usually either sealed with a rubber gasket or 4200 on the Donzi hulls. We have replaced many tips on all of thier models. If it is the gasket they usually will tap loose with some adhesive & caulk cleaner/remover & be worked out carefully. If they are caulked in they sometimes come just as easily, other times they are more aggrevating. Sometimes it can help to carefully use a piece of very thin stainless mechanics wire to carefully cut the sealer between the tip flange & transoom & then carefully pry & cut the tips slowly out.. It sometimes can be a real P I T A if they are sealed up tight.. Especially if someone replaced them once before & used 5200! On occasion if it was in tight you may get a gel crack or chip behind the tip flange near the cut out.. To help minimize that work slow, its not a race..

If you are interested in buying tips from us, feel free to call me.. Jamie / Lakeside Restorations 570-639-2628

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ZXXX Donzi

Enjoy, that is a great boat. You should be able to pull the factory corsa tips and replace them with straight through tips. I did. It was a great mod. They seemed a little stuck at first but then they just popped off. Mine did not have the 5200. You will not see any difference but it will sure sound better and feel a little crisper. If you think that you really want to up the HP later then spend the extra bucks and get some heavy tips with a heavy duty flapper. I had some of the $130 tips and the internal flappers blew out once I installed the blower that I bought from Jamie.

Do you have a 500 EFI, 500 hp (carb) or the 502 Mag. What kind of speeds are you seeing?

One more thing, if you get the internal flapper, they will have a rattle. You will notice it at idle. It is normal.

Bryan Rose

Get off the internet Bill........................ and go to work!

LAKESIDE RESTORATIONS

All true.. I love my Zx & yes buy a good set of tips.. jamie / Lakeside

ZXXX Donzi

Did you get a chance to run that new prop before it got too cold?

LAKESIDE RESTORATIONS

Yes, but I still have some work to do.. I am doing a 1.5" Spacer currently & will get the boat back out when the weather breaks & see how it is.. Jamie / Lakeside

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