switching from XR to HT B-max

[txriverrat2001]

After re-building a pair of IMCO's (Not the Sc's) on the Whipple boat - the owner decided to go with BMAX HT's.

The first go around wasn't so good as the boat didn't handle worth a flip and lost some speed. After removing the 1 1/2 spacer (running 2 inch shorties) the boat runs like a dream. I'm assuming the difference in weight made the hull ride lower in the back than with the IMCO's. These are 528 inch Hemi's making over 1000 HP and 1000 lb ft of torque. He's running either 36 or 34 pitch 6 blade Herrings on it now and has never had another drive issue........ knock on wood.

now the head gasket is another story in itself........

Capt Ross

[Panther]

Originally Posted by tomcei

If the gears are larger, I wonder why the rating is 750 where as the Bmax is 950?

Any thoughts

I heard about that 2nd hand the other day. I believe there was an ad in Powerboat mag but there's nothing on their wesite. From what I heard they are only rated to 800 hp, which is the same as what the Extreme SC was rated for.

After the way I was treated by IMCO when my Extreme SC's kept blowing up I'll never buy another product from them.

[Panther]

Originally Posted by tomcei

got it

The old SSM #3's and #3A's also had steel shafts.

We used to put stainless steel "speed sleeves" on the shafts where the propshaft seals were so the rust wasn't an issue... It was a little trick we learned out in the field...

[acatitude]

I have a 26 ft howard cat w/ 1000 hp blown motor and made the switch to Bmax late last summer. Lost a few mph on top end but not blowing imcos any more.. so far im glad I did it. seems to be holding up much better....

[B BOATER]

Not trying to blast B-max but would never tell anyone to try it. We went through 3 or 4 drives in one year. Tower went once and the bottom went 3 times in one year. We lost a total of 12 mph with there drive and had to fight to get it replaced Deano did end up replacing it but not worth the head ache. Remanufactured xr is still alive through twice the abuse. I believe they had an honest issue with there bottom ends. Just my opinion.