Mungle

Hey John , got your e-mail ,I really appreciate the response .I'll be checking with those guys next week ,and will let you know the results. I am a "SKATER" guy... I have the old GONE AGAIN race boat ,thats the reason for inquiry I'm hoping to upgrade these old drives???Are you the JAG owner on Taylor Lake?? If so ,that is a very" SWEEEET" ride!!!

Dueclaws

I like the Gone Again Skater. Did you buy it from Dale?

Yes, the Jag is mine. Thanks for the compliment!
(David helped with the glass work and primer.)

When you talk to the drive shops, see if they'll make us a deal if we do 4 (or 6) at once!
I'd like to convert mine also & if we get Doug (35' Jag) to join in, that'll be six- 6s.
John

27daytona

John, Randy at Cobra quoted me approx. $5000.00 each drive to rebuild and convert them to dry sump. Hope this helps. Doug

Dueclaws

Doug-
Is he changing your drives to the late model lower housing (swept-back skeg) and is that included?
When are you sending yours?
Thanks
John

PS: Kenny, lets talk before you ship yours.
(you have my email)

27daytona

John, That price is using our lowers. He stated that the swept back were 2 mph slower. I don't know about the speed, they sure look faster on the trailer with the swept back lower. He stated that the swept back was added to improve handling in turns under racing conditions. I have not made a decision and will wait for you guys to complete your research but count me in. Thanks Doug

Dueclaws

Doug, Kenny-
I found my quote from Mat @ John Tomlinson's shop (TNT), but this is dated Sept 2003, so prices may be higher now.
Conversion, including labor for gear change (if necessary), oil, seals, bearings: $4,900.
Gears are extra.
Hering skeg: add $1,800.

I have asked them to quote for converting six drives total....see post below

Here's a clip from their site:

D R I V E S H O P
TNT CUSTOM MARINE takes the word "custom" to a whole new level. After two years of research, development and testing, we are now offering a drysump conversion for the old style No. VI and VI-A wetsump drives.

Every housing is machined to accept existing drysumpparts that are available from Mercury Marine. All fittings, hoses and connections are aircraft quality. Every TNT CUSTOM MARINE drysump conversion comes complete with reversing pump and oil filtering system.
Ease of of service, reliability,performance and maintenance is the same as the factory drives. This new found horsepower will come at a much lower cost than new drives. Additional performance can be gained by the installation of the "HERING SKEG" to your No. VI drives.

I'll let you know what they quote.
John

c12

try Craig Colabella @ Colabella Performance
407-498-0094
He was the drive guy at lake X, 20+ years experience.
good luck

Dueclaws

I'll contact Craig too.
Thanks for the number
Due

Dueclaws

Here's the response from TNT Custom Marine/John T.:

"The dry sump conversion is now 5500.00 The gear replacement (if necessary) should be as before and the Hering skeg should be as before: $1,800."

alternate: "If you buy new Merc lowers you can deduct 500.00 from conversion price and add 4500.00 for each new lower housing."
John

Dueclaws

More info:
This is from John Tomlinson @ TNT:

"A separate oil tank is not needed.
If the boats are that fast (120-140 mph) on old style skegs, I would think new swept back skegs should handle better and have an increase of speed. Maybe 2 or 3 mph or better.
Approx delivery 4 weeks"
(per pair)

Due

27daytona

Hard to make the call on the skegs. I would think Mercury Racing would not use the swept back skegs if they were slower, but $5000 hit for the lowers is quite a lot. John, e-mail or call Cobra and talk with Randy, pick his brain for numbers. We appreciate your mission. Thanks Doug

Dueclaws

Doug-
If you use the existing #6 lowers and add the Hering skeg: then it's $1,800. This would be my choice since I've read that the Hering may have a better skeg shape: compared to Merc's new housing.
If you change to the new Merc housing then it's $4,500, but $500. less for the drive "conversion".

Regardless, JT and others feel that the new skeg shape is superior for handling and speed @120-140 mph+.

RE: Randy-he and I don't communicate well.
John

27daytona

Thanks for clearing up the pricing, I misunderstood. I'll call Cobra and I have to agree sometimes the conversation is interesting but I never had the feeling of being talked down to. I have never had anything but good dealings with Randy. I would be inclined to lean toward Herring skegs and my housing. Thanks Doug

Dueclaws

Doug-
Re: Randy, it's probably me since I have a large ego.
I wasn't going to mention this, but....
Years ago I had a problem with one of a pair of #3 gimbals that he sold to me; one had helicoiled threads which were installed off-center for two of the studs and the gimbal was painted without using primer. They wouldn't replace the gimbal. So ever since, I've had this "attitude" of "disbelief".

John

27daytona

I totally understand. A business is only as good as the owner's word and his ability to stand behind his work and his promises. I would really like to understand the process of this #6 conversion. I'm going to the Miami boat show so I will be stopping at Cobra to try and understand the process and exactly what we are paying for, regardless of where they go. I probably will not want to let go of the $15000 before March anyway, as the Jag is being repaired I had the body guy touch up every inch of the boat at my expense so I'm feeling pretty poor. Not to mention a remodel and addition to my home. I would have a lot of extra Jag money if I didn't have a $250,000.00 addition planned for a January start. The webs we weave, too many projects. John, again thanks for your leg work and please don't count me out. Doug

Dueclaws

Doug-
We walk a similar path! My wife wants to start a remodel ASAP to make our powder room "showy" and add an office to our second story...... whatever that means, because our house is one story! But I know it means money away from important things (like the boat) for the house.....oops

Wow a 250,000k remodel: that sounds awesome! I'd sure like to see the finished product.

Please share your information (about the dry sump conversion) after Miami.
Thanks!!
John

Dueclaws

Update:
Craig Colabella's price is $4,500 for the conversion + bearings and seals.
About 4 weeks turnaround, but start after Nov.1. He can also contract to have the Hering skeg added.
Due

27daytona

John, Called Randy today and was quoted $5500 out the door minus gears or any large problems or $8000 with the new swept skeg from Mercury. He doesn't think I should change the lowers however, claims I will lose speed. He also doesn't like the weld marks that will show wilth the Herring skeg. I really hate making a decision about a subject that I know little about and one that I need to make correctly. This is a one time thing that i never want to do again. I sure do appreciate your research. Thanks Doug

Dueclaws

Doug-
Thanks for the information.
John

cougarman

Due,

Did ya get my PM ?


cougarman