Great looking Thunder. Congrats on the speed. My little brother has a 98 32 AT. They just upgraded the 540 Bulldogs to 572ci. He was making 680hp on the dyno at 6000rpm with full accesories. I believe he is around the 92-93 mark. he is still doing some testing. he is trying to get to 100mph mark. I will have to let him know about this thread.

Sounds like a nose cone candidate.

Indeed - Mark and I live about 20 minutes from eachother. I've talked to him a month or so ago and he is definitely a really good guy and is certainly a wealth of knowledge for what I'm doing!

The only difference, and I'm not sure if it's a big one is that Mark's running extension boxes and possibly a different starting X-dimension than I am.

I should be ready to fire motors next week and hope to be in the water trying props by the weekend of June 8!!

Somebody from Kentucky seems to have run off with my money after I ordered my heads long ago... THANKFULLY, Bob Teague was able to help me out and sent me some beautiful AFR's that they had just built the same week I called. I'm thrilled to have heads, but still need to "find" my other set.

Sorry to here about your bad luck with the head guy. sounds like you got it taken care of. Mark is a super guy. I have not met him yet, but I have spoken to him when I redid my Thunder. Mark has alot of knowledge. Post some pics of your motors and boat. I dont have a paid membership here, so I cant post any.

I have the boat nearly finished, by tonight, all I should have left is engine rigging... however, I do need to make some brackets from some aluminum I just picked up. I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as I have the pieces together :) The parts have looked really nice in boxes for the past 6 months... time to put it all together.

Madkat - where do you run out of? Do you still have your Thunder or are you in a 38' Powerquest (per your profile).

Tibbs,

I am Madkats brother. He has the membership here and I have my membership on speedwake. I go by Thunderman98 over there. We just felt that it wouldnt make sense for both of us to pay for 2 memberships to the same sites, so we just use each others names so we can enjoy both. I still have my 98 32 AT. I restored it over a period of 4 yrs. I completly gutted it and redid everything from new graphics,paint, interior, rurail,carpet,refreshed motors, gauges, intercom system, etc. The boat that I own was the only 32 ever built with the 540 Bulldog package. We redid the motors last year. we turned them into 572 ci and they made 680 hp on the dyno at 6000 rpm and 655 lbs TQ at 5000 rpm with full acessories. The blocks are original Mark 4 Bowtie tall decks with Lunatie 4.375 stroker cranks and 6.535 Carrillo rods. Custom JE pistons. Internal Balanced to 3 thousandth of a gram, custom cams ( specs secret), did head work to original heads and installed 2.30 I and 1.90 E valves. Dart Intake and custom Holley carbs. We locked out the timing at 36 and had to have custom CMI dry tails made do to some reversion problems. She idles at 6-650 in gear and about 1000 out of gear. The best I have gotten the boat up to is about 92 GPS. Still doing some fine tuning and prop work. I am hoping by the time we are all done, I would like to be in the 95-100 mph mark. I boat on Erie and St.Clair side. Glad to see that there is another Thunder in Mi. I believe it was only Kaama and myself with the only 32 in Mi. I know Rsteiny got his boat from Joe Scroki up here. met him a few times and also met Rick once. I met him when Joe was out takin him for a test ride and they were hanging out in Muskemoot. I think there is a 25 running around here also. Have to hook up sometime soon. What is your email address. I can send you some pics

Chris

Tibbs, you get in the water yet?? Let us know some numbers.

Madcat Chris, what drives/props are you running??

Thunder,

Im am running 30 B-1 4 blades and stock B-1 drives. I am turning the 30 at 59-6000. I want to try a set of 32 B-1. I am going to try and get out this wknd and run some numbers with the gps to get a accurate speed calculation. The last time I tried, I was only able to hold WOT for about 5-10 sec and didnt have time to really do any trimming or tab adjustments. I have been trying to take it easy on the drives so they dont let loose on me. I was considering the nose cone idea, but I had heard from a few people that they would not give me any results. I also have the LWP and the notched transom.

Still not out yet, I'm taking Friday off to finish the engines and hopefully install by the end of the weekend. I should be running in the driveway by the late weekend to early in the week :D

It looks like my only remaining back ordered part is a power steering pulley :mad: - go figure.

I'm trying to get some demo props coming to try 2 different combinations right off the bat. I'll let you guys know when I get it out there. I'm starting with B1-32's and possibly some 5 blade clever styles from Throttleup.

I am not running nose-cones right now. I thought I'd add them later to control my variables a little.

Cones worked well for me but you need some more WOT data as you said. Let us know how you do this weekend.

Sure will. Im glad the cones help you out, sounds like they are working great for you. I my try them, but not until I get everything dialed in first.I would also like to try a set of 32's. From the info ( dyno sheet )that I have gathered so far is that from 5900-6000 rpm, the motors are making only 5 hp more. We built this motors to peak at 6000 rpm. with the 30's I can run them up to the 5900-5950 mark. I would rather run these motors at 5800 to give me a 200 rpm cushion in case I come out of the water, plus you are not going to see any mph gain by running them the 200 more rpm if you are only making 5 more hp. If I run the 32's, that should drop me down to the 5600 mark and then do some labbing to them to bring them back up to the 5800 mark. I am not sure what gain in mph I would get from going up to the 32 from the 30. I am estimating a possible 2 -3 mph gain. I will defenitly post some numbers after this wknd.

My problem was little difference in speed between 28 and 30 pitch props and lab vs. no lab made no difference which it should. I was running 86 mph at 5550 rpm with 30 bravo I's and other props which is 15% slip. Nose cones brought me to 5450 rpm at 91 mph with labbed 30's which is 8.8% slip. Big difference. (I went out by myself w/ 1/4 tank gas, light chop and got another 1 mph after I posted the original 90 speed.)

Tom

Sounds like the nose cones really helped you out. When my motors were stock, I was running about 82-84 mph at 5200 with 28. After the rebuild, I gained about 200 hp per motor and gained 6-8 mph at 6000 rpm with the 30's with best speed of 92 mph (about 9.0% slip). I didnt have alot of hrs on the motors then. Now that I have about 45-50 hrs,I will really see what it can do.I know I should be able to spin the 32 with no problem and possible 34's. If I could hit 100 with the 32 and nose cones, I would be really happy.

Check your slip numbers. I got 16% slip for you assuming 1.5:1 gear ratio using 30"-1 = 29" for the prop in the calc per Throttleup's (Julie and Matt) recommendation. It's worse if you use 30" for the prop and 1.36 gears.

Check out:

http://www.go-fast.com/Prop_Slip_Calculator.htm

Tom

Hey Madkat, what port are you running out of? And if you're on the west side of Michigan, how good are your mufflers? :)

Also, what type of notch are we talking about here on these 32's? Mine's a 1997 with no noticeable notch on the back end of the boat. I just haven't seen many around in Michigan to know the difference.

Tom,

I will trust you if you say there is 16% slip. I tried at least 10 times putting in the dats and I get nothing. Never been good at using that calculater. Once I see what she does, maybe you can punch in the numbers and see what my slip is

I run out of Lake Erie and St Clair. The mech. that did my motors lives over in Marne Mi. We were getting yelled at when we took it for a test drive last year over your way. On our side of the state, they dont say a word to me. I have never been pulled over for excessive noise. ( Yet). What is your email address. I just noticed that our membership is up and I cant post any pics.

No problem, let me know whatever you need but, if the website doesn't work for you:

The formula is:
Slip = (1-actual speed/theoretical speed) x 100%

Theoretical Speed = rpm x pitch/1056/gear ratio

Or in your case:

Theo. Speed = 6000 X 29 /1056/1.5 = 109.9 mph

Slip = (1-92/109.9) X 100% = 16.3%

If you get your slip down to 10% with cones or whatever, your speed at 6K with 30's will be 109.9 X (1-.1) = 99 BABY!!!

Thanks Tom.
Makes alot more sense now. i will let you know on monday.

Madkat - my preferred email is: [email protected] - I'd love to see your boat and what you've done. It sounds like we have VERY similar boats and engines. I'll post more pictures of what I have under the hood and the details when everything's running. (in other words, when I have time again :) )

Kaama was telling me that there weren't many 32's or any others in MI... I do know someone running a 28 - he runs up by Hardy dam on the Muskegon most of the time.

Tibb, boat and motors look great!!

Madcat and Tibb, good luck and let us know how it goes over the weekend.

Tom

Tom,

Thanks. Sorry to hi-jack your thread with questions regarding my boat and trying to get in dialed in. I can start another thread if you like

Tibbs,

Your boat and motors are looking sweet. Great job. Looking at your motor pic, I noticed I have the same towel as you. The one that is in the background behind your motor. I sent you a few pics. If you get a chance, could you upload a few of my boat and motors. Mark is correct, There are very few AT in Mi. I had only known of Marks, Joes, ( now Ricks) and mine.Its nice to see you have joined the family. we will all have to hook up this year. Might be better to come to my side of the state. Dont have to worry about the noise.:D

Chris

AT 32 Performance Thread
 

Hey, I don't care about who posts. Let's keep it going with AT 32 performance items from anyone. It's about time we got a thread going for the older AT's. I tried to change the title of the thread but couldn't figure out how.

I agree. There is alot of performance upgrades for these boats to make them scream. This will be a great thread.

Hey Madkat, I'm glad you like my towel!

It's actually covering the lip on the back seat portion of my motor lid. I decided to just raise mine up with no blower scoops for now... that and my headers actually come up higher than my 2" spacer/carb/flame arrestor combo. I was fearing reversion especially with mufflers and decided to go 6" taller than stock.

I'll let you guys know when the boat's running soon.

There are 3 more 32' AT's down in St. Joseph! One guy I talk to quite often is name is Ken. I think his boat is a 1994 built in Chicago. It is called "Severe Turbulance" just had his 556cid supercharged 800hp engines upraded/rebuilt---and it's a beautiful boat! He just added some of Stelling's manifold style exhausts with 5' tailpipes----DRY! It should HOWL!!! I am thinking he is having the engines installed right now.

The other 32' AT that I know of is owned by a guy named "Steve" with a pair of stock 502MPI's and CMI exhausts and still a another guy named "Dave" who owns a 32' AT with a pair of 454mpi's.

Hey guys,

Was not able to get any speed numbers this last weekend. Had the family on the boat and drank to much. This weekend for sure. I have a buddy that has Stalker Radar. I am going to see if he can hit me with it so I can compare my numbers with the gps.

might be sold
 

I believe Steves boat is now sold last I heard a guy was driving there with check in hand.

I'm stilling waiting to get into the water myself, things are taking a little longer than I first thought... saving gas money anyway :)

I'm trying to fit hydraulic steering with a swim platform. That isn't working out so well, I just put a trim spacer in all of my rams only to find out I need a couple more in each :(

I'll post what I find out, I have 2 Bravo I 32's that I'm going to try first...

Ok guys, I was able to get a quick WOT run in on Sunday. I had 2 other people on board plus myself and just under full tamks on both sides. I was able to hit 93.7 gps. My starboard motor was turning close to 6000 and my port was about 5900. This was with stock 30 bravo 1's. I would like to get alittle more speed out of her. Do you think I should try a set of 32's. I know this will drop me down to the 5600 rpm range, But I would like to keep her about 5800 to give me a 200 rpm cushion before the revlimiters kick in. If I did the calculations right, I should be about 14.7 slip. What about keeping the 30's and adding cones, do you think this would lower my slip and bring my speed up by 2-3 mph?

Definitely try the 32's first and then maybe a set of labbed 32's.

Wassamatter?!? Clark on vacation or something? :D :D :evilb: :drink:

LMAO :evilb:

LMAO!! He emailed me and told me what to post. :D

I conquer! Thanks for filling in Steve...:D

Well, I'm starting to get close on the rerig project... been in the water :)

I've had a few minor issues that have majorly been slowing me down in the water... For one, until last week, I've had a drive trim issue that was baffling me - finally figured it out and it's working correctly now.

Now I'm to the point where I'm coast guard compliant (no leaks) and I've started opening it up. I've also had to work on getting good temperature in the engines... had to restrict my water flow a little. Hit 5000 rpm yesterday for a short amount of time at 85 gps with 32 B1's on flat calm conditions. I have not run it at 5000 for more than 3-5 seconds, so I'm not giving it enough time, (been running inland - and 85's illegal) my slip has been 16-18%... I expect it should drop a little with more time at that RPM (the speed should also go up). I'm running a 97 32' hull with no work done on it - what slip should I see? I know Thunderstruck reported 9.5% - but on a notched hull.

Is that a good assumption?... I know the only way to know is to try it, but I'm supposed to be at 5600-5800 with my peak horsepower... I am over propped. I'm running standard Bravo I XZ's right now, no nose-cones too.

Yeah Tibb I wouldn't be too concerned with slip until you can run WOT trimmed out properly. Sounds like your making progress so let us know!!

Tom

Correct and that was me:evilb: :evilb:

Its been a great boat so far. I've had it a month and probably put about 15 hrs on it. We're heading to LOTO with it for the weekend.