new thunder owner
 

hey guys, picked up 98 tantrum that needs power. never been on an active thunder, but love the lines. So couldnt pass up the deal. Im comming from a 24 carrera w/ twin sbc, and an 86, 24` straycat w/ twin 200s. this is my first single bbc,thunder. Any quirks about these boats during the build i should know about? Got spring fever, and any help, tips, tricks would be greaty appeciated.

Where on LI?
What are u planning for power?

All I can say is I think the boat will impress you. I love mine. The boat is great in all water. I have 600hp and want more. Don't under power it. A++ on your decision to buy a Thunder. I might have a line on a motor if you do not already have one in mind. A friend has a 540 tall deck. Not sure if it's still available. Call 1 847 816 8468. Mark.

Available Engine. My buddy is an old guy that has a hard time with computers. What he has is a Merlin block complete from carb to oil pan w/MSD ignition
It's a 572 tall deck he says he has over $22k invested and will sell it for $11k. The engine has dyno time on it only. It has never been installed in anything. It is rated at 760hp @5kRPM.
The engine is located in Lake Ozark MO. It's no big deal to ship an engine. I'll help out if need be.
Engine owner; Gerry 1 847 395 3720.
Silly sap getting involved; Mark 1 847 816 8468.

That would be one NASTY 25! Good luck with motor search

I have a shop in Smithtown. So being no stranger to building motors I was going to build a 454 from parts from around the shop, buddies old 990 rectangle port heads, etc. (spring fever)...I got torn to shreads by clear thinking friends/ fast boat owners. Comming to my senses I am in the middle of picking up a 740 dyno`ed tall deck dart, w/all the goodies. It made a 29 kryptonite go a 100. So should be one hell of a white knuckle ride in a 25

Welcome to the Cult. Drink the Kool aid and enjoy the ride. No issues! Steppin' up the power in my 25 this season. I've had a stock 502 MAG/MPI in mine since we built in '99. upper 60mph boat with this power and will tickle 70 with the right weight and water. Keep us posted. Any pictures?

:coolcowboy::evilb:

Just a little....enough to hang with the big boys or at least keep them in sight!

picked up motor today, dyno sheets from scott/merkel racing. 700torque, 730hp, pump gas. No clue how fast it will be. Hey addition, what kinda mods, and speeds r u looking for

530HP/502CI Not sure about speed increase. Possibly mid 70's.

cannon, thanks for the quick line on the motor. Im sure somebody will snatch that that tall deck rite up, What speeds are you getting with 600? any chine walk?

Good luck with your new toy. You better look into a good drive and steering, with that kind of power. Mine made 930hp/805tq.I used a b-max upper. It should be going in the water for the first time in 2 weeks or so. Cant wait for summer

You guys with the big power have to keep us posted on your numbers! Pictures also.:eekdrop:

This should be an interesting ride, Hang on tight.......

WOW, what he said!

Congrats on the new tantrum, looks great!

Ed, heres that other pic of your boat.. and your new engine

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...0908251354.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../edsengine.jpg

:funnypost:yep, carb to pan. with bellhousing.

Carerra 1,
First, Congrats and Welcome!
You're gonna love this boat.
Second, 500 HP will get you 80mph if your setup is right with the right prop.
Third, if it doesn't have external steering, get it! This boat will be capable of speeds that needs more than simple cable steering.
Looking forward to seeing it on the water!

Mike, When you say "right" setup, what does that include? I'm looking at a 530HP (at the crank). I know the Smith Brothers boat with a carb HP500 and an extension box hit 81mph. You removed your box right?

Correct. After ALOT of testing with a lot of different drive heigths/props/balance/etc. we found we had gaind maybe 1 to 1.5 mph, but the thing handled terrible. Carried the nose like a bassboat, a lot of chine walk, and wanted to launch the nose to the moon every time we hit a roller @ 75+mph. That's where we realized what the ole old-school racers meant by sometimes it's not how fast you go, but how you go fast
We took the box off and never looked back.
We could run 83.1 in APBA F1 legal weight and setup with the carbed HP500.

600sc=80mph.

I think the key to Gordo's statement is " F1 legal weight". What is/was that weight? and was it a special labbed 30 or 28?

So I guess loading all the crap(coolers,clothes, coolers, food, coolers) in for a weekend out on the bay isn't F1 APBA legal weight and setup huh? :whistle:

Mike, what is the weight of your boat? Light layup no doubt.

Light layup, and Very strong.
At the end of the race the boat had to come out of the water at least 4000 #
Pat built my boat to weigh very close to that.
In fact, if we ran out of gas at the crane, we were gonna have to "fall" in the water to get as soaking wet as possible and leave as many clothes in the boat as possible (without getting arrested).
As for props, we used to take a truckload with us to each race for various water conditions.
Our best rough water prop was a 26 Hydromotive.
Our favorite top end prop was a 28-29 (ish) Bravo 4-blade

Hey Gordo your memory is getting pretty good.

Your 83.1 number is right on. I think I remember 84mph with the "A" set-up before the lights went out.

600 SC should run 85+ if the engine is healthy. That boat hit just a tick under 87 when new.

That would be the boat where the chopper caught a picture of the keel, you blew the balsa core out of the bottom and twisted your bolster into a pretzel? That boat? Oh yeah, and broke half your ribs?

What!? Didn't the Smith Bros. launch there 25 in a race and the engine mounts broke and the throttleman busted a bolster and landed in the back seat?

I miss all the fun rides :(

Was that back in the day on the dream o meter? or GPS.:lolhit:
Maybe there was more but the the I didn`t know how to stop the chine and it got a bit hairy for me so I didn`t push it past that.

Radar gun.

Damn newb..... I got 80 with 4 people on board (me included) and full tank of gas... lol... The first time I pushed it though, I got chine, but figured out what I needed to do to correct it.

Lol I know right, so what did you do to push past it, not bring the screaming wife and kids? oh wait :bunnydance: lol

Made sure that I was on center before I throttled up... When I got chine, I seemed to have more weight on one side, which started the chine walk (im assuming) If i dropped the tab just a hair on the side that had more weight, seemed to center the boat and would run straight at high speed..

hey guys, love all the ATs, for the walk what helps. is you saw the wheel back and forth. that worked on the baja over 80. but my saber has full hyd steering and no walk. oh I loved riding in Steves AT 33 with the 525s. great ride when he owned it. also the 28s have a nice ride. I will always wonder how 1100hp with a konrad ace would of been in a 28 AT. bet about a 96 to 100. later ART:cartman:.