Guys don't get me wrong....true there is no replacement for displacement......If you want all out power go with BBC no question.

I am simply stating that with today's rising fuel cost and overall expense of performance boating in general I would rather go out every damn weekend and not worry about the cost of fuel as much or big power breakdowns.

If this were a single enigine boat we wouldn't even be having this converstaion about sbc's but since he has twins I just see it as a very viable and cost effective option.

For not much more money a 430,440. or even a 454 cubic inch small block can be made. totally different environment but there have been many SBC and SBF built making 750-800 HP in circle track dirt cars. Refresh at 1200 laps. Thats about what 300 hrs? :drink:

Agreed - but which ones would I buy? I don't think Merc's 6.2 320hp would be enough power. Derebery and a couple of other make a 425hp 383 much like the one Vector showed, but I don't think I'm going to get 500+hrs out of those, I could be wrong. I don't have the budget for Raylars LSM550.

Anybody know the speeds the 292 Fastech gets with twin 6.2 320hp? Weight?

I've gotten good pricing on 475hp 383s from Mesa Balancing.

btw, 500hrs?
how many hrs you do a year?
I'd say going thru the tops every 3-4yrs is a good idea.

Thanks, those are impressive numbers. The fastech's twin steps are no doubt going to be more efficient. I'm thinking a little less than 65mph, which isn't too bad. Sounds like 6.2

Storm - I do about 30 hours a year, more like 100 on the sea ray. I'll check into Mesa.

At 50hrs a year, after 4yrs you should have the top gone thru.
Maintainance is the name of the game.

The XZ drives on my boat were 10 years old and run with bigger power most of their life. Jo put two new 6.2's in the boat and it runs great. One drive did go out on me, but not due to any use I gave it, it was just thier time. I had them rebuilt with the same XZ gears and hope to get a lot of time out of them. The XZ's rob some power, I get 66mph at WOT, cruise is 44mph at 3500rpm, getting 2 mpg. Juice up the sbc's and you'll see 70mph and have some extra room in the bilge to work.

Thanks Austin, thats great info and a good comparison. My assumptions were flat out wrong. I believe the Pantera is around 500lbs lighter. Your also running in the ocean which typically bumps up a few mph over freshwater. I would probobly be pretty close to those numbers with the bravo one. Not quite the speed or cruising I'm looking for, looks like I'll need a minimum of 380-400hp.

Please, no SBC in an Apache.:eek:

Don't even think about it.

LOL, I was waiting for someone to say that. Think the tribe would run me off?

I checked on some picing for small blocks, they are not a whole lot less than big blocks.

I appreciate the help, but I'm not financially ready to buy engines now. Thats why I'm going to be fixing up the other stuff, I've got some time to kill before that money comes.

I cringe at the site of used engines for sale siting "bigger power" The driver has so much to do with engine life. I've seen 525's burn up in 150hrs.

I would do the motors first, then we can still play and do the other stuff, There has got to be a Excalibur Hawk 40 somewhere around we can get a midnight special on some moters.

Let me know when you find it.

The Professional Products balancer on those is a big red flag!

Damn your good!:ernaehrung004:

HEEE!:cool-smiley-027:

Got the drives repainted. Didn't come out as well as some other jobs I've seen here, but I'm happy with it nonetheless. Still need to throw on some decals.

Had a good talk with my mechanic and he suggested I quite screwing around with the idea of cosmetics and find some good engines first:rolleyes: He mentioned the fiberglass would lose a little of its shine after a few years, even in dry storage due to humidity and dust, so no point in doing that now. I've never heard that till now. So until the engines come I'll focus on the rigging and gauges.

I've got a short camera video of it running with a couple of cigs on Texoma, but I can't figure out how to post it.

I don't know who you plan to have do your interior but I thought I would pass along Lonestar in Irving. They completely redid my baja in custom colors about 4 years ago. Very very reasonable. I'm thinking of having them refresh my Pantera this winter.

Thanks for the referral, got any pics of the job done on the baja?

My local shop did the work. I think they used the standard merc spray paint. I know they striped it down and put on two coats of primer. They don't have spray booth so the finish is a little rough, curious if I could do anything to smooth it out and get a little better shine. Wet sand?????

Do you guys think it looks like chit???? Ain't going to hurt my feelings. I said in the beginning of this thread don't sugarcoat it. I've never had outdrives repainted before so I wouldn't know a good job from a bad one. I think given that it was done by a merc mechanic and not a paint/fiberglass expert that it looks pretty good.

Couple videos taken during 4th of July - same weekend my engine locked up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fhoa6XhLjU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqroMMrv10A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHsfu7u8d0U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GEdSDw1xy4

Other boats include a 36 gladiator, txspeedfreaks 39 Cig, and gunslinger........36 nortech?????? not sure on that one. Apache was only running at 4000rpms, not that it would beat any of those boats at WOT. I had 6 people on board and didn't want to push it.

Not rude at all, thats the kind of feedback I'm looking for. Anybody else have an opinion? I don't think they look bad enough to redo, but I will probobly go with someone else if I decide to repaint the trim tabs. Maybe I can go over them again with some clear coat or something of the like.

I did ask about rebuilding the drives and my mechanic said not too. Basically said the same thing I did about if it ain't broke don't fix it. He said they are tough outdrives and should be fine as long as I stay under 500hp. I've seen them run past 800hrs on similar applications without problems. He went through them in the spring. Anybody else want to weigh in on rebuilding the drives?

Just me thinking out loud. Andy, " How did the first run go since you did all that hard work." VV, Can you beleive I was just starting to plane and 'BAM" the darn drive let loose. I know I know you told me so. Andy, "But you all go on ahead take my beer have a great time. I'll catch up with you in a week or so."../ Hee Just kidding if you feel good about'um b!tchslap it and go.

What's all this talk about put small blocks in the Apache? I think its the best idea, yet! I personally, am building a pair of small blocks for what may become my next boat. I said, to hell with the old small blocks and hell yes, to the new LS style. They are a lot better. Should make 440hp and run on 87 octane. Total parts cost is $4600. That number will go up by $500 when I add closed cooling. They are LITE! LS2 Block with L92 Heads. 6 Bolt mains. Look into them. I have no idea who is building them in the marine world.

Andy, looks like that rattle canned the drives. Looks like the bolts and studs even got painted. They may look okay until the first trip down the lake. If you are going to rebuild them, thats the best time to repaint. You can prep them a lot better when they are torn down. Then you could even powder coat them. I know some folks say no powdercoat, but there is a guy in Sherman that can make it stay on.

I had my boxes powdered

Yes, and they went to the right guy. They looked good!

They said he had to do it 3 times to make them look good but he didn't give up, I like a guy like that. Doesn't do stuff 1/2 a$$.
Those SB are back on e-bay wish I needed them price from 16.5 dropped to 12,500.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=260304174565

I built a 28’ many mango seasons ago that I sent to Japan with SBC 320’s. Boat ran close to 65 and the balance was real good.

That was a good deal for the 525 with XR's. Priced about the same as two 496HO's with bravo ones new.

Matt - thats why I had the yacht club do it. If the paint starts coming off the first time in the lake I'll take it back and tell them to do it again. I know they will jump right on it instead of making me wait inline with 40 other boats. I've got trust issues taking them anwhere else local.

VVector - how much did it cost to powdercoat the boxes? Any idea what it cost to powdercoat the drives.

Froberg - Were the later 28's you built lighter than the older ones? If so I doubt I'd see the same numbers with the sbc 320.

Not sure what it cost, Matt may have the number to call them. Not sure but I think you have to take them apart to heat them up or the seals will got to hot but again not sure.

http://www.boatstoreonline.com/420_main.html Some interesting 6.2's.....437HP.....for about the cost of a 496HO.

If your going to be the Texoma Race coordinator you need to make a good first impression.
http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o26461-en.html

LOL, need something that will run for 500hrs.....not 50. Wouldn't be much of a coordinator if the boat never makes it to the race.

[QUOTE=Froberg - Were the later 28's you built lighter than the older ones? If so I doubt I'd see the same numbers with the sbc 320.[/QUOTE]


The boat I speak of with the 320's/Bravo's was built in the late 80's so it was all wood and just as heavy as your boat. I'll see if I can dig up my records on it and give you more info.

Thanks for the valuable information. I didn't even know the old merc sbc's had 320hp. I didn't think their sbc's hit 320hp until they came out with the 6.2. I would greatly appreciate more details about that boat.

If you wanted an engine that will run 500+hrs, 380-480hp, thats extremely reliable, cheap to maintain, and easy to work on; which one would you choose? Reliability and long engine life being the top priorities.

http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2156

Pretty good deal on some mills..

Thanks

thats a smoke'n deal ! ! !