Hyd. steering 2001 240ZT
 

Ok, time to put the hydraulic steering on the Checkmate and I'm going with the Imco tie in single ram for now, SA 30 I believe is the part number. Anyone know the correct length ram I need??? There are several choices 4.87ML, 6.37 (standard), 9.75 and 11.25. Will measure tomorrow but thought someone may have been there done that deal.
2001 240ZT.
Adding headers this year and just about done with that install and while I have things apart might as well do it.
496HO with Whipple stage 2 set-up so with the maybe couple of MPH's the headers give me I think Hyd. steering is a safe thing to do since I’m already doing over 70mph.

Thanks

I cant help you with the length of the rams, but I will say you will be happy with Imcos system. I installed their dual ram full hydraulic system a few years ago. What a difference from the cable and tiller arm p.o.s. Its a real good investment. Good luck with the installation.

Brian,

Whats happening? Not sure what length ram you need, but I do know you need one of the shorter ones because of the placement of the tabs. Your going to want a system that will allow full steering movement, the rams will be mounted closer to the outdrive than the trim tabs.

Good luck,

Andy

Hey Andy, how have you been?
Looks like you sold the Check and got a Sunsation?
I remember you had a similar set-up but had the dual rams.
Yep it's a trim tabs issue that I'm worried about clearance and just want to know if anyone else has the correct length known for my boat.

Brian

I have been good and you? The Check went to a good home near Kalamazoo, Reality Check on the board. It was time to upgrade, I seem to lose interest in boats pretty quickly. D'oh. Did you understand what I was talking, the full range of steering motion, yet the rams are mounted closer to the drive. I am almost postive that Imco makes a system that mounts the rams closer the to center line of the drive train. For example just throwing out random numbers, the mounts will be app 15-17" from the center line verses 20??" from the center line. This way you still get the full range of steering ability side to side. How far are your tabs mounted away from the centerline of your drive train. If I remember correctly, I THINK mine were about 21-22". Hope all is well and this helps. Hope to see ya on Hardy Pond. BTW, I will be at Torch over the 4th, you guyz going up?

Not getting a spot down to Brower this year but hope to get into the camp ground just before Brower. Maybe a little more traveling this year?
I just went out to the garage and measured 14" from the side of the gimbal housing to the tabs. A little room between the tap and where the cyl. rams bolt up but I want to stay away from that I hope.
I guess I'll call Imco Monday and see what they have to say.
Thanks for the input.

So I called Imco today and talked to a great sales guy named Ron. He hooked me up with thier SA-1 kit along with the correct valve and drill bit to add the extra bolts in the rear cap to help strengthen things up. The ram mounts 11.25" from the side of the gimbal housing and will clear the tabs without a problem. He said this kit will give a short turn radius I will want and is their standard set-up. The shorter ram kits are only if you have a very narrow boat and can't mount the ram further away and you also lose turning radius. Should be here in a week as he said it would ship today. $1,406.56 plus shipping of around $35.00. I will feel a lot safer running with this set-up and no money can replace a life!!!

Glad to hear they took care of you. We deal with Imco, Mayfair and Zegler. They are all real good products.

Let us know if we can help in the future, we can save you a little $$.

Kirk

Thanks for the info and I always want to save a little green. Next time I get some more boat stuff I'll give you a call. Might be needing a new Bravo1 prop, have a like new 24p I just picked up but guessing I'll need a 26p. Was running a 25 Mirage Plus that was lab finished by York Propllers. Hit a hair over 74mph on GPS with that one but want a little more control and mid range speed. Rev limit is set to 5,450 rpm's with the whipple program but don't like to run it that high.

Thanks,
Brian

Brian,

In my old boat with the 500 efi I could spin my bblades labbed 26 bravo 1 to 5100-5150 to the tune of 73-74 gps. I would give Brent a call he knows his chit.

Andy,

Remember the time we ran back to Brower from the cove side by side, both boats ran very close to the same speed. For a 28' your old one ran very good. I should be very close to the blue motor power now I have the added headers and the ecm programmed. Hope to install the hydraulic steering by the end of next week and if the weather gets better maybe drop it in and get wet.

Brian,

I sure do remember that run, it was fun. I was running my stock 24 p bravo 1. We never ran last year when I had a labbed 26. Your boat should run great with the extra power. Talk to Brett he is the man! I am also looking forward to dunking my boat in.

So what motors are you sporting in the Sunsation?
I road in a 32 last year and I think it had the 502mpi's, it's the yellow and white one that has the P59 in big letters on the front. I think it's 59 might be a different number? Runs pretty good. A couple of weeks ago I road in a buddies 28' Sunsation that just put a new motor in and with 4 people and not tuned yet we were hitting 82MPH. Not bad for a single. So at least I can say I've been on the water.

Hi BHOCKETT! I'll be up to hardy this year with the ZT maybe we can all hook up and give it a run! Oh and Andy you're welcome too! LOL
I'll bring the beer!:cool-smiley-027:

You better bring allot of beer because I am always thristy!:evilb:

Reality Check, I would love to give you a run and how about for an 18 pack? Always good to have competition.
Progress report: Friday the hydraulic steering came in and I went to work on the install. First thing was to find centerline of the crankshaft and then measure from the gimbal housing over 11.25" and place a sticker Imco supplies that has the hole locations on it to the transom (still have room between the trim tabs). Next step was "DRILL THE HOLES", ho man the first one was tuff, the idea of putting a hole in your boat and making sure it was in the right location had me worked up. I measured a few times just to make sure. Next on the list was to install the steering cap kit, this was pretty straight forward except you have to drill and tap two extra holes to secure the cap better. I ordered the step drill they offered and if anyone else does this you should get this tool as you can use the cap as a guide and drill it straight. I used a lot of silicone when I bolted the transom bracket to the boat both on the outside and on the inside. Installed the brazil valve and man was that bottom bolt a bear to take off. Hooked up the lines all the way from the ram to the valve but left the lines off the brazil valve. Got a qt. of power steering fluid and put it in a bowl and while the wife manually moved the ram back a forth I submerged the ends of the lines into the fluid and filled the ram and purged all the air out. Hooked the lines up to the valve and the ram to the cap and what do you know, it moves!!!
Had left the headers off to this point due to wanting as much room as possible to move around while installing the steering. So late last night I got the port header installed and then called it quits as I could not move anymore.
Hope to get the other header on today but the wife has a honey-do list, we’ll see who wins this one.

BH, sounds great! A little competition is a good thing! Looks like the steering project is coming together...bet you're dying to run it and see how she does!!:party-smiley-048:

Got everything together and started it up last night, sounds good but was a little low on the water pressure going to the port header so now the next thing is change the water pump impeller. Just took it apart and after a few years of use and sitting over winter the blades are in the bent-over fixed position. Off to the parts store tomorrow to pick up a new one and while I'm at it might as well change the fuel filter. Well if anything else I will have all the maintenance done.
Glad I pre-filled the steering ram as it is nice and tight without any play and did not have to add any more fluid.
Hope to try it out this weekend if the weather will hold up.
Reality Check, are you planning on going to Hardy much? and where is Richland?

Brian,

Glad to hear your project went well. My boat has 7.4 mpis, just some small motors but I bought the boat at the right price with the attentions for going for bigger power. With the price on gas the 7.4's are looking pretty good. I just topped off my tank to the tune of $250.

Richland is close to Kalamazoo.

Looking forward to seeing you guys up here this year.

Brian, We are planning on making it up there a few times this summer before hot boat. Will let ya know! Also, Richland is northeast of Kalamazoo by Gull Lake and south of Gun Lake if you know where they are. Can't wait to see what you're boat does.

Bought my boat new at Gun Lake.
The water pump is back together and a new fuel filter in place. Started it up for a second in the garage and the headers are on the loud side without the water going through them. Will run it on the muff's maybe tomorrow.
Can't wait for the weekend!!!

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Should be a good day on Saturday! Post some #'s. And where do you usually boat? Hardy?

Yep, always go down to hardy and put in at Brower Park.
Heading down today to test it out. I'll let you know how it ran.
I will have to dig my GPS out!

Congrats, post up some numbers when you get back. I just got home from scrub a dub dubbing on mine. I plan to hit the water memorial day weekend if the weather cooperates???

The boat ran great and I picked up 200rpm's on the tach.
My GPS would not engage so I don't have any mph numbers but I'm guessin with the 200rpm's that is about 2-3mph gain.
The hydraulic steering works perfect and the boat handles much better, should have done this upgrade a long time ago.
The oil filter felt a little hot and the port side header is running warmer then the starboard side so I thing I need to put a restrictor valve in the starboard side? Maybe put one in each side and keep some of the water out of the headers and more into the oil cooler?
Had several people comment on how well the boat sounded and one guy thought I had put a procharger on, so the headers are a hit!

Awesome, would have loved to hear some numbers. Its amazing how the steering totally changes the attitude of the boat. I have been having issues with my boat GPS as well, constantly searching for satellites the funny thing is my hand held works???

Had another guy who had a handheld also and his would not work either. Maybe a bad day for satellite reception?
Mine would only pick up one or two and then drop the signal again so it would not lock in.

I am kind of glad that I am hearing other peoples gps's are not acting right, hopefully they get their acts together. I don't feel like dropping $800 to replace mine.

Awesome Brian! Can't wait to hear the numbers...so 200 rpm and 2-3 mph what do you think that puts you in the speed range??? Headers are the trick ,they sound great. A friend of mine just put some on and he hasn't fired it up yet. Waiting to hear his and now your boat too! Leaving for Mexico on Wed and won't be back until memorial day :food-smiley-009:..then out comes the boat if the weather is nice here!:D

Andy...I'll drink a couple for ya while I'm in the pool thinking about boating!!!

You suck, I am jealous!:cool-smiley-027::drink::drink: