A Friend Boughtt a 280ZT
09-26-2025 | 10:12 PM
#1
Thread Starter
VIP Member
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 2,089
From: SW Ohio
A Friend Boughtt a 280ZT
Guys,
A friend bought a 1997 280ZT with a 502MPI/Bravo1/24P. Just kinda wondering what WOT speed he can expect….?
Couple observation? It doesn’t seem to have a limit switch for the drive trim, not a “trailer” button. Was this the norm. We spent the afternoon on it today. Couldn’t get it over 4500RPM and ~55MPH. My guess is that he didn’t get it trimmed up enough, and it was plowing the bow a bit. Kinda hard to tell for sure. The trim indicator didn’t seem to be responding much or any, and he dint want to risk running it up too far until we get that upper limit figured out. It ran pretty well, even if it fell pretty short of expectations.
Other than that, anything he should keep any eye out for with the engine or hull? Known issues?
One thing I noticed: It’s got single ram hydraulic steering. Seemed kinda overkill for a stock 502 in a 28’ boat, but what do I know? While wiping the boat down on the trailer, I noticed I could push the drive side to side pretty easily. Is this normal? I was fully expecting it to not move at all.
Thanks. Brad.
A friend bought a 1997 280ZT with a 502MPI/Bravo1/24P. Just kinda wondering what WOT speed he can expect….?
Couple observation? It doesn’t seem to have a limit switch for the drive trim, not a “trailer” button. Was this the norm. We spent the afternoon on it today. Couldn’t get it over 4500RPM and ~55MPH. My guess is that he didn’t get it trimmed up enough, and it was plowing the bow a bit. Kinda hard to tell for sure. The trim indicator didn’t seem to be responding much or any, and he dint want to risk running it up too far until we get that upper limit figured out. It ran pretty well, even if it fell pretty short of expectations.
Other than that, anything he should keep any eye out for with the engine or hull? Known issues?
One thing I noticed: It’s got single ram hydraulic steering. Seemed kinda overkill for a stock 502 in a 28’ boat, but what do I know? While wiping the boat down on the trailer, I noticed I could push the drive side to side pretty easily. Is this normal? I was fully expecting it to not move at all.
Thanks. Brad.
