Any factory 28ss w/ big blocks? How would it handle?
 

I was looking at some pictures online and saw a 28ss spec sheet listing 330 hp, was this a big block option? How bad would it be to work on one, and how would it handle? How much do these boats weigh and how do they handle compared to Apache and Pantera 28's? Thanks

BLee could tell you all you need to know about the 28's.

They run the same as the ones with SB's, there's just less room in the engine compartment. They came with the option of SB's or BB's, so there are quite a few out there.

I almost got one with BB's a LONG time ago when I was looking for one to refurbish, but it was too far gone to mess with. It ran though, & I didn't see any difference in the handling compared to the SB setups.

The single biggest change to make on these 28's, that will REALLY make a positive difference in the boats handling & overall performance, is to switch from TRS drives to Bravo's. If you do nothing else, that's the number one upgrade to do if you can.

I owned a small block Tempest Package 28SS years ago....the boat was very well balanced. Probably one of the best riding 28's out there.
In my opinion, the big block boats are too heavy in the ass end. The 28 could use a little more freeboard as it is, and the big blocks make it worst.
The stock big block boats were generally only a 60-65mph rig. The Tempest 425hp small blocks were good for 75 mph.

i know of a SBC twin 28 for sale in nj area. e mail i can give you details. SBC i think handels better then a BB 28 cig

[email protected]
regards,
Christian

I have a 28SS with 2 X 454's. Besides it sitting heavy at the dock....and the engines being next to impossible to work on, they run great....really great! But, If you were to accidently drop something in the bildge..you probably have lost it until you either turn the boat upside down or pull the engines.
A 28 SS with small blocks, there is actually room to work on things, you can climb in to the engine bay. With twin 454's there is no access to work on the engines, the exhaust manifolds are only 1/2 inch apart in the middle, the risers poke thru the hatch, if you replace the 330HP intake manifold, I have 425HP's withh stock intakes, the carb will also stick thru the stock hatch. Changing spark plugs in the middle is next to impossible. To remove the engines, you have to strip them to long blocks, strip off the firewall, the exhaust manifolds have to be hoisted out ........... and don't even think about replacing the buildge pumps with the engines in place.
Great boat, but it should have never been made with big blocks.

Has anyone rigged a 28 Cigarette with a single BBC? This conversion seems to have worked well with 27 Magnums, ie: Deranged, Goumada, Vixen.
There use to be an old 28 Race boat with a single in open II called "Supertoad"
Any other 28 with singles?? Just curious.

Thanks for the input, can anyone compare handling of a small or big block one to a Pantera or an Apache? It seems there are more 28ss around at any given time for sale than both of them combined. Thanks

Thanks for the input, can you elaborate on the trs to bravo though, I had thought by doing that you'd be taking weight out by losing the transmissions, but changing the center of gravity by moving the motors back too. Are you changing the x dimension at the same time?

I've never been on a 28 cig, but I have been on a 28 pantera with twin big blocks. The pantera had a serious porpoise at WOT in calm water. I've heard that the porpoise issue with the pantera helps to have more power. The one I was in was a 310hp 454.

My Apache handles great and the motors are relatively easy to work on. You don't need to use the tabs or constantly adjust the trim. Get on plane touch up the trim and thats it. Its balanced well and easy to drive. You can pull both motors without removing anything, including exhaust. Last summer we pulled and installed the starboard side without taking off anything. I'd venture to say the 28 Apache has the biggest engine room out of all the 28's. There is enough room for twin 850SC Merc's without modifying the hatch. Gun Smoke had twin 850's. It actually has somewhat of a raised hatch you can see from the rear. I have been able to sit on the floor of the engine bay with the motors in. In order to change out the plugs I will probobly have to pull the inside risers. I will say that I'm not looking forward to pulling the drain plugs. Freeboard and cabin headroom is also a huge plus.

You have to re-cut the X dimension no matter what if you do the change, since the Bravo housing is smaller than a TRS. The transom has to be filled to do this, so you can cut the X however you want.

Never really noticed the porpoise with twin 415HP 502's, but then again it wasnt my boat, the driver may have done something to overcome it.

I like the looks of the Apache, where did they find the swim platform...looks good. I have considered adding one to my SS, but my exhaust comes out above the rib and I dont think it would look good with 4 big pipes above the platform.

I've seen a 28ss with BBC and prochargers....no room to slide a piece of paper between them! :D but cool as hell! :D

Even getting to the batteries to check on them is a challenge.

I just changed mine over from 3EE's to Group 27's, I had to roll the battery box up like a taco to get past that tube on the right hand side and into the new battery tray and may have to pull the right motors exhaust manifold to put the battery in the battery box.

Nice hatch, I would love to see more pictures of it, the stock hatches were flat and had 3 scoups across the back edge for riser clearence. Mine with late model stock 425HP 454's had to have a hole cut for the carbs to stick thru.

Sweet, thanks for posting.

That is the best setup I've seen on any of the 28's I've even seen. I had the pics of the rest of that boat somewhere, & can't find them now! http://smiliesftw.com/x/madafro.gif

Their engine compartments don't allow for much, but as you can see, they can be fit with decent sized power with a little work.

When I redid mine, I decided to supercharge my SB's, instead of trying to fit BB's in it. I did the conversion from TRS drives to Bravo's, so when I added the superchargers, the boat REALLY woke up. The ProCharger setup allowed for the best clearance & power at the time, so that's the route I took:

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2053/enginesg.jpg

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7239/procharger.jpg

here are the only other pics i have of that boat. These were taken back in 02 during one of the fun runs we had to Racine. This 28 has ext box's on the back of it as well....the owner at that time said she runs in the low 90's :D

Holy cow, how do you get to the drain plugs? Or do you just fill it up with anti-freeze?

Not sure, it came with the boat. The transom is a lot taller than the Cigs so plenty of room for a swim platform. Really nothing custom about it. Have you thought about making one with cutouts for the exhaust. Or maybe just doing a single step platform in the middle of both exhaust.

My exhausts risers were changed to come streight out the back with 90 degree risers, I am still running the Merc logs. All 4exhaust tips come out in that small area above the rub rail. I am still looking for a place for the boats name, currently it's down the sides. "Fast Freight", the name goes well with the freight train air horns on the deck! Previous owner was the president/chairman of the board of a west coast railroad.

The TRS's and K planes take up the transome below the rub rail, I am not use there is a place for a swim platform, unless go back to the 180 degree risers and run the exhaust back to the original locations.

The only time I have ever seen my drain plugs was when the engines were out of the boat. To prep them for freezing weather, you fire theach motor up using a 5 gallon bucket with street water and a garden hose refilling the bucket. When the engines get to operating tempature you switch the bucket to a 50/50 mix and continue pumping into your running engine untill you have used all 5 gallons of 50/50 up, then shut that engine off and do the other. A bit messy, but it does fill the motors/exhaust systems with antifreeze.