Be careful with aluminums as far as weight like Thrill said, he said his does not handle near the same as before... a couple hundred pounds can change a lot

Was it the one that was on CL half apart? I saw it last week on there...

yes in New Jersey.

Going to pull the motors Saturday. Got the motors to turn over .Thats always a good sign!

Nice project!!

Let me know if you would part with that Cig steering wheel cap. Been hunting one for my 20.

Had a 1974 with 355ci, steel heads, Stainless Marine Dry Exh, about 425HP. TRS drives mounted high from the factory (touching the SS rub rail) w/ 3 blade Hydromotives. Ran 75 GPS loaded down with fuel and 5 people.

Sounds like it wont take much to reach my goal then. The previous owner glassed in the transom and raised the drives pretty close to the rub rail. Not sure if his work that was done is ok or not . Going to pull the engines and take it to a reputable shop near me and have them check the transom out and repair it as necessary and the engines need to be moved back and up to line up with the new drives . I have a prodject on my hands ! LOL. Love the looks of these boats though. It will be worth it .

If i am not mistaking with the higher x dim. this is going to put my exhaust above the rub rail correct? I plan on using SM exhaust. the boat currently has some type of log manifolds on it currently that litterally goes straight out of the back.

This is a very cool project...please post some pics when you can.

At this point in the project you may consider going with a pair of 6.0 LQ9 long blocks. The LQ9 is the HO engine that was used in the Escalade from 2002~2006. It has an iron block with decent aluminum heads...6 bolt main bearing caps. Salvage yards have these things and even with a mild cam upgrade on a marine re-build you will easily have your 400+ HP and a seriously fat TQ curve.

Just a suggestion for consideration.

The 28's were hot in the 70's and were used by more than a few Off Shore Racing teams. Great big water boats and can run all day 60+ in the rough stuff. You WILL see 70+ with 800+ HP in the water:evilb:

My drives were as high as they could go without carving into the flare of the hull and my exhaust is still below the rubrail. Brownie made the risers fairly long and used a set of 45 degree elbows to make the final jog at the transom. I've seen them go both ways. Dangerous Dave ran his above the rubrail and it looks awesome.

I raced two 28's in the late 70's

First race built 1976 28 280 trs boat ran 64 on its best day. Built to be a p class boat !st GA race boat.

2and one in 1979 I built it lighter with higher X. Ran out of the factory 65. Took it home & worked the bottom & a few other tricks. Nothing to do with the stock engines & picked up 5 mph. The work was done by Rogers Speed shop in Brick N.J. where I lived.
Great boats I have had 3 28's.

1st 28 I bought used it had hot rod 350's with Volvo 270 T's with speedmaster lowers.
It would only run 60 on a good day but it was a full pleasure edition, it was a 1974 & heavy.

As I said before the bottom is a big speed killer if it's not straight. And out of the factory they weren't.