ZP, MP, great work. I love it when you guys start a project.

Question, and I know you have addressed this but I would still like clarification. Was the extension box necessary just for driveshaft length and angle considerations or were you also trying to alter the propshaft depth?

Is the transom in the water when running or is the notch big enough to keep the transom clear? Your props must be well aft of the of the aft end of the running surface.

I'm collecting this information for the day we buy a Cig, move down to Florida and join your merry band!

Dan

They could have used plug-ins and no boxes easy.

Boxes saved them from moving the engines up
Or down to match drive height. Boxes also saved
Them ton of $$$$ on other parts and mods noted
Earlier. Not mention saved tons of time.

Keeping proper driveshaft angles keeps your
U-joints alive and healthy. Hence the extra home
Work with current engine height vs desired drive
Heights.

So yes they needed boxes to keep healthy drive
Shaft angles too.

In regards to boxes there are different theory's
And benefits.. Some depend on the boat.

Mostly is allowing you to raise the drive and have
Cleaner water at the prop. Water comes off the bottom
Of the hull and then starts to rise back up to normal
Level vs the hole your plowing. And your props are at that raised level with clean water allowing better speed
Typically too.

Hope that helps from my perspective.

Jon

Thanks Jon. I understand that they did not want to change the engine location. I don't blame them! I was curious as to whether the boxes were required because (for whatever reason) there was not enough space between the new drive and the tranmission for a shaft or if the input shaft on the #6 drive is in a different location than the #5 resulting in extreme U-Joint angles or if they were shooting for a new prop shaft height etc.

Like your Shelby quote by the way. Gurney test drove the original Cobra, came back in the pits and said to Shelby (and I paraphrase) this car understeers like a pig and the brakes are horrible. Shelby replied, "Don't worry, we'll give you another 100 hp".

Dan

I would presume absence of room, next option would be to move engines forward if trying to avoid boxes or plug-in trannys.
Most engines bays do not have additional FWD Room not to mention really changing CG's moving that much weight forward.

Jon

Thanks for the help Jon, you are correct on all items. Is the 46 a twin or triple?

Yeah, what he said!

We spent LOTS of hours planning how to do this conversion without moving the engines, modifying the hatch and buying new tail pipes.
The single most challenging aspect of the project was getting everything "lined up" to attain the desired (1" above the bottom) drive height while not exceeding the magic seven degree driveshaft angle. Thankfully ZP is as skilled with his CAD program as he is with power tools. Yes, he drew it all up ahead of time, then we just followed his "blueprint".

As you saw in the previous posts, the only real engine room modification was to the driveshaft covers. That was only required because the inner transom brackets for the SSM VI drives are much thicker than those on the 5's.

Looking good boys!!!!!! I'm glad the stuff went to a good home.

MP will love the Mid range acceleration with that gear also
90% of your boating is spent in Mid/cruise range anyways.

What is your hopefull Final Dia. & Pitch?

Here is a pic of my Trailer Queen ya asked for, bought it as just a Hull
and It's about 90% complete

Jon

Awesome Cougar! I always wondered about your avatar pic!

Looks Amazing Guys!! Can't wait to get mine going and go boating with everyone again! Who knows maybe we will do some Wet 6's on mine down the road.

I thought it would be a triple. A 46 used to show up in Key West during the worlds about 8 years ago. Distant Thunder, out of Marco island, that has to be fun in the Rough. Cool Boat.

Real cool Cougar sweet ride!

Can't say I Have ever seen Distant Thunder, and I know most of them.

Jon

Great Read boys. Congrats on the conversion. I sure wish Zero was closer to Tejas...:D

Ship it, then play in fla when it's complete.

We ordered 17.5 x 34 x 15 rake. Thought about 17.75 for about a minute until ZP let me put his set on my shafts and I only saw a sliver of light between the tips!
Given ZP's results with his 17.75 x 32 x 15, these should give the desired bite accounting for the gear ratio difference.

What is Mercurys typically eta on a new order?

Jon

Two weeks, plus shipping to dealer, then shipping to customer.

I was going thru some old pictures and found your boat when it was at the boat show. ZP can text you thm if you want to pm your phone number. you can decide if you want to post them. Chris

I also have mmb's boat when it was a platinum edition tic tac boat.

Tried to PM you said it was full.

Awesome project and thanks for sharing it here for your fellow Cig fans. Looking forward to seeing what she will do with the new wheels.

Props should arrive this week. I hope that does it with out resorting to Spacers. We got 1 new prop last week, a Big Ass Fan, this thing really makes a breeze.

Aircraft wing design, imagine that.

Put (2) 16 foot diameter BA fans in the new Perfomance Boat Center showroom - they really move some air !!!

Awesome thread Jimmy and Mark! Thank you guys for letting us follow your conversion. As you know, I have one of the five as well. I am actually in the process of re-mounting the transom assemblies and drives and putting in the new interior. I will start a thread of the project soon. I will be selling her without engines but with a heavy heart.

I tried to purchase Mark's boat before I bought mine. It was a Bahamian fellow who kept raising the price after agreement using his wife as an excuse. I finally told him that it was obvious he didn't want to sell and I didn't want to waste any more time. The next day, my boat came out in Powerboat magazine and it was purchased with only one conversation between the seller and me. Next I heard, Carl had purchased Lock & Load. Mark, you've done a fabulous job with her. Enjoy!

Frank

I've got pics of it when it was sitting at Lip Ship for sale back in .05. It was then named Pier Pressure. Had a rough life but looks like it could not have found a better home.

so who is the next to convert to 6's in your club down there? first gun gonna be the next to step to the plate? got some for sale if interested

Such a cool write up and build. Just like everyone, I'm looking forward to seeing those new props on and some numbers after.

The box arrived!
New wheels!

New props arrived today!
Thanks Offshore Performance.
We'll post results soon!

So, how did it run today? Saturday......

Any update on the prop testing?

Mark

It rained in south ga, and the wind in Florida was up to at least 15 mph, and the truck was at a horse show, and there was pollen on the cover, and the winter air was still in the trailer tires, and the drain plugs were loose and the oil needed changing, and the mufflers needed removing, and, and, and.

:popcorn:

1" clearance, trim incorrectly here and ugh ooo,

Picked up 5 mph at 3500 to 56, now change rotation, pulls hard. Looking for 4 mph more at 3500 and still turn 5400

Having props adjusted for the last 4 mph?

Looks Great!


Jon

How's the project, any more news Dialing her in?


Jon