Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Just hoping I can get an idea on how I am doin for speed with my Bird...It's a 1986 F3LS formula says wt is 3600lbs dry. Bone stock original motor with a total tune up got me 48mph. ( All Speeds are per GPS) Going to stainless marine thru hull got me 50mph. Installing the problem child a couple years ago has gotten me a one time best of 56mph Motor is a 358sbc roller motor pushing about 375hp....I am happy I guess with the 8mph increase but man seems like a 3600lb boat should hit 60....Guess I am hoping some people will chime in and let me know I am not doing to bad........Just hate to see alot of the other guys with same hp running 60 or better......Help me out guys cheer me up! Tell me what a great speed I am getting :D

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Throw the gps overboard, and pick up 8 to 10 mph. :p

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Then I would have to go by the spedo...Everyone says theirs reads higher than the actual speed but mine has always ran slower.....

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

thats a clean engine compartment :D

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Thanks. I tried...Figured a clean compartment might gain me a mph or two...Didn't help though....
:mad:

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Disconnect the speedo, and drink more beer when you're telling the story.

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Not too familiar with that model. Closest I came to that was an '88 223 with a 454 (330). It would do about 60 on a good day. I think it weighed about 4000. So, you should be getting 60 out of yours I would think.

What prop and RPM are turing?

By the way, your boat is beautiful!!!!!! Nice job and nice engine bay. :cool:

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Well there is the speed I tell everyone else and then there is the speed I tell my Formula brothers......But Hell Cuda with the beer Im pushing 70 :eek:

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

That's what I'm talking about! :evilb:

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Well I have gotten my best speed with a 17p attwood ballistic. and a 21p Mirage. Thou the 21p Mirage only got me to about 4400rpms if I remember. I lost about 1mph going with a custom 17p accelerator prop Darrin at Houston hooked me up with. Not sure why I didn't gain the 2-3mph everybody else was getting with the labed props from him. That being said the accellerator from him does carry the boat ALOT better. Accelleration is also improved...I was turning 4800 with the stock motor and the 17p Ballistic. Now I am now turning about 5300 with both the ballistic and the Houston Prop Accelerator.....Motor peaks out at 52-5300...

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

17p seems extremly under propped but the rpms are right. I dunno,,,,,,,,,,,,, seems that rig ought to spin a 23-24 incher easily.

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Ive always thought the same....But it is what it is...Can't xplain it...

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Have you ever put a straight edge on the bottom?

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

For that much weight and hp your speed doesn't seem to bad. If you had a 375 BBC you might get a little more due to the higher torque of a BB. I had a 21' Liberator (similar hull) with a 460 Ford (340hp) , that was about 3500 lbs. and I got an honest 59 and ocassionally 62 under the best conditions. A friend had a 400 sbc (over 400hp) in an almost 21' bowrider and could get an honest 68 but it was lighter and had a flatter bottom. He had a 23 Mirage plus spinniing at 5000

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

On my 242 the best I have seen is 55 gps which is much heavier than your 223, I would think 60 would be just about right maybe a nice hydromotive prop heard these work well an Formulas. You have spent a lot of money on a very nice engine compartment don`t let a prop stand in your way,try some diffrent props.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Its got a little hook in it on the last bit of the bottom. I think I have always read that this is built in on the early formulas.....Though I wish I could find someone who has removed it.

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

I used to get around 65 mph with my 242 and twin 350's.

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

I had an 85' 242 LS with twin small blocks and got around 65 mph also. That was running 24 inch pitch "cleavers".

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

If that "hook" is the same "hook" that was in my 223 and my 242, it's only formed into the upper most portion of the vee directly in front of the tabs. It's factory designed and I don't think you can remove it without going right on through the gel.

Formula put those small sections of hook in the hulls because they were known for getting real real loose without 'em. Every 223 and 242 has them.

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

Can you be more descriptive of exactly where it is? I belive you are talking about the same area I am.

BH

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

So do 272's :cool:

Re: Tell me how I am doin for speed....
 

At the stern, between the chine and strake. Last 7 to 10 inches or so.