Finally hit tripple digits 353 Fas-Tech..
 

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HAd a fun run here in Northern Ohio this past weekend, my buddy's 353 finally hit over 100! found that some rev limiter chips were holding it back... may have a tad left in it we'll see!

What a fun ride!

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...g/100_9654.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...g/100_9655.jpg

That is hauling congrats:drink:

:boat:Excellent, but we need more details and pics of the boat.

What size engines, and how fast did you go?

It is my best friends boat, has 509CI with 525 cams, 7 lb ProChargers, ext. boxes with XR uppers 1.5 ratio with Imco 1" shortie lowers, spinning 34P Bravo 1"s

101MPH@ 5500 right now, still seems like it is hitting rev limiters, I think it has more in it with some tuning and prop work.....pulls very hard right to 101 then stops like it is on limiters again.. we will keep playing with it..

Very stable ride at them speeds in a 1-2 ft chop..

Nice job. Tell Lake Effect I said congrats!!

Dave

Will do! you coming up our way this year?

Not this year...Looks like a boat trip to Montreal and maybe down to Burlington Vermont and back to the Bay.

Dave

I've been away from a computer since last Weds. Tims my self appointed PR guy, which is fine, but I tend to be a little more reserved.

So far 101 on the hand held is the fastest I've seen on the GPS. 509's, long rods, 9to1, 525EFI cams, Victor jr, 8lb M-1 Prochargers, blow thru 750cfm carbs on bonnets, Imco ext boxes, Xr drives w/1"in Imco lowers, 34p Bravo 1's.

I didnt realize it was on the 5400rpm chips(thought I had 5600chips in) showing 5200rpm on the tachs the week before with a 95mph on the GPS untill I put my 32's on and it still didnt pull past 5200.

It laid down the 101 feeling like it was hitting the limiter again even with the 34's back on and 5800 chips. So now I have to work on my prop slip and recalibrating the tachs. Oh yeah, I also found a leaking intercooler core and my right drive is slow to go in reverse.

Going fast isnt cheap, but it is fun..

LE

hit 102 yesterday!! still on limiters with the 34 4 blades, getting some 34 5 blades to try tomorrow, will post back....

Too bad I missed it Saturday! I'll probably catch up in a couple of weeks.

Sweet... sandbar party This coming Saturday... check it out!

I know this tread has been cold for over a year, but I could'nt resist reviving it after this last weekend.

First off I am proud to say I had two great summers ('09/'10) with out any issues with my boat. Burned a ton of gas though, doing very few speed runs(money's getting tight) but driving all over the place.

I picked up a set of labbed 36p Bravos(kinda beat up) in the spring, ran them for a weekend but I wasnt impressed with the cruising speeds. I did a speed run with them right before pulling the boat for the Weiner run out of Cleveland the next weekend. The boat pulled to 101mph, started to chine so I laid off. I was also on fumes so we just put it on the trailer.

Before putting in for the poker run the following weekend we made up a jig using a old prop shaft and cut the diffusser rings off the 36's(my stock 34's have no diffussers). The diffussers give stern lift and amplify my chine walking. Anyway, this turned out to be a big issue with the 36's because I couldnt get on plane with them unless the water was perfectly flat. I put the 34's back on, had a great poker run and ran those untill this past weekend.

Now to the good stuff. I ran the 34's hard a couple times, a little conservative on the drive trim, a little tab, hit 100mph a bunch of times thru out the summer, and was pretty happy. Since I was pulling the boat this weekend for the season, I fiqured I would try the 36's one last time(and I'm glad I did).

In 1 to 2 ft short waves in the middle of Sandusky Bay, 1 notch of tab and 5 in the drives I pulled a 104mph run. Looped around and did another run. No tab, 6 on the drives, and I pulled off a 107mph blast on my limiters at 6000rpm. I was floored. Did another 106mph run today before putting it on the trailer. I was happier then a clam.

LE

Dude, that was a bad ass phone call!!!!

I am happy for ya pal! I wish I was on it, but I am having fun in Cali!!!

That is amazing speeds for the boat, I would love to know how much HP it really makes and see what it does when you get the props worked....maybe a little more in her??? not that 107 isn't amazing as it is!!

Congrats bud! LJ musta been blowin the waves for ya!

Now the winter wont be so long.


LE

Yea...maybe i will hit 67 when we pull mine!!!

LE,

Congrats! Glad to see that it's been a great set-up with no issues for you! That is an awesome number and for sure the fastest 353 Formula out there!!! How bad was the chine? I remember just getting over 90 and having the same issue, but I might have been over triming a little. It went away after I knocked the drives in a touch without shaving any speed. No difusers as well.

I tuned mine back a little over the last two years as well, but am still able to pull a solid 90 anytime wih the props turning out and just the 5 blades...

Dave

When I have been on it, seems chine is better when NOT on the limiters, Scott has added a tad of tab to keep it down with success it seems... in the right water the boat rides absoluteley perfect...

Need to get out here next summer dave...go for a ride with scott!!

dude thats moving in a formula:grinser010:

Sounds like a good reason to post up. Great job.

Lake Effect is slow....wtf!!!




J/K!!!! LMAO!

Impressive speed!! :drink:

This past weekend the chine walking was minimal, it seems to happen more in smoother water. I was going with 1 to 2 footers and it felt great, but if I over trimed it would start chining.

In smooth water with no tab it could start at around 80/85mph on my boat. I will pull back the throttles a little, bring the trim in and it goes away instantly, then get back on the gas. If I start a run with some tab it doesnt seem to chine, but it will scrub some speed(not that my passengers seem to notice).

This is my 5th season with this boat/combo(the 1st 3 were a little rough), and I dont think I have found the full potential of this boat. I plan on playing with more props next year.

What 5 blades are you running? Even with the speeds I'm getting, my prop slip is in the high teens/low 20's. I'd love to pick up some efficiency, and cruising speed.

Thanks for the kind words.

LE

I notice......LOL HA!!!!

I am running a 28 pitch Maximus, but it is a larger diameter (15 3/8") and I can turn it 5650 and that gets me 88-90 depending on the water as well. Slip is between 9%-12%.

My 4 blade labbed Bravo 1's 32 pitch and 15 1/14" diameter are my faster of the two sets, but the slip is thru the roof around 18% - 22%. I was told that as long as you have the speed...deal with the slip. At lower rpms, I still have slip but pretty good cruise 47-49mph @ 3000.

And you are welcome!! :drink:

Dave

I tried a set of Maximus's, and your right they dont slip. Cruising speeds picked up greatly, but the Bravo slip is one thing thats keeping my XR's alive.

Are the diffussers cut off the Maximus's? Because they do have huges rings, and a lot of blade. I was thinking 5 blade Hydromotives, if I can find a used set. Have you ever played with the Hydro's?


LE

Great numbers guys......FYI: In my 382 (well, not mine anymore) I ran labbed 28 Maximus that were 15 5/8's or labbed 32P Bravos, both to 5,200-5,300 at 82-86 depending on conditions (80 if full of fuel, gear, and 4+ passengers in flat water). The Bravos got about 100 more rpm and speed but the Maximus were 5-6 mph faster at 3,500......certainly due to the slip being around 10-11%

Anyway, I ran those 32P bravos for 3 years before switching to the Maximus. 3-4 months after the switch I blew a drive........3-4 boating months later the new owner blows another drive. Be careful running big power and those 5 blades. Mine were larger (15 5/8's) but the XR's didn't like them.

BTW: The 382 is obviously a heavier boat, and at 4,200-4,300 I made peak TQ of 700 fully dressed on a dyno......you guys are making more power but at a higher rpm, so maybe not as much TQ???

700 ft lbs torque, you can not blame drive breakage on the prop. XR's are rated @ 500 or 550 Hp. I do not know what test are done by Mercury to achieve this rating but for sure the closer to that Hp number and or over the number the higher the risk or drive breakage. Most likely a guys will have tested and beat on the boat 100 times, then hang a maximus when the drive was ready to break anyway. Has anyone ever talked to mercury about the relationship of 500 Hp and zero slip to drive life ?

Couple of things...

Difusers are removed on both sets. You are right LE the ring on the Maximus is huge...gone now.

The XR's are rate up to 600hp. Merc paired them with their 600's. I've seen them live with 850 behind them. Depends on how you drive. Heck, I had standard Bravos (Performance) with 600 hp and was able to make them live for one whole season WITH the Maximus!!

As for the Hydros, I have not tried them. I took the word of the BBlades (Brett) and went with the Merc props. I wonder if anyone is running a different brand on a bigger HP Formula?

Dave

Do I sense some skepticism?

I thought the Bravo would be a ticking time bomb, but after 2 full seasons and some less then steller driving, I'm not complaining. Dont get me wrong, my maintenance schedule and upgrades aren't lacking.

LE

Talked to Brett a couple times about the Bravo's, I just need to send him something.

On the list for next season.

LE

Can you guys give me an estimate on speed with whipples on 525's and XR's?

Think I can reach 95?

I'm assuming roughly 750hp after the work is done, but I'm not planning on changing the drives or putting on boxes.

95 would be nice, but livability and dailly crusing are also imoportant.

What do you think?

I think 95 is easily reached with 750 HP, we have no clue what LE makes, figured around 750 hp maybe but I think it is more personally, think flies!!

Real horsepower numbers really don't mean as much as your setup. The boxes will give you 1-3mph and 2" shortie drives, after you fine tune them, will get you another couple. Whipples should get you in the high 80's to low 90's depending how much you turn them up. How much do you want to spend? It's all about the cubic dollars and how much effort you put into it.

As LE has said, there is no real set combination that works on every boat. I would start with the Whipples and a baseline prop and go from there. If you aren't fimilar with setting up a boat, get someone who is or knows. It'll save you a ton of money. Get the advice consistantly from someone in the know. Between LE and I, I think we can answer most of your questions. I think we have tried just about everything in a 353.

Dave

Thanks Dave. I thought you guys might be able to answer my questions after lurking here for a while.

I think LE's boat has more than 750 each side and I think I'd probably have a tough time getting over 90 without boxes and Shorties as I didn't think they would bring so much speed together.

I've been told boxes don't do much on this boat, but that could have something to do with the stock power vs. blower motors.

Do you know how far out the props are off the transom with boxes? This is still a family boat and I dont want the kids jumping off the swim platform and hitting drives or props.

Here's a profile shot, you can judge for yourself how far they are. The tie bar is just about even with the rub rail on the swim platform with the drives at about 5. It's not too bad getting on and off, actually it's eaiser with the ladder resting against the tie-bar for support instead of just folding inward. I always caution people swimming behind the boat, and so far, no problems.


Dave

Found another one!

Dave

The pics above show good views but in general it is a 12" set back.

LE is very much a family boat still too, it sees normal beach use with kids, so far all good! no injuries!