Formula 233 1976 280 TRS Refit
08-27-2019, 08:47 AM
#1
Registered
Thread Starter
Formula 233 1976 280 TRS Refit
I just stumbled upon a Formula 233. Could not have passed up the opportunity.
1976 Formula 233 with a 280 TRS. Merctrans II.
I can't confirm 100%, but it appears that the hour meter has 224 hours on the hull. (looks original, and still functions)
The hour meter is a Susuki gauge.
A fresh water hull, from the interior of BC, Canada.
A real Gem.
Hour meter on right. Looks original. 224 Hrs.
1976 Formula 233 with a 280 TRS. Merctrans II.
I can't confirm 100%, but it appears that the hour meter has 224 hours on the hull. (looks original, and still functions)
The hour meter is a Susuki gauge.
A fresh water hull, from the interior of BC, Canada.
A real Gem.
Hour meter on right. Looks original. 224 Hrs.
08-27-2019, 08:54 AM
#2
Registered
Thread Starter
Maybe not, I just found some links on the model number or the hr meter, that I saw when posting the photo. Appears to be more recent.
This is all coming pretty fast. A lot of info.
The Hull looks amazing.
This is all coming pretty fast. A lot of info.
The Hull looks amazing.
08-27-2019, 09:06 AM
#3
Registered
Thread Starter
Floor appears to have had some work done. Around the tank area only. Otherwise, the carpet glue can be seen on what may be the original glassed plywood floor?
Upholstery is redone. Has a nice boat cover, and a double cover system, that I have yet to see opened. Looks brand new, from the outside.
New aluminum fuel tank. Plumbed in. New Edelbrock carburetor, does not look like it has ran.
Crane HI-6M.
The bad....
Looks like the cover leaked water on the engine, and the intake took water into the engine. Water displaced the oil into the upper engine area. May have frozen...and had some green antifreeze come out of one of the plugs.
Engine is toast. Likely not even worth rebuilding the 350 block.
Though it does have the LT1 Rocker covers....original Mercruiser. Interesting.
The Merctrans II...the oil cooler split open. Someone tried to repair it. So the MercTrans has been open with no ATF.
Complete tear down there.
08-27-2019, 09:11 AM
#4
Registered
Thread Starter
TRS looks ok. I want to use it. Will have to bone up on the drives. Rough learning curve, with no room for error. Looming for TRS tools now. May have found some upper tools local.
TRS drive. Not as perfect as I would want it to be, but something to work with.
TRS drive. Not as perfect as I would want it to be, but something to work with.
08-27-2019, 09:28 AM
#5
Registered
Thread Starter
Re-power plans.
I like the reliability of twins. Outboards will never touch this hull, (less kicker) while I own it.
My goals... 60mph max speed medium laden. 35 mph cruise.
I think the single engine with a good kicker would be the best option here. Twins really eat up the room.
I'm thinking 383 at min, or maybe 400 small block Chev. Potentially an aftermarket 400 block.
Looking for 450-475 HP, at the 5800-6000 max RPM area.
With min 400 ftlbs at 1500 RPM.
Not sure if 475HP will push these hulls to 60mph. We'll see. Any more power, and the drive becomes a factor.
Cruise speed TBD....from wide band O2 on the fly carb tuning for max efficiency to speed factor. Prop testing etc.
The Merctrans weak link will have to be addressed. They have very low oil reserve, and are thermally weak that way.
So maybe a larger reservoir built in, and accessed through the big water cooling opening.
Either way, the 72C Borg Warner is prob a better option, but a lot of cost and pain to locate. Merctrans for now.
Though hull exhaust is a must at those power levels. Or at least NA, with the budget I'll throw at it. Exhaust manifolds, so many options. With a lot of cost. May tackle that head on with a custom shorty header system. Or maybe even headers. That may be a bridge too far at the moment. But the original cast manifolds are a pretty big downer in all respects.
Nice hull.
I like the reliability of twins. Outboards will never touch this hull, (less kicker) while I own it.
My goals... 60mph max speed medium laden. 35 mph cruise.
I think the single engine with a good kicker would be the best option here. Twins really eat up the room.
I'm thinking 383 at min, or maybe 400 small block Chev. Potentially an aftermarket 400 block.
Looking for 450-475 HP, at the 5800-6000 max RPM area.
With min 400 ftlbs at 1500 RPM.
Not sure if 475HP will push these hulls to 60mph. We'll see. Any more power, and the drive becomes a factor.
Cruise speed TBD....from wide band O2 on the fly carb tuning for max efficiency to speed factor. Prop testing etc.
The Merctrans weak link will have to be addressed. They have very low oil reserve, and are thermally weak that way.
So maybe a larger reservoir built in, and accessed through the big water cooling opening.
Either way, the 72C Borg Warner is prob a better option, but a lot of cost and pain to locate. Merctrans for now.
Though hull exhaust is a must at those power levels. Or at least NA, with the budget I'll throw at it. Exhaust manifolds, so many options. With a lot of cost. May tackle that head on with a custom shorty header system. Or maybe even headers. That may be a bridge too far at the moment. But the original cast manifolds are a pretty big downer in all respects.
Nice hull.
08-28-2019, 08:33 AM
#6
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
iTrader: (2)
Something in the 425-450 range, 383 or so, should get you close to your goal. I had an old 4 Winns 225.... based off the 233 for the most part... and it ran in the upper 50s all day any day and a couple of low 60s. 383 flat-tappet engine.
The TRS drive will live all day long behind a small block.
A 71c or 72c would be nice. A rebuild of the MercTrans wouldn't be bad either because it would not be taxed too much at all in this scenario. You wouldn't have to change any mounting points if staying original. Just some food for thought.
Cool project!
The TRS drive will live all day long behind a small block.
A 71c or 72c would be nice. A rebuild of the MercTrans wouldn't be bad either because it would not be taxed too much at all in this scenario. You wouldn't have to change any mounting points if staying original. Just some food for thought.
Cool project!
08-28-2019, 12:06 PM
#8
Registered
Thread Starter
Yeah, I may just try to piece together a 72c conversion.
maybe if I'm lucky...a whole drive take-off with trans.
maybe if I'm lucky...a whole drive take-off with trans.
08-28-2019, 04:30 PM
#9
Registered
I'm pulling a 502 mag mpi converted to carb. Complete with Merctrans , transom assembly , and outdrive. Stainless Marine exhaust. $5000 gets everything. Good luck!!!
