HA GROVE I Like the thread and pretty funny about the head. I do have a few girls that use it from time to time!!! Thier isn't really any room in thier. I also use mine for storage clothes and boat stuff!!! It is amazing the gas consumption this boat achieves. Keep the good stuff coming

And all this time I thought mine wasn't that bad on gas. I can go out for 175/200 miles or so and it cost me about a buck thirty or so to fill er back up. ( $ 1.70 gal). It gets way worse fuel mileage when I do a tow/patrol for the races, idling around the gas just disappears. But cruising around it doesn't seem to be so bad. Am I confused???????Running 454 mags, highly modified silent thunder, Hydromotive Quad IV's. Is this bad????

Hey, I like the idea of this thread for the 311's. Have the various engine options been covered? I know of the 454/330hp combo. I believe that these are cast cranks and pistons with oval port heads and quadrajet carbs. Were the Magnum engines the next step up ? These were rectangular port, forged pistons and cranks and rated at 365hp. There were the 420's. I am not too sure about this combination. Oval port head with forged pistons??... What is the combination that makes the 420 vs. the 365 magnum?
I am curious about what the gas mileage difference, if any, there would be? Do the 420's run better than the 365?
I would like to better understand these various engine offerengs for this era. It seems like the oval port heads are better suited to 0-5000 rpm range. Is there an advantage to the rectangular port heads?

Well, I have an 89 311, that is now officially for sale big time, as I just bought a Cig Tiger. I love the way the 311 handles with the 502 EFI's and I agree about the head, never used it, even my 9 year old said it was small. I view it strictly as an emergency bathroom. I never had a prob with the sound of the silent thunder either, was a good combo of loud and quiet when needed. The previuos owner had done some mods to it as well. So now I'll put it in the classifieds, as soon as the weather breaks and I can pull the shrinkwrap off it. First 40K takes it trailer and all. pm me for details and some pics!

Rob

Most of you have probably seen these, but for those who have not, here are a couple of pix of "Outlaw" with the Silent Thunder Box removed. I installed new EMI Thunder aluminum exhaust systems, and new Stainless Marine Tips with the internal SuperFlapper that does not make any noise whatsoever. Am very happy with the results.

Have not done a balls to the wall WOT run yet but soon as I do I will post results. Between losing the "Box" and the weight savings over the stock Merc cast iron log manifolds, I've dropped at least 500 lbs of dead weight right over the props. Sitting in the water the stern sits about one and one/half inches higher than before. Combined with some type of power increase from the much more efficient exhaust system I am hoping for a 4 mph gain on the top end.

Russ,
Outlaw looks awesum.... That was a lofty undertaking... You gotta love the result...

Thanks, yeah I'm real happy on how it turned out. I will admit that there were times I thought I'd never get it finished. Every time I turned around, something else either had to be done to the boat, or something involving me was getting in the way. I've still got some "finish" sanding on the gelcoat in the back to completely finish it. I went over it today with 600, now have to work through 800, then 1000, then 1200. Then it will be ready for polishing compound and then four coats of wax. You have to REALLY look hard to see any sign that there was ever a Silent Thunder Box on the back. Even the four bolt holes I had to fill came out great. I smeared 5200 in the holes, and all over the sides of a hardwood dowel, then drove them into the holes leaving about a one/eighth inch depression, that I then filled in. I then applied resin on/over the dowels on the inside of the engine compartment. Figure that ought to hold them in place.

I figure all in all, I have at least 180/200 hours in the project, start to finish. When I took it out for the first time, by the time I was ten feet away from the dock, I had already forgotten about how much work it was. And do I EVER love the sound of it now.

Outlaw, when are you planning on getting some WOT runs in?
Are you running the Hydro Q IV's? Be interesting to see how it runs with all the weight removed, plus aren't they stern lifting props? Do you think with the lighter stern it might benefit from the Quad IV X?

Yes, I do run the Quad IV's and they are stern lifting props. Our 311s are WICKED ass heavy boats. I don't think I took enough weight off to make those props "too" much stern lifting. I am hoping that the entire boat will run higher out of the water, ergo less "wetted" surface.

First time out I just took it easy and got the boat used to running on the water again. Boat felt stronger though running from say 30 to 55 or so. While I was at 55 the boat just seemed to ride "easier" or "lighter" or something. Felt just as stable, just didn't seem to require as "much into the sticks" to get it up to 55mph.

I am not real familiar with the Quad IV "X". Besides the last thing I need to do right now is shell out for new props. My wife is ready to cut my "head" off now.

Waiting for the "Red Tide" to clear out. Ran down to the launch ramp yesterday late morning and it was bad. Hundreds of dead fish floating around and the smell was ungodly. Newscast said it was starting to break up and the strong wind out of the East today was pushing it out to sea.

Next weekend will be the real test. Calling for 75/76 temps and bright sunshine and I will have my camera and gps.