Upgraded Motors?????
 

I am looking into upgrading my HP 500 EFI 382 Fastech motors. There are alot of options out there, including after market engines. I do not want to change the engine hatch (blower scoops etc.) but would like to top out at around 90. I am currently running TCM platinum XZ drives.

I was just wondering what anyone else has done to upgrade their Formulas. What model of Formula, what kind of speed or midrange torque. What drives, props, whose motors, procharger or whipple etc.....


Thanks for the help

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

My advise for what it's worth is to stick with the stock power as long as you can stand to. There may eb a few more things you can do with props, extension boxes, etc. etc. to get some more speed with the same engines. There's a lot to be said for the reliability of stock Merc power.

Now, if you want to trade your two stock 500s for my two blown 454s we can talk.

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

Bford1 , Did You Have To Modify The Underside Of Your Hatch To Accommodate The Installation Of Your Pro Chargers ? This Modification Might Be In My Near Future And I Was Just Wondering . How Dependable Are They Also ?
Thanks Chris

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

I think Whipple has a bolt on supercharger with modified EFI that does not raise the engine's top height.

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

I have a similar setup on my 311 which is 454's w/ B&M 174 blowers. The Gafrig flame arrestors hit the mirrors on mine, so I put spacers on the rear hatch brackets to help. Mine have been pretty dependable with reasonable boost (max 5-6 lbs).

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

JB ... Hows that werk on your 311 ? ..kinda dependabe ? any problems ?

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

"Mike wants to go faster,
Mike wants to go faster"

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

Damnit ...

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

I am not sure how fast you are going now but to reach 90 you would have to super charge or cignificantly change your engines.

If you have enough $$$ my choice would be take out the 500's and replace them with a proven package from some one like Paul Pfaff Eickert ect... If you are unhappy with the higherperformance engines (or boat) swap them back out. This way you could sell the boat with the stock power.

If you have to mod these engines get with a good engine builder and have them reccomend a setup, Whipples are popular but regardless of what whipple tells you you will need too put better head gaskets on. The engines should come out be modified then dyno tuned. This can be done in the boat but it is MUCH easie and better to take them out.

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

Hot Water,

I thought you were going to see the 382!

I have 650 H.P. Sterlings in my 382 with extension boxes and unlabbed 28 bravo's running 83-85 m.p.h. @ 5400 r.p.m. I could probably pull a few more m.p.h. with some prop work, but just don't want to drop the $$$ right now.

I would stay with your stock power unless you have a problem in your motors. Once you start putting bigger power through any Bravo with a boat this heavy, it will be inevitable that the drives will become an issue.

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

I have only had the boat since last year, but the package has been on it for around 10 years. However, there were several years that the boat had little to no usage. So it's hard to tell, but my take on things is that if you aren't running a lot boost, it's not beating things up really. Also, it isn't so much the top end HP and speed that things add, it's the incredible torque that the roots blowers give you. Not that I am out hammering on this thing because I don't want to break things, but the throttles are VERY responsive to say the least.

If you are interested in adding a supercharger, I'd highly recommend contacting Nickerson Performance and talking to them about it (do a web search for the site). They supplied the parts, and reworked the carbs when the orginial owner had the work done. I sent him the carbs last year for a refresh, and the boat runs great. No soot, idles fine, starts fast, runs fast :) . He has literally done this thousands of times, and can tell you what you would need and what to expect for performance.

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

Thanks JB ...might give em a call .. my 311 has fresh 454 mags ..( jasper reman. motors ....I would think it would be better to add something like this now instead of to tired motors ....Mike

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

Your right, I was going to sell it but it just not moving, so I think I am going to keep it. My thought was if I am going to keep it I would upgrade to whipples. Possibly have Teague Custom Marine pull the motors and do the install. TCM and Dustin have a close relationship and should do a good job. I already have TCM platinum XZ drives. I am going to email Bob at TCM to find out if they will hold up.

Of course I am a boat owner and could change my mind at a moments notice

Re: Upgraded Motors?????
 

Sorry for my slow reply. I haven't been on OSO for a while. The flame arrestors on mine would hit the mirrors on the underside of the hatch. That's why the mirrors are removed. If you look at the back of the hatch you'll see that it is modified to move the hatch up to clear the increased height from the blowers.

Yes, they are B&M 174s sitting on 454 Mags. Only about 5-6 #s boost. They work quite well. My 357 with this set up can run 45-50 mph without any boost and with good mileage. 90% of the time I just watch the boost gauges and keep them at 0 to cruise around. But, then if you want to hit it the boost instantly goes to 5 and moves out.