IMCO SCX's on 05 42' Ex
 

Well we have shelled our last drive and are considering installing IMCOS new SCX drives. The boat is an 05' Ex with Tyler Crockett Whipple Charged 525's. They dynod @ 808 a side. Has anyone installed the new IMCO's on a 42 ftn? How do they like them? Are they running extension boxes? Our current setup is XR's with IMCO 2" shorties and 1" spacers....spinning 33" Hydromotive P5+'s. This prop combo hasnt been the best so we will for sure change when we install new drives. Any input on this would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...light=imco+scx

It kind of defeats the purpose of upgrading your power if you give a lot of it back with a power eating drive.

Some people are having success running the Teague drives.

Yeah, I too am interested in seeing how they work on a 42 with 800+ HP.

I would think your setup would live longer with a 1.35 ratio and thinned 4 blades.

How many hours are you guys getting out of your bravo's now before they pop?

Is a week or two very long???? :eek: Seems to happen between 3/4 and WOT...even with gradual stick movement. We have shelled both port and Stbd motors this summer.

I DO NOT want to lose any speed. Hmmmm, what to do??? My understanding is that the Teague drive is nothing but a Teague case with XR guts.....I may check into Max Works.

Whats letting go....Gear teeth? Shafts?
I too have broken many Bravo's, IMCO SC's, and a few Bmax's till I got the Gearing and Prop pitch right.

Wonder if you have an allignment issue - that''s too soon to be breaking them.

As far as the teagues go it's my understanding that they do more then just assemble the parts - I've heard something about them tweeking them to better tolerances. I know they at least put a warranty behind their product with the Ilmor 710 - that's more than IMCO will do I think. I've heard great claims about max machine works, but also stories about people dumping huge money into their drives and breaking them the first time out - with no warranty.

sucks - anything over 650 hp or so is in no-man's land. Unless you want to spend huge money on a nxt or 6 drive.


What kind of speeds are you seeing with those whipples - before and after install? Have the motors been reliable since you installed them?

Boat is a consistent 100MPH boat....with factory 525's it was 86MPH. We still do not have it proped right though. I WOULD NOT reccomend the Whipple setup. It has been nothing but problematic from the onset.....despite being installed by a "Whipple Authorized Installer". Had more issues than can be typed on this forum prior to sending up to Tyler Crockett. He finally got it right.
We had to change to boat over to open cooling to keep it from overheating...tried EVERTHING else before doing that. Next time I will either go 1075's or Sterlings, or maybe a Teague motor or have Tyler Build me one. NEVER will I go the "Bolt on Horsepower" route. Whipple is very misleading on their product and their customer support is the worst I have ever experienced.

I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I will never again buy a boat with the intention of modifying it to make it go faster (excluding prop changes). It takes too much time, energy, money, and headaches. Next time I will buy something that already goes the speed that I want.

I could not agree with you more!!! Perhaps the biggest mistake that I have ever made....next to getting married:evilb:

What about getting a pair of original 900 SCs and No6s?? Used, redone, cheap to buy and expencive to run... But I would guess it will last. Then you can sell your engines and drives. Have änyone any experiences with Merc 900 SC? 2001 Model Year..

If the women ever come to this site and find out how much we spend, and the things that we say....... well it wouldn't be pretty :)

Yahama,

There's a reason those things are so cheap. I'd be happy with 700's with NXT's or 6's.

Oh well....Sorry I couldn't help.
You might be better suited in a 850/#6 boat.

ex- Paradise 2000 42 did 117mph with 900 Sc and 6's...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...air-A-Dice.jpg

So what's the trick, going with the 1.35 gears and smaller props?

I spoke with Julie @ Throttle Up and Tyler Crockett and they didnt feel that going to 1.35 or 1.34's would be that helpful. If you look at the diameter and pitch of some of the wheels that Fountaiins are spinning these days, my 16" 33p P5+'s are meerely training wheels. Granted they are pushing it for an XR, but in perspective they are small fry compared to the airplane props that are being spun by some of Reggies boats today. I think Im gonna roll the dice and order the SCX's today and have Throttle Up CNC me some killer props. I hope that with what I lose in speed from ths SCX's I can gain back in the props. Ill be the Guinnea Pig for us Fountain guys on this one.

In regards to the shifitng issues, Fred with IMCO informed me that they are providing a shift interrupt (Like on the old Alpha Drives) to basically retard the engine while shifiting in and out of gear.....he says it works great.

The drives have been giving way in every way possible. This last one, the vertical shaft broke......my brother swears he was gradualy applying power at about 90 it gave way.....:Whatever:

Almost pulled the trigger on a 850 #6 boat this summer but we thought we'd wait for a 1075 boat to come up...maybe over the winter. 100MPH just isnt that fast anymore on the water......looking for 140+!!!!:evilb:

What does a set of SCX's cost?

Probably looking at about 30-32k when it is all said and done....Drives, taxes, install, dial in time, etc....Then I gotta buy the F-ing props!!!!

You should talk to Bill Schumaker. He's an IMCO dealer and has put some huge power in Fountains behind IMCO drives. He'll know exactly what you can expect from those drives performance-wise and if it's the best for your application.

http://www.eliminatorofindy.com/default.asp

Thanks...Ill give him a shout.

The faster a Bravo spins and the more slip your prop has the better.
Maybe not for gas mileage but drive life.
IMCO makes very good vertical shafts, better than the Mercury ones. I've seen the difference side by side, broken and new.
Keeping it cool and using a GL-5 lube could add life.
Granted 800HP is alot to ask out of a Bravo but some live longer than others.

Agreed, but.....More slip = less speed = :(. Boat has drive showers and we are using high quality oil already. I think we are gonna go ahead and pull trigger on the SCX's. I have done lots of research over the last 24hrs and feel that this will be the best all around drive for our application.

I talked to Bill for quite a while....very nice guy!! Thank you for the lead. I may have him do some work for me. Has he done anything for you or do you know anyone who has used him? Would like a little feedback if possible.

They look like a great candidate for the Bravo replacement...I have my eye on those also.
Good luck and let us know how they work out.

I will and thank you....keep your fingers crossed for me!!

I live in Indy and Bill owns the Eliminator dealership here. He's given me a lot setup advice on my boat and had made the current set of props I have on my boat. I know he does a lot of work on Fountains. I keep my boat on Lake Cumberland and know a guy down there that Bill does all the work on and has set up his 38 Fountain which is running 1000+ hp thru Imco's (about 116 mph on a smaller stepped hull), and the guy's other boat, a triple 47 Fountain, that he's also running 1000+ hp power thru Imco's.

I wanted to have Bill rig the Ilmor's in my 38 Fountain but Ilmor wanted it sent to their guy. Other than minor rountine maintenence I have yet to need anything major done to my Fountain so I just take it to the local dealers down on Cumberland rather than drag it back to Indy. So other than getting my props thru him and his giving me advice he is yet to turn a wrench on my boat.

From the times I've spoken to him and from what other people have said, he seems to really know the Imco product and and how to make it reliable and fast on Fountains.

Also.....a 1.35 ratio - some pitch - 1 blade, + more water/stock X dim = less slip.

How did the boat hook up getting on plane.

I will be interested in your results. I just grenaded my first XR drive. Broke everything. I will replace the upper completely with a reman unit and all new bearings etc. in the lower. I am spinning 30 Labbed Maximus. Cruising at 60 mph when it went. I have been driving the boat fairly conservatively lately. I may go back to my 32 Bravo's and get them labbed. I don't know if the props caused this or bad gears. Several of the teeth were gone and it looks like one of the teeth may have been cracked for a while. It was not shiny like the rest of the broken parts. Good luck with your change.
I am interested in your problems with Whipple. Was it the blowers or the install. That was my winter project to install on my 525's. I have an excellent mechanic who has done several whipple installs on other engines, so I am not worried about the installation.

that's the main reason I dumped mine. After 3 drives in 2 yrs, someone else can learn how great the setup is. :mad::mad:

The drives or the props or the boat or all of the above. :eek:

Been their done that....I agree with you. Our 38 with 700's and 6's is trouble free. If you dont like the Whipple's, and you are tired of braking Bravo's. I would have jumped on a 42/850 boat. I think they are running around 120 mph. Its not all just about the H.P. Fountain does a lot of setup work at the Factory, X deminsion, prop seletction ect. They can save you alot of time and headaches. I would take a boat set up by them before changing mine again. I learned alot, but it also cost me alot of $.:D:D

#1 and #3.

What fun, when every time I'm out something major happens.

Last Fountain I'll own. :eek:

I'm looking at your Avitar. You need NXT's or 6 drives to jump like that in a 42 foot boat and not break.

I think your problem was physics, not the Fountain - as far as your drives issues anyway.

there were other issues besides.
I will agree, if you want to have fun, Bravos suk.
If you can't catch any air, then buy a cruiser.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...42/CPCair1.jpg

Out of curiousity has anyone contacted Fountain & asked for their input on the new IMCO drive? I've been there & met some pretty knowledgeable people that may be able to shed some light on this project. If you get to any of the races or can get him on the phone, Brian Forehand is very knowlegeable in this area.

Just a suggestion.

PS- Ilmor plans to release a dry sump drive package that will compete w/ the NXT & #6 in Feb at Miami. I was at their facility just 3 weeks ago & asked alot of questions. Although they wouldn't let me see it they assured me that their package would retro fit to a bravo application wouldn't sink my 30 Skater. This may not fit into your timeframe but at least you know you have options. If you know anything about Ilmor & the Penske organization you know they have an incredible pool of technology to draw from & they do things first class.

I have no issues with the boat. Love the ride and handling. I would definetly buy another. I will go with NXT's, 6's and 700's next time. Live and learn. Only drive problem so far. Other issues with how the boat was represented when I purchased it.

What were the issues with the boat itself?

That is an awesome pic :)