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Well after being a landshark for the past 4 years- i am back looking for a new (to me) ride. Last toy was a 280 Velocity with a single 502 pushin her. Wife wants to step to minimum of a 35' which to me means twice the headaches. We have been looking at a '01 38 lighting with HP 500's approx 300 hours on stock set-up. Anyone have an idea what i am looking at for basic rebuild on the motors? Has the HP500 had any "issues" that i should be looking for? What should compression be on something with that many hours? The boat was maintained by the "stealership" that has it for sale on consignment - so although i want to trust them not sure i am getting the "unbiased" facts. Any and all opinions would be great.
Thanks for the help!!

A 38 fountain is a great boat. I go one. But mine isn't a she.. :lolhit:

Run a leakdown 300 hrs will need valve springs but other than that expect top end work at 500ish hours.

Thanks for the feedback! Now I just need to my boxing gloves out and beat'em up on the price!

Obviously dealerships have their one main objective... that being to get the boat sold. I had my HP500's checked over carefully during a pre-purchase survey (300 hours on both engines). No problems were found, but it sure was nice to get an unbiased opinion. Any good surveyor should be able to provide you with new vs used compression and leak-down test numbers, and let you know where the engines stand. I've been told that if HP500's have been well taken care of they can run 700-800 hours or more, although on the flip side, all bets are off on poorly maintained engines.

My surveyor was also able to pull down (electronically) the history data on my engines and tell how often (percentage wise) the engines ran at various rpm levels. In my case less than 5% of their time my engines were fire-walled. That's something you want your surveyor to provide you too.

Also be sure to have the fluid in both drives checked to see if the gearing is in good shape, and have the hull and stringer density checked.

If you're in eastern NC let me know and I can provide you a couple of good surveyors that did an excellent job for me. Good luck.

Mine is going up for sale. 2000 Lightning w/700 Teague's, 118hrs. Imco SC's, 5hrs. Myco trailer, fresh water lake in Idaho, needs nothing. PM me

Hey .. What kinda numbers you gettin'and what props work on your boat? Thanks in advance !! Chad

What price you looking to spend and what do they want??
Chad

I haven't pushed to re-prop yet. Changed gear ratio from 1.36 to 1.5 at rebuild which was only actually less than two hours ago. Won't push it till gears seat in. I was not running enough rpm's before, BBlades had told me this last winter that 28 pitch 4 blades would be the ticket w/ my new set up.

so your 38 side by side w teague 700's.. Does it go 90? Just curious if my deal does about the same , as I have about 675 a side.. Thanks for your input.Chad