Ilmor engines
 

Anyone have any experience going from Merc power to Ilmors and have some feedback? 200 pounds lighter per engine make a difference in handling, speed, acceleration, etc? Can this be done by simply pulling out power and dropping new engines in or does it require some modifications??

From our experience it requires some mods. We wanted to go from a Mercury 525 to an ILMOR 625 in a new F-26. All the hook-ups and rigging are opposite. Meaning everything on the right of a Merc is on the left of an ILMOR.

Ilmor info
 

I've had my Ilmor 710 since May, 55 hours. I had a 525 Merc and then a 950HP Whipple BBC. My feeling is that the Ilmor is is a large cut above in build quality. Just looking at the V-10 and the way it is set up will help confirm this. Secondly, I can run the 710 at 6250 rpm for an hour, slow down to 30 mph, pull into a marina, and idle at 700 rpm.

Additionally, I am not replacing drives. The 950 used a drive every 15 or 20 hours of hard running. The thing sounds wonderful, its turn-key and I am not tempted to mess with it to test several of my faulty theories. That has been a problem for me with most of my engines.

Whatever the process to put an Ilmore in your boat, its worth it. I'll buy the next generation as soon as it comes out. Penske does not fool around. Best of luck. Quent

We have an extension loom available if needed for the pin connector, just thought i'd throw that in there. Our website has drawings and specs for installation I believe. I also think we have some slightly used horses around in a few colors, if interested i could find out what we have.

Thanks for the input, appreciate it. Few questions – what drives are you running? You got a little more juice than I have, or would be looking at, but still not getting many responses here so anything helps. No secret my boat is for sale, but if I can’t unload it, I want to upgrade. Thinking the 625’s would do the trick but I hear about the torque ripping up drives. Have heard if I do the XR upgrade from Teaque they might last?? Any experience with that? No offense ILMOR, but I like to get the opinion of the boys on the board as well…

Do your research man, get some opinions. You know what we got and where to get it. Let me know either way, maybe I can help ya.

PS. Quent is one of our biggest supporters, Thanks!!

Ilmor drives
 

Cullen, my drive is an IMCO Xtreme Advantage, intergal steering, 1:5 ratio, 28P B1. I can tell you from previous experience that this drive is not much stronger than a Bravo XR when it comes to handling touque. My 950 ate one in less than 2 hours. However, this IMCO setup with a shortie has worked perfectly on my boat, a 24 Laveycraft. I don't feel that the Ilmor is as hard on the drive, regardless of make, since the torque comes on at a much higher rpm.

I used to cruise at 3500 rpm in my cat, just where my 950 was at max torque. That is not good. The Ilmor is at max torque at 4800. I never get to that rpm getting on plane or cruising giving me longer drive life. At least thats the theory. So far so good.

Look at the October 2007 issue of Hot Boat under the bowriders test section for the Laveycraft. Quent

Can anyone say anything about the IMCO drive under development?

That and the 710 would be a very interesting package.

I have been told(don't know if I believe it) the Ilmors don't work well on big heavy v's? Anyone care to give your expert oso opinion?:D

Sorry I meant Ilmor drive.

I'd like more info on this whole deal too :)

I am curious what the train of thought would be there? With speedmasters (#6s, #3s etc) I am wondering why wouldn't they work 'well' :confused:

And to EXTREMEMARINE's comments about everything on the right is on the left ... does the wire harness extension loom, ILMORdude mentioned, solve all those issues?

Quent nice boat BTW, you seem very pleased :cool: and say "Whatever the process to put an Ilmore in your boat, its worth it." ... Just how painful was the conversion? Could you offer info on who did the work?

I have a 38 Fountain that I switched from Mercury 525's over to 625 Ilmors. I like the Ilmor engines. They are of sound design and reliable once in, but if I had it to over again I would go out and buy a boat with factory installed Ilmors rather than do a Merc to Ilmor conversion.

I had a well know racing rigger do my Ilmor conversion and my gwad it was a nightmare for them. They estimated that it would take 3-4 weeks and it wound up taking nearly 4 months to install the Ilmors and both of us wound up taking a bath on the rigging costs. The Ilmors didn't fit the stringers, they had to reglass the transom and raise the drives to get them to fit, my once perfectly dailed in X dimension was way off once the Ilmors were installed (taking 600 lbs out of the back of your boat may not always be a good thing) so the boat didnt' perform as hoped and is still in need of tweaking.

Would I buy a new or used boat with Imor power - Yes, in a heartbeat. But let the factory do it where they can set it up and balance it properly from the get go. Would I convert a Mercury powered boat to Ilmor power? GWAD NO!!!

I would not reccomend Teague Drives behind them. My 625's on a 36' Cat made light work of them.

Ilmor install
 

NJgr8ful, I did not have the Ilmor 710 installed in a boat that already had another engine. My boat was new. The V10 is longer and more narrow than a BBC. It requires different motor mounts and wiring harness.

If I were going to keep a boat the Ilmor would be a good option for repower. BBC's are great as well but if you want something different and turn key with a warranty, the Ilmor is a good option. In my case 700 hp is 700 hp, BBC or Ilmor. The boat doesn't care. But I do.

Where was your failure? Clutch, gears or shafts? What props were you running?

Spoke with the guys from England running King of Shaves. They are running 625s, tuned up to about 645hp. Running Arneson drives - what a sweet set-up. Spoke with Knight from Fountain, he really liked how this boat handled and runs. The boat is a 42 Fountian and is kicking some butt in KW.

Lots of metal on the magnets. Teague re-built both under warranty. I bought a Bravo XR as a spare and blew the upper to pieces in less tham 20 HRS. I was not wave jumping. Fresh water lake use. Bravo 4 blade and Throttle-Up 5 Blade CNC props.

WOW ran Teagues behind 1050 ponies at 138 mph in a 33 Daytona and never hurt them ,switched to bigger power and put on imco S/Cs and destroyed them about every 3 hours .If i did it again i throw the Teagues on in a minute :cool-smiley-027:

I am not sure why the merc to Ilmor conversion was so bad. My boat is a 41 velocity that had 2 KE 675's and was converted at the factory to 2 Ilmors and it was not that bad. Sure, it was not a direct switch, but it was a clean installation. When you make the change you are probably raising your drive height about an inch or inch and a half because of the 700 lbs that I deleted. They are bullet proof engines. I only wish their drives were out. I understand they are still hoping to release them at the Miami boat show. I hope this happens.
I am ready for bigger Ilmor power.