Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

Considering a nice 28SS with 454/330's and TRS. I'm concerned that this boat will be overly stern heavy. Most others I've seen or read about have small blocks. Can anyone provide some info regarding this particular boat engine combination?

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

it will definitely be stern heavy and tight!

check out thunderboatally.com gallery and you'll see lots o pics of them with TRS, bravo, big block, small block...

mine had small blocks and bravos, and i thought it sat a little low...cant imagine bb/trs combo :)

i just bought another 28SS project without power and I'm considering taking my 540s out of the Cafe Racer and throwing them in it...

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

PICS!! Man we need PICS!! ......and what are you doing with the Cafe?

Mine with small blocks and TRS sets about 2inches below the rubrail with a full tank of fuel and a full cooler of beer :crazy:

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

A buddy of mine has a 1976 28 cig with twin SBC's.....i can honestly say i have not been in alot of other boats that fly as well as this one does! the combo is just perfect for the size and weight of this boat. His tabs have been broken for close to two years now cause he's too lazy to get the pumps fixed!! But unless the seas are over i'd say 3' this boat doesnt need them! And it launches and lands so nice you can get very over confident in it and drop your guard for a second only to be scared chitless when some rogue wave comes at ya and tosses you sideways! :D

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

I've got small blocks and bravos in mine. It sits very low in the water especially with a big load.

I've only got fifteen hours at the helm, but there is nothing better then sneaking up behind a 50 foot cruiser and launching out of his wake. :) It flies predictable and lands solid every time.

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

Wally,

You hit it on the head...great flying boat and no need for tabs...I never installed them on mine when i redid it and the only need i see for them is if you've got a stiff crosswind. can't wait to start the new one :) I think im gonna make it a sit down boat...:)

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

You guys are kinda rienforcing my suspicions about big blocks in this boat. If it had small blocks I think it'd be a no brainer to have this boat. Is there some compelling reason why there are not more of these things with big blocks?

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

I happy to hear all the good things said about the 28's! :)

I guess if the price is right on the boat you can always take out the BB's and TRS's and repower with smalls/Bravo's (or Alpha's). Sell the BBs/TRS's and get your $ back out of them.

Or it might just run great with the big blocks. Can you sea trial?

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

WOW a thread actually related to boating... whats this site coming to

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

sounds like the ultimate revenge on your mechanic.

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

i think the reason alot more of them dont have the BBC's in them is cause its so damn tight in there! try working on a SBC 28 and then imagine doing it on a BBC!!! no thanks!!! I honestly dont know how the BBC 28 rides.....try calling Livorsi and ask to speak to Ron...he has or had ( i know it was for sale) a 28ss w/BBC's (500EFI's w/prochargers!!) and standoff box's hanging the TRS drives i think....anyway heres apic of the engine compartment.....looks like you could throw a bucket of water on the engines and the water wouldnt got to the bilge for about 5min! :D

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

Wally,

WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!, How fast ????? 500EFI's and super chargers !!!!!!

10 lbs Of **** in a 5 lbs Bag

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

I definately plan on a sea trial. I'm concerned about the weight for two reasons. No one pays attention to no wake zones on Lake Travis and the stern of that baby has got to sit deeeeep. And towing the thing with a C1500 truck. Flat ground no problem, slippery ramp, beeeg problem.

I do think those things look to shiznitz sitting way down in the stern though...
I'm not a Fountain guy, but I loved the way the 27's looked when they had twin BB's.

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

I rode in a new 28 with 330's and TRS back in 1980.....kinda show'in my age there a bit. :( I do not think that the BB boats are that muck lower in the water than mine with SB's although mine also has these lead weights hanging off the a$$ end called Stern Powr drives :crazy: I do recall with the stock 330's the boat DID NOT see 70 mph.

If your looking for a 28 SS, I do happen to have one FOR SALE!:D

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

space. my 28 has a single bb with a trs, great handing , lower center of gravity. and all the room i need to work on. you can't go wrong with a 28 just make sure u get a survey.

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

Open72 -what's the progress report with your boat these days?

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

when i last spoke to him he said it was doing low 90's!!! I cant imagine going that fast in that boat......if the waters nice then maybe but anything over say 3's around here on lake Michigan and i can see it being hairy past 65/70!!

Re: Cig 28SS Engine Options
 

Ron's boat rides great at speeds Wally referred to in some fairly heavy wave action on Lake Michigan. It flies and lands so predictably that it feels like a MUCH larger boat. I have been in the 92gps range with him on smaller lakes (Chain O' Lakes) and it really pulls strong right up to speed. As Wally's picture indicates - there ain't much room for anything extra in that bilge. When he redid the interior he cut large access holes behind rear seat to get at chargers and front of engines.