The current drive height is some 7 1/2 inches from boat bottom to prop shaft. I am thinking of an IMCO shorty to reduce it to some 5 1/2. Anyone who has tried this on an older boat like this?

yes I posted on your 1st post I have a 2'' shortie on my 88 24ft ol with carb change and shortie I went from 74gps to 83 gps . do you have tabs they help getting on plane I UP GRADED TO 380'S FROM 280'S SO I have 280 plates for sale .if you have any Q'S JUST ASK.

Quite amazing. What engine are you running?

I have a 510 merc I WENT FROM A 850 bg which made 647hp and 627 tq to a dom 1050 by nickerson I was only getting 5100 out of the 850 which was the 74gps then I made two changes gave nickerson dyno sheet and specs because my engine builder sat with the stock 1050 we were picking up 17hp on the dyno but I already owned 850, so I think with the 2'' shortie I picked up 4 to 5 mph and the rest were from the carb from nickerson the boat flies more even now also when in the rough or wakes. I do have a small pad on the bottom of my V. OH WITH THE BG 1050 ON THE DYNO IT MADE ABOUT 15 TO 20HP/TQ more said the builder so I figure the nick is worth a little more , but raising the drive made it all come together BBLADES IS SETTING ME UP WITH SOME 28S 4 BLADE AND 5 BLADES THIS SPRING THEY HAVE A TEST PROP PROGRAM so I hope to hit 85 or 86 my motor is good from 5200 to 6000rpm it runs 600hp at 5050 to about 670 at 5900 going to redyno if I have the money this winter, because I am doing some new bulkheads and maybe floor over the winter to lighten up the boat and get back in to racing. MY BOAT IS A 88 MOTOR A 93 MERC BUILT FROM THERE. So after 18yrs of banging hard out in the ocean I thought it would be time to strip it and buy a blank hull or reinforce this one since my last operation does'nt look good and will most likely get a half replacement in jan I won't have the money to buy new maybe nexted year a single sutphen 32/ 28 joker/ superboat 30 in no order but until I am back at work I will have to work with what I have and when I am done someone will have the tuffest 24ol minus power

to add the 850 was running to lean I was hitting a wall with it jetted right it should have turn 76 or so easy with it ity was 600hp at 5050rpms most hp 500or 525s run at 74. so it was way off when it went in the boat to lean. after talking to nickerson they said I will pick up speed with them going through my 850 or go to the top with the 1050 so I am happy I went with the 1050

Very interesting AIR TIME. What prop are you running now?

AIR TIME, I found the above statement (by you) in another thread. Will the IMCO lower bolt to a 1988 Bravo drive?

Not sure so I bought a upper and damaged lower on here OSO they were 2002 its something about the oil passage has to be drilled out I think in the 88 and 89 drive and I wanted a spare anyways. the prop I have now is a 26 b1 balanced when it was labbed I only spent 175 bucks I looked up my old notes didn't make any speed changes when I had the stock prop. its turned as high as 5900rpm I have picks doing 80.3gps holding the camera myself and trying to drive and it looks like the tach was at 5600rpm so I will be sending it to BBLADES To see what was done to it before , I am looking for a little more bow lift and run at 5400 to 5600, but the boat sounds piss ah at 5800 to 5900rpms. so I think that it was a 50/50 on the drive change and carb the 850 might have run better with bigger jets but I changed them 2 times already what looks good on the dyno does'nt always look good in the boat

Oh The Upper Cost Me 600 And The Lower 600 And About A 1000 For Missing Stuff And Labor 2'' Was About 1800.