I have a 22' baja with a 450 horsepower 454 and a bravo 1 running a 25 " bravo 4 blade. Runs 72 on gps and can take a lot of driving to keep it there. I am planning on changing this drive to an xr with a 2" shorter lower unit. My question is, will this help the stability and speed of the boat or will it make things worse?

It will probably make it wors. Is this a Hammer? 72 - 74 is good enough for that hull. Going higher on the drive will probabaly cause more chine walk.

Be careful.

It is a 95 caliber. Im not so much looking for speed as making it a little more stable. My thinking was raising the prop higher on the boat would put more of the hull in the water giving more to work with. So what i got is as good as it gets? Thank you for the help on what could have been a costly mistake.

my boat chinewalked over 74 with stock or 2'' shortie did not matter, if you want less you need a single or twin full hyd steering . add on still get the walk been there. but the boat felt better flew flater instead of heading for the moon. mine is a 24 ol. you can learn to drive with chine walk I got mine mid 80s even went down a river that winds a lot you let it start to walk then take the wheel and move it back and forth in til you get the boat to stay even. other wise you got to back off the sticks and on everytime you hit a wake or start walking. its not really that hard. but my arm would lock up after a day of testing wide open across the bay for a hour or two thats why I am going full plus I am adding a 1050hp motor over the 650 motor. see yah art, if you want to talk call me 617 833 3327 ps with the shortie you will pick up speed and need a new prop, I picked up 8 mph with it a prop and dif carb.

Elite, I respectfully beg to differ with you. I have a 2001 Hammer with a 555 with 610 HP built by Bill Lawson at Ateco. It pulls a 27 Mirage plus labbed by Mercury to 86 (GPS) at 5,400 rpm's. It pulled a 26 labbed Bravo to 83. The Bravo is a little more stable, but I have full hydraulic steering and it is certainly drivable as long as you are paying attention. I have the standard length lower unit which is deep on the Baja. At 75 it is stable enough that the adrenalin doesn't even start pumping.

When you say Id need a new prop, do you mean the pitch or something besides the 4 blade bravo?

I know your boat.

This gentlemans boat is a handful at 72. Going faster is not going to fix it is all I am saying. Tabs and Hydraulic steering will help alot. He is saying pitch.

Actually if u raise the drive it will lift the back more !!!!

What Kirk said,,is the way to go . Hydraulic steering and Tabs !