I'VE GOT A 502 MAG WITH LIGHTNING STAINLESS HEADERS AND I'M ADDING A VORTECH SUPERCHAREGER WITH THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. MY 30' KACHINA DOES AN HONEST 68 RIGHT NOW, I'M HOPING TO BE IN THE MID 70'S WITH THE VORTECH. SHOULD I UPGRADE MY DRIVE AS WELL? CAN I MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE SEASON BEFORE I UPGRADE OR IS IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I SCATTER IT?

All depends on how you drive it. My last boat had a blown 502 @ over 600hp for over 6 yrs and never had any drive problems.

I had the same questions Kachina after upgrading my engine. From what I have gathered so far these are the things I intend do to extend drive life until I can beef up the drive this winter.

Avoid full throttle starts and tall propeller numbers.
Add a drive shower (did it last weekend, 15 minute job)
Switch to synthetic gear lube.
Just be nice to it.

Single or twins? Twins no problem.

I have the same question, twin 350 mags and want to add prochargers with Bravos.

Won't Last long.

260 hours stock + 30 hours with Vortech + 5 hours with 5 Blade Maximus = Boom!

4 teeth came off. It was fun while it lasted. It is only an XZ though. Maybe an XR would last longer. Check "Vortech Installation" in the Fountain secdtion if you want more info, the Vortech works great.

F

I would say if you have the money- upgrade now.
I have a XZ drive (XR lower), with a stock 500EFI that ate a couple teeth.
Thank god for warranties.
I have looked at the upgrade for the upper, and here's what I found out.
Imco uses the standard XR gear set, but upgrades bearings and such. The way to go here is buying the complete Imco SC drive, but it's too expensive.
Replace XZ gears with XR gears. By the time you buy the parts and installation, it's almost as cheap to buy a new XR upper.
Third and final option, is Max MAchine Worx. Part # MMWX700 replaces complete upper parts with there's. Cost $4950.00 (still uses XR gearset). This seems to be a nice product for bravo upgrades. website- www.maxmachineworx.com
Of course, there is the Bmax drive also.
I'm going to wait till fall and send my drives to Max for the upgrades or to the bravo shop. I think the bottom line is..... if it's a bravo drive, it's not how , it's when.
here's some pics...

I run over 600 hp through my bravos in a 30' Sonic. 250 hrs. and no problems. I bring the boat on plane @ 2500-2800 rpm, pull back on the throttles when props come out of water when it is rough, slow excelleration to WOT, and short WOT bursts.

"Short wot bursts",What fun is that!When i was still running 26 pitch 4 blade i could dog my boat hard,any condition etc,upgraded motor further and went to 28 pitch,boom,stock bravo was all done,i'm now running max machine worx fully upgraded drive w/30 pitch,seems to last about 100 hours now between breakage,blown 540 w/8-9 psi boost. So my answer would be if your single engine boat can turn a 28 pitch prop or more and you are going to run it hard at all,sell your stock bravo 1 while it's still worth something,use the money towards a fully upgraded max machine worx drive or keep the prop pitch low and baby it(again,what fun is that?!),Smitty

articfriends has a point. How do you drive? If you beat the snot out of it then the bravo may not hold up. Same goes for your motor.