Working on your Hustlers..How easy?
 

I am curious in your own experiences, how is it to do any maintenance on your 344 Cheetahs or your 388 Slingshots? For example, Oil changes, Spark Plugs, Sea Water Pump replacement, Fuel filters, ect... Originally when I first set out looking for the next boat, I had my heart set on getting something staggered but the more I am looking into Hustlers and other manufactures, that inst always an option for the price I am looking for (under 150K roughly)

In my 388 I have plenty of engine compartment space. Probably 12-14in of room in front of the engines which will help alot with getting down and working on the motors. Never had to change a spark plug, oil filter, sea pump.. yet knock on wood. So I couldnt tell ya how hard that would be. But there is definitely alot of room to work with compared to a Baja or Fountain.

There's a nice 388 for sale 110,000 in il thats not yet listed in the classifieds. Immaculate condition you may want to consider that.

Got my eye on that 388 for 139 with twin 525s... Who does your service work?

lake cumberland marine (lcm) does all the work

Thats a nice lookin boat, check out this boat..its not listed in the classifieds and has 502's but 600+hp. Which is a very reliable package that alot of hustler owners go with. Its a 1999 smaller engines like mentioned above but probably will run the same speeds, if you notice in the cuddy the seats are different also and then the colors on the outside of the boat. This boat could save you probably 30k and the trailer is only year or two old.

We work on one with Vortech Blowers so its a little tight but not that bad. Na boats are fine.

Keep the comments coming guys, strip poker?

That is a nice looking bout but I want the 500EFI or the 525s and has to be stock.

Okay last post, I just noticed that this above post was post number 888 for me :D LOL Good Luck I guess

Hey PKSPX,
Thats my 388 that Chuck posted the pics of. Give me a call, the 500HPs in my boat run more smoothly, more reliable, and push more power than the 500EFI/525EFI packages. Obviously a little biased, but I have 55 hours of flawless use out of this package and can not be more impressed. Look at the motor pic, it looks identical to a 500HP built to specs of stock Merc 540 Bulldog. You can save yourself $35K+, get better paint/graphics, better trailer w/ drive guard, and overall a spotless boat compared to the 388 for $139. Look at the bilge, not a spot of oil - bright white! Too many update to list including new XRs. Never hurts to talk - 920.716.2757 cell or [email protected] for more pics.

the trim pumps are the only thing thats tuff to get to.there plenty of room in front and down the side.


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...028Large29.jpg

Since you do your own work on your boat, how convince is it for you including pulling those engines? I have seen your posts, you have a ton of hours put into that thing, nice!

Sweet motors Rob!!! I'm looking to do the whipples on my 525's any advice pro/cons. Know any place to get a good deal on new or used ones. Thanks Brett

Thanks,I can have both out in around 2 hours on the ground,The slowest part is taking the bellhousing and motor mounts off putting the engine cradle on it to transport in the truck. going back in and aligning the motors 3 hours and if I had a full day they could be running by the end of the day,the drives take about 3 hours:(my girlfriend has a hard time holding here side of the drive:rolleyes:The B max is hard to lift by yourself,then filling them with oil is over a hour.

Its fun working on it,sometime its alittle work,but having ocd I probaly clean more than anything,Thats all I did this winter was pull them to polish them:D


The in convince is, I have to use a forklift to lift the motors out and in,the hatch bolts want come out:(I have to get a buddy to use his fork lift at work.

Rob

what about reaching around for spark plugs changes and oil changes, plenty of room????? right now I have a single and like I said, I was set on staggered for the twins but really no choice in the hustlers.

You can do all of the above. There is decent room all around for a side by side boat. We havnt done as much work on a slingshot as Rob, but we have done our fair share of just about everything. With stock motors it will be easier since on ours we had the older style side mounted whipples. Oil changes are a piece of cake and as long as your a decent size spark plugs arnt a problem either. Good luck on your search!! The Slingshot is a great overall boat for the $$$!!!

its not that bad on the plugs.My Chevelle is 10 times worse.use 3/8 rat with a 6-10 ext ,sparkplug sock,it takes longer gapping the plugs:D

You can buy a hose kit for the oil change ,change out the brass fitting and put a quick connect like mine ,rig up the pump (teel) from Grainger with the same ,It will suck out the oil in about 2 min,I put the blue areoquip hose for looks and runs along center stringer and sits right by the seastrainers,(see pick). My oil filter is upside down,just crack it open a little and ital drain back into motor,no mess.I have a hyd 5gal bucket with lid ,

You can reach the drain plug in the oil pan,not fun but ya only have to do it once.

The way the 500efi oil filter is mounted prob make a mess.
On the Port side I put 3 G5 fenders beside the motor and hull side.



Your worrying too much about the engine compartment,its no big deal:ernaehrung004:

I had a 89 28ft Scarab before bought it new keep it 12 years,After buying the Hustler in 2002 I wish I would of sold the Scarab alot earlier!!What kind of boat ya got now? Rob

Thanks,The cons would be the price:(There high,I would do it again,just have to dig alot deeper now:DThe other thing is drives.With the TQ the Whipple makes, its going to eat at least the lower gears,look at my dyno sheet from 2005 with it at 7.11lbs of boost, look at the TQ down low, also its pretty flat at 38-4400,yea it feels good nailing it at peek TQ.I usually try to roll thru it until about 4500,like everybody says it depends on how ya drive it,we all hit it once in a while, thats why we put the Whipples on it.I think of it as like my drag cars ,it going to break,I accept it and even expect it.


Rich oso domanrich had some for sale used?

New I would call Mark at Precision Marine in La. 504-469-7463I bought mine from him and he's the one that dynoed it and did the ecm.The 525 kit will come with the mef4 already programed,should be just bolt it on and go.


At the 7psi you should be real close same HP,mine on a good day ran 99 bad day heavy 96-98, you should be 99-100 ,They say the Bmax cost me a few?

Now I am at 8.45psi around 850+hp,better heads and cam would help,but not picking up much more speed.

Brett if ya need some help just holler

Rob:ernaehrung004:

Just remember its never enough,just a pulley change away

Race gas and 11.5 lbs boost.Check out the boost and TQ at 3700 the start of the pull.

Thanks for all the info. Those dyno sheets tell the storie! Do you know how to get in contact with Rich about the used whipples? I will also contact Mark to get a price from him on two new ones and find out what comes in the kit.

brett,
give me a shout i have his number,
Will

Truth be known, the secret to Strip's quick engine removals is that he uses a lot of wing-nuts! Just kidding. He's the expert. Maintenance access for routine items is a non-issue. The raw water pumps on my Slingshot are a pain (at least for us old guys) because the SpeedMaster/Huber setup moves the engines forward toward the portion of the gas tank that protrudes into the engine bay. My trim/K-plane pumps are mounted on the front corners of the engine bay. I never had any idea where the horn was until it fell off one day and was so well hiden behind the pumps and under the gunnel that it must have been the first part they hung when they built the boat. As Rob will tell you,changing the trim/tab cables is a b***h!

I forgot about the cables,I did mine when the motors were out,not as bad:D Lou no wing nuts, but the zippers help:D

Rob
always admire your engine room!
nice

Thanks , back when me and a buddy that had the hotrods/showcars we would pull up in the parking lots , they would call us HP. hood poppers:D its fun