Merc Integrated Transom System (ITS) on a 24 Pantera?
 

Anyone running a Mercury Racing Integrated Transom System (ITS) on a 24 Pantera?

I am looking at purchasing a 24 and it has an alpha drive... I will be looking to upgrade to a bravo in the near future and was thinking about an ITS since it has hydraulic steering built in and think the added 7" setback may be helpful...

Just looking for impressions on how the boat handles with it... pros and cons if any... thanks...

PM pantera572.

He had one on his 24. It was a nice set up. I was in the boat many times and it drove nice too.:evilb:

Finally picked up a 1981 Pantera 24 SE this summer. Not the one I was looking at but nicer and is set up with the same sbc and alpha setup, so back to considering Mercury Racing Integrated Transom System (ITS) with a built sbc.

I think it would be a nice clean setup and the xr would leave you plenty of room to grow motorwise without worries,

I think I have it narrowed down to the ITS or the IMCO Xtreme Advantage Gimbal/Transom assembly with the integrated steering system. I like that the IMCO steering and trim rams are all stainless.

Yes. Put an ITS on my 24 to get the hydraulic steering and the set back. No negatives. I think it helped a bit with handling. Not much difference in speed but I could have put a one or two inch shorty for possible improvement in speed and handling.
Was a great boat until I let Tomcei drive it on a rough day :D Seiously, We had a blast.

I think I read somewhere that the Bravo is an inch or 2 deeper in the water than the Alpha so something to consider if you're using the existing transom cutout and just drilling the 2 extra holes. Depending on how your's is currently set up you may need to go to a shorty to maintain the same prop depth as you have now with the Alpha.

Also, because of the transom angle you will be lowering the "X" dimension by adding the ITS or any standard stand off box. I would bet a -2" shorty will be required.

My $0.02... don't mess w/ a good thing.

Just what you are looking for in the swap shap. Page 2

Sorry ive been absent guys, I was rearended in my car while I was stopped in traffic at a red light a few days back, so I'm a bit slow going right now. Also my OSO membership lapsed the last few days so I just renewed it, just now.

Yes Paul, thank you I saw that, he sent me pics already and I believe Pantera572 got his ITS form the same guy.

Ive been playing around with the idea on what to do with this setup. The current alpha drive has a nosecone on it, it had it when I purchased the boat. The boat runs and drives great as is, just wish it had more on the top end. The boat used to have a built up sbc in it that had quite a bit more hp than the current stock 260hp V8.

If I build up the current motor a bit (heads, cam, intake, carb) to get close to 350hp I can leave the current alpha setup as long as i am easy on it. If the boat will pull 60 mph with a setup like this i would be happy. Currently I can get it to 52.5 mph on gps light on fuel and just me in the boat.

OR...

I know where I can source a brand new fully balanced short block consisting of Dart Little M 4.155 Bore Block, Dart Pro1 heads, fully forged rotating assembly, H-beam rods, forged flat tops at a great price... should make a great running 406 sbc! But... then I would need to update the drive, get the hydraulic steering, etc... that's why I was considering the Merc ITS system as it has a nice and clean installation. But this will cost me some $$$ and the ITS will look a bit out of place on my old school boat.Plus I was thinking about the drive height issue even before you guys brought that up, I just didn't know if the bravo swap put the prop deeper in the water. You guys just confirmed that it does. And with the set back I fear it will be too deep in the water and I think a shortie lower will be needed.

Decisions, decisions...

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Found a picture! Had a 496HO and Ran 72. I wanted the hydraulic steering and the XR. Makes for a very clean and heavy duty setup for a 24.

Wow you are right that is a very clean looking setup!

Ya that ITS setup is nice with the twin swim steps.

Exactly what I was thinking!!! I have the original teak swim steps from my Pantera, but they wont fit with the tabs or iof I added transom mounted steering. If I do the "ITS" I can add steps like these and still get the steering to boot!!!

DJ, what's the cost for all this?
Engine?
Exhaust?
Drive?

Ahhh... you know very well its going to cost more than my boats is worth, resale value of the boat will go up with these newer parts but you will never get your money back on them. If I do the ITS drive setup one season and wait until the next to do the rest the hole in my pocket will not be as big. Only thing is as stated earlier, it looks as if a shortie lower will need to be installed... so the ITS setup as purchased will need to be changed. And I doubt the stock lower water pickup XR lower will bring the same price as say a IMCO shortie lower. The plus side is that I will have precise steering for the boat and the drive will most likely never break unless I throw a supercharged bbc in there. Changing to the Merc ITS may be worth doing even if I do nothing else.

Storm... I wholeheartedly agree with you on this one. Buy doing anything to the setup I can open up a can of worms.

If you want fast and fun at a lower cost. Sell your boat and buy ING's boat.

And i know someone who would buy your 24 too. And its not me.

You could stay with the standard drive length if you plug the transom and recut the hole where it needs to be. The small block should have plenty of room under the hatch. Transom cost would be half of a -2 shorty.

couple months old but you people are mistaken. alpha and bravo are the same length input to output shafts. it is the TRS that is 1.7 inches longer. they went same size and cutout (for basically every drive manufacturer) so every boat manufacturer could hire minimum wage idiots who can only understand 1 set of instructions.