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1977 Scarab 300 resto&tech advice needed.

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1977 Scarab 300 resto&tech advice needed.

Old 02-07-2016, 06:03 PM
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Default 1977 Scarab 300 resto&tech advice needed.

Hello I am new here, anyways I bought my self a 1977 wellcraft scarab 300 a few months back complete boat with nothing missing from boat and with a trailer but not run for a while. I have just started doing a bunch of work to the boat in the past two weeks and would like advice as to what to look for, like I keep reading about transom stringers and brackets what is that about? Guy I bought the boat from said it had been done in the 80's but I want to know for my self, so how can I identify this, plus the boat is powered by twin .30 over 350's I just got done rebuilding the starboard engine, they are not stock engines, seller claimed they were 400hpx2 but will this move the boat fast enough? Again guy I bought boat from said it had 454's and 350's where put in when transom was done, are the 350's enough for this boat? I want to be able to go 70 MPH with this thing. Plus how to Identify my drives the are mercs but different from what I am used to and serial and model number seem to be faded away. Anyways any input knowledge or advice much appreciated.
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Old 02-07-2016, 07:53 PM
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Congrats on the purchase. Become a paying member and you can post pictures directly (it is well worth is especially having an older boat) How many hours are on the engines? I highly doubt that someone would change the engines from 454 to 350's back when the transom was supposedly done. Too much cost. 400 Hp is reasonable to get out of a 350 but not with 1980 parts. If the engines are stock to the boat they would be 260 or 270 HP. If the boat was not someones abortion case then it should have TRS drives on it with Merc transmission's. Do the props counter rotate? If they dont then you have a problem and either dont have TRS drives or someone stuck 2 of the same rotation on it, but they ALL came with counter rotating drives from the factory. To go 70 mph I would have to guess that you meed to make an honest 500 at the crank. Also check over in the Scarab section HBlair has a early 80's 300 that he has completely redone and had his share of headaches.
The Scarab 300 hull is the same running bottom as the Scarab II, Scarab Panther that was built until 1989. They are a great hull design but heavy layup from wellcraft.
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:12 PM
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Port engine has 328 hrs starboard had 337 hrs, I rebuilt starboard because of cracked block from improper winterizing, and will be doing the port engine next, I see what you are saying about 454 to 350's but there are things that catch my eye to say that they are not original engines, like the major one being the engine hatches have been ground down so they will clear the risers on the exhaust manifolds and shut. And yes props do counter rotate. And ok I will figure out the membership and post some pics of things.
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:26 PM
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Would you know if the stock to scarab 350's had steel cranks in them. Do marine gas engines tend to have steel cranks? I know steel cranks are a hot rod performance thing, helping you get more solid power to the fly wheel from what I understand. Anyways my motors got steel cranks in them and pistons look to be some sort of aftermarket. And the seller kept calling them Z28 blocks witch I have never heard of other then a Z28 Camaro obviously.
Pretty much all of my engine and engine building experience is with diesel pick up to large equipment engines. So forgive me if I seem lost I'm just not familiar with gassers in terms of all the different options and what not.
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:40 PM
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:41 PM
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:43 PM
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:43 PM
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:44 PM
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Most of the old scholl small block upgrade motors i have seen are the high nickel 4 bolt units. Believe they all have the same casting number right behind the distributor.wouldnt worry about it too much but if you have 2 of those, then you can at least feel more assured the previous builder had some love.
a few minutes on the computer will solve your drive mystery .make sure they dont lean out from clogged siphon valves ,tank pick ups ect from crusty gas when your ready to take it out and put the hammer down
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:48 PM
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