A buddy is wondering about a 1998 22 Scarab. What kinds of speeds would he see with a 7.4 and the 454 Mag? Any grips about the boat and anything he should look out for.
Thanks!

I have a '95 22 Scarab that came with the 7.4. Top speed when I got was 69 on the speedo. I bought a GPS and the true top speed was 62. Changed the intake exhaust and carb and gained nothing on the top end but had more midrange power. Changed the heads to rectangular ports and changed the cam and top speed went to 70 GPS with about 400hp. This lasted a year until I spun 3 main bearings with no warning and plenty of oil pressure. I dont think the stock cast bottom end parts on the 7.4 can stand the extra horsepower. Bought a new 502/502 from GM Performance and now she runs upper 70's. She pulls a 27" Mirage Plus prop 5100rpm. The boat is super stable up to 75mph. After that you have to pay attention.

The biggest problem your friend will have with the 7.4 is planing the boat with more than 4 adults on board. It will plane good with 2 adults but any more it will struggle.

THE BEST THING ABOUT MY 22 SCARAB IS ITS FOR SALE!

Look in the classified section of this board.

Ron

My buddy has a warmed over 350 in his, and is getting 70 on the speedo,

hi, i also have a 95 scarab, 22 foot. i have a bone stock 7.4 in it also. and true, speedo reads 69mph, and actual gps is 62mph. but, i can run that same speed with 1 person in the boat, or 6 of my friends, and we all average 200 lbs. i am funning a 23 mirage prop, repitched to a 24, and i still hammer the rev limiter hard. i have just bought a mirege plus, 25 pitch, and that should take me off the limiter, and maybe a mile or two faster. my boat has NO problem whatsoever getting on plane, and ill tell you what.....on the river and 2 to 3 foot chop, while everyone else is up and down.... im flyin. for a "little" boat, it has a heluva hull, and a great ride. the only way i would get rid of mine, was if i got a bigger one, same kind!!!!!!!!! it all boils down to......how fast do you want to go???? how much money you got????

I had a '98 22' scarab with 7.4 carb stock for three years. Speedo showed 72 gps 66mph. Great little river or lake boat. Needs tabs for anything bigger than 2 footers. Very sporty and maneuverable. Good all around ski/tube/cruising boat. I run lake ontario/onieda and the boat was too small, traded for 26' excalibur. 22 is NOT a rough water boat!!!

Watch out for the ugly dash and interior, just a joke

I have a 98 22 and have just upgraded the engine. It had the stock 7.4 with a 25 mirage plus, and ran 72 on the speedo, 68 on gps. that prop got stolen and I put on a 23 mirage plus. I ran on the rev limiter at 4600 at 67 on the speedo 65 gps, and like everyone else, it didnt matter if I was alone or with 5 people. I just changed the heads to rec port, a 420 merc cam and lifters and valve spring matched from crane, a dart intake an edlebrock 750, gaffrig flame arrestor and stainless exh and threw out the rev limiter. I am spinning a 26 bravo -1 4 blade and see 75 on the speedo and 73 on gps, I only ran this set up one time on a poker run and its been sitting ever scince. god almost a month. I have some more dialing in to do, but am too busy at the moment. mine is also for sale, I need a bigger boat for what I use it for, poker runs. other then that I have loved every hour behind the wheel and have had no problems with it except that it was too slow stock. the boat loves the speed it is currently running and is very comfortable to drive over 70. my girlfriend with little boating time drives it like a pro. 25 grand takes this low hour boat. Under 200 hrs. with the trailer.

I have a 1996 22' Scarab with a 7.4 LX MPI 330 hp. I'm running a 25 pitch Mirage Plus that has been re-worked by DAH Propellers. I run 71.8 on GPS. It runs great in 2 to 3 ft. chop. It is hard to get on plane with 4 people on board though. 2 to 3 people runs best. I have had no problems with anything. Its a blast!

I had a 22 Scarab with 454 (310 hp) and with the 23 pitch Mirage Plus I could go mid 60's. Great boat good in 2ft chop, nice lake boat.

However have your buddy look for 23scs with a 502 / 415hp, that's what my last boat was. It would hit the rev limiter while pulling 25p cupped Mirage Plus running in the upper 70's. The boat is a little more rare, but a nice ride, if you had the proformance pkg you get external steering and trim tabs.

go to www.donzi.net/photos/scarab.jpg


Darrell