Just looking for some opinions, I need to make a decision to keep the project moving. Doing some built 383's in the 450-500 horse range. I dislike merc stuff and am coming from volvo DPS's. Is the Bmax simply too much drive for me? Will cost me ALOT of speed? I have had one before and it was stout as all get out. There are two used with 200 hours I'm looking at.

My alternative is just leaving the engines at about 450hp and buying two new bravo x drives with 3 year warranties and just using the warranty if need be.

Resale too, which do you guys think would be more attractive?

IMO, BMax's are overkill and will cost you some speed.

Merc isn't going to warranty drives behind non Merc power.

Anything NOT bravo based will be good LOL

If your engines are not stock merc then don't worry about how not having merc drives will affect resale

Give us more build details

A regular bravo, setup correctly, will be perfectly fine behind a 450 to 500 HP engine.

Not only will it cost you speed, any service that requires the drive to come off costs a gallon of oil!

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...ong-story.html

These are the motors he is planning on... http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...4AAOSwDk5T9FDx

$5000 383 complete !? Am I missing something?

Similar to that actually engine but with many of those parts in that build. cam on that engine would not be correct. And am still deciding between a few minor items like steel heads, closed cooling, some upgraded parts, etc. thinking no steel no closed because I'm fresh only. That is a builder called "race engines" out of green acres wa.

My local builder here in Charlotte is right at that same price point and or I was looking at a crate from places like blueprint engines and prestige motors ports for ever so slightly more.

From all the shops in my area I've found a range from about 4500 to say 6500 for turn key (minus manifolds). I'll prob end smack dab in the middle of that.

Had not even thought about there being no warranty if not behind stock merc power. I'm going to have to call about that. That is a great point.

2004 Formula Fastech 292. Hoping for mid 80's. Looking at 900-1000 total horse. Will probably be around 900 because I don't want to over cam. Boat has no hydro steering and my builder is telling me just mount a connecting rod on the back by the drives and go from there if I want full hydro. It's another imminent decision I need to make. Thinking about k planes, I'm on inland lakes and don't see the benefit in my situation.

"$5000 383 complete !? Am I missing something?"

Is that inexpensive? I don't need everything forged, I'm not going with huge power. Seems to be in line with everyone else I talk to.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-3L-383ci-M...b4zIEg&vxp=mtr