[QUOTE=krisx125;3375133] I have a 454 with very low hours on it, was thinking of using that and an alpha. It will be a stock base for now with gil exhaust. What will this thing run? mid 60's? [QUOTE]
Base 454 (7.4L) with a Bravo will run just over 70 mph with a worked 25 Mirage.

I have buddy with a 502 fairly cheap, low hours! Knowing him hes probably got a drive for that thing kicking around too.

An Alpha is going to be the weak link with a torquey big block in it.
I like a Bravo Drive with a shorty lower unit

A 383 stroker motor with that Alpha might hold up if you babied it a little. or even cooler a Blackhawk drive.

Thanks but Ive got a few 502's and some bravos...But i really dont want to go bigger than a 454. The 454 i have is all ready to go. We have a 1970's 23ft formula and we ran a alpha and a 454 and squeezed low 60's out of it lol.

So spent a few hours on it today, remved the gas tank..and cut some more stingers out..While doing this i was a bit concerned about the hull..It seemd water logged..And didnt seem like it had a wood core. Well i drilled a little hole..And found this:


It sucks its wet/rotted...But i guess it better than grinding all the glass from the bulkheads down. When i cut the top layer of glass out it all comes right up! I thought i had more pics of the rotted core. But i dont.

Here's some transom and stringer mess:
This is right after yankin the tank out.




So tomorrow im going to cut EVERYTHING out and start from a bare all glass hull. Do i do what they did and use plywood as core? Or should i balsa core it?

Id use balsa...vaccum bag it if you can. Post this on Scream and Fly that seems to be the place for core discussions. Foam is an option as well...your doing a hell of a job

Thanks man...I think im in to far to quit now lol. I just REALLY hope its a nice and fun boat when its done.

Its a sutphen 20 they are fun as hell!

I loved mine , It was a little small for LI sound but for the river it kicked AZZ!

Ill get some more pictures soon..Its been rainy and lame. The next real question i have is what do i do for a windshield? I cant find the original glass and track. So do i build a fairing like the new ones?

No.... You have Dad's 30' dash to pull a plug off of . Then
paint it the same color scheme ...