Cowl discussion

[Boston Predictor]

I have a lightweight cowl on my V6. I think its a clamshell... I was wondering who makes em and where do you get them?
Also Whats an Alien cowl? What makes it so good?

[boatman4021]

The alien cowl looks like the pro max except for the lower section which is cut off short exposing the upper section of the exhaust housing. They are super light and if I'm not mistaken, they have open air intakes on each side. I can get them, but I'm not sure on a price because I've never sold one. boatman

[xsive]

http://www.reynoldsracingmarine.com/images/logos/200_OptiMax_XS.jpg

The link above shows an "alien cowling" which is standard on many hi-perf merc motors since 1998. They are big $$ to buy new. You can find used ones for about $700 and a couple of companies make aftermarket ones. I think Bob's Machine does. I'm not sure they are any better than any other hi perf cowling offered as far as performance goes. There is definitely a weight savings over the 1989 and newer insulated bucket cowlings.

What makes them so good? They look good, and are the most current offering is my guess.

The 1988 and older Black max's had the clam shell cowlings which got the label because the way they closed was like a clam shell.

Hope this helps

[Boston Predictor]

Thanks for the help guys. I guess I Have to get all of the paper work from my buddy who built my merc so I can find out where he got this cowl. I really like how light it is. I beleive its like 10 lbs or less. It's a 1987 motor but it still has the clamshell type hinges that make it really easy to work on which I love.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/checkmate414/2003_0101Image0016.jpg
What do you guys think about ram air with velocity stacks??
Does it really work? I have tried this (no GPS http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif) and seemed to work. I actualy gained a few RPMs but I'm not sure about MPH.
I was planning on installing some trick marine cowl vents on the top to vent out the extra air. Let me hear your stories fellas http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[xsive]

Minimumal benefit to ram air or stacks. To me not worth the effort of re-jetting. If I was doing evnts I'd do the like to 1980 something XR2 150's and put them on the side. Less chance to get water under the cowl.

[Boston Predictor]

Yes I mean top sides. I will have to test the Ram Air therory with GPS
http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif

[Adam L.]

This is a good site that has aftermarket cowlings. They have both the Alien and the old 2.5. http://eagleoneperformance.com/eagle_b.html

Also I was checking out scream and fly and there are always some good deals on cowlings.

[Boston Predictor]

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif
Has anyone ever seen the one I have??

[xsive]

I hope Beagel One build better cowlings than he does boats from what I've seen on other boating sites. If your concerned about warranty better ask him first. Something about him not being WalMart?

[Mark]

Better research the ram air concept. The increased air flow will lean out your mixture. I believe you have to re-jet your carbs.

[Boston Predictor]

That's something Ill have to research

[175checkmate]

Boston, here is the cowl on my 2.4 its a light weight (about 3lb) one piece with factory vents held on by 4 bungies.
I believe it was used on the factory MOD-VP motors.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/checkedout/Merc.jpg

[175checkmate]

Here is the cowl now. I removed the vents and powdercoated them yellow. The cover will be black with updated mercury racing decals.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/checkedout/01-18-06cowlinprimer2.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/checkedout/01-18-06cowlinprimer.jpg

[Boston Predictor]

Hey thats pretty cool thanks for sharing http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
What year is you engine and where did you get the cowl?

[175checkmate]

The engine is a frankin-motor. The mid,clamp bracket and lower are all 1978. The electronics are 78. The block is a 94 2.4L that has had a bunch of port work, new pistons. 1 piece heads that have been shaved a bit. Have to use the good gas. The carbs are off a mod-vp motor. When the guy built the motor the old 78 clam shell off the 2.0L would not fit over the new motor. He had this mod-vp cover sitting there and he threw it into the deal. The motor is a monster.

[Boston Predictor]

Monster is right! http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/devil.gif
Mine is as well. I plan on posting alot of video this summer http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif wait till you guys hear this thing!
http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
Not that you guys havent seen this sorta thing B4 http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Boston Predictor]

Originally posted by 175checkmate:
Here is the cowl now. I removed the vents and powdercoated them yellow. The cover will be black with updated mercury racing decals.

Where do you get the decals?

[175checkmate]

Got them off ebay, they say mercury racing. The merc part is yellow and the racing is white. Well I think thats what it is, it may be the other way around. Been a long time since I have taken them out and had a look.

[Boston Predictor]

I saw some mercury racing decals on ebay but they wouldnt fit my cowling

[wickedrister]

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gifLooking good, I really like the cowl vents. I just ordered a set from Bob's to install on the sides of my 135 max.

[175checkmate]

Here are the vents that go on the cowl. I powdercaoted them yellow.

http://checkmate-boats.com/images/memberpics/Gus29.jpg

The painted cowl. Looks better black.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/checkedout/1-20-06cowlpainted2.jpg

[wickedrister]

Gus and Boston, are your mercs nose coned?

[Boston Predictor]

indeed sir

[175checkmate]

Not yet. I have a bob's cone but its not installed yet. I am going to do some testing before I install it. Going to run it as is, then plug the top 3 holes, then the cone.

[illMATTic]

i have been toying with the idea of a new cowl as well. i really like the old bridgeport style cowls like this one. to go from the clam shell to this requires splitting the powerhead from the mid to install the lower pan.

hey geoff, i have a new set of stacks i could sell you. i decided i dont want to use them.

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=91606

[Boston Predictor]

That is the same cowl I want! Thats the coolest one I've seen. You should get it!!! http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/needpics.gif

Matt, I already have stacks installed. thanks for lookin out for me though.
The motor has pretty much everything already done to it. Its been bored .30 over, ported and polished, weisco pistons, Velocity stacks, dry stacked, Tuner, boyeseen reeds etc etc...what a beast http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/lol.gif It was built for one reason....to WIN.lol
Why don't you want the stacks??

[supergenius74]

Hey Illmattic, do you mean like this cowl, http://supergenius74.kicks-ass.net/starflite/newboat6.jpg ??
This is my 2.4 BP EFI and I want to find some replacement stickers so I can re-paint my cowling like gus did. shane

[Boston Predictor]

Thats a really cool boat/motor shane, I hope to have something like that someday. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif

[supergenius74]

Thanks man, It's my baby, that picture was taken the day after I bought it back in august, It's what I always wanted and I love it. I am in the process of doing a little clean up on her, I am buffing the gelcoat, and planning to re-paint the engine soon once I get it off. That motor is the coolest outboard I have ever owned. It was re-built a couple years ago by a merc performance place on lake michigan and starts and runs like new. It has some serious power when I get up to 6500+ RPM's and is rather loud for a factory outboard. Wife hates the loudness, of course I love it, almost sounds like a V-8 putting down the channel. It's bow-heavy and needs a lot more set-back to get it right, when I want to break 65mph I have to trim it so high that I am shooting a rooster tail like a jet-boat, It definitly get's people's attention, I will have some videos of it on my website after the snow melts and I can get it back on the water, shane

[illMATTic]

looks like my link went bad.

yeah that bp cowl is nice.

geoff, after alot of searching i have determined that just adding stacks to a stock engine will not be worht the time to re jet.

[xsive]

2.4 Bridgeport Cowl for sale....

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96641