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new motor for a 283 convincor

tcob

tcob

Member
broke the stock hp 500 last fall , so ordered a bigger and better one , 540 ci / 630 or so n.a - hp. taking possession soon . am secure with engine builder and installation . lake is still frozen !! looking for thoughts from someone with genuine knowledge in obtaining everything this package is capeable of , no idea yet where to turn for a prop etc . no real idea what would be a real expectation for speed . boat is a 95 convincor 283 . original bravo 1 . was showing 72 with a 24p mach sterndriver when it broke , speedo has shown 75 when new and with bigger (stock) jetting . am anxious to get into this with both feet ,also need to know how others have solved the engine hatch (hinge) problem . my 88 convincor had same problem . thax , RISENSHINE
 
broke the stock hp 500 last fall , so ordered a bigger and better one , 540 ci / 630 or so n.a - hp. taking possession soon . am secure with engine builder and installation . lake is still frozen !! looking for thoughts from someone with genuine knowledge in obtaining everything this package is capeable of , no idea yet where to turn for a prop etc . no real idea what would be a real expectation for speed . boat is a 95 convincor 283 . original bravo 1 . was showing 72 with a 24p mach sterndriver when it broke , speedo has shown 75 when new and with bigger (stock) jetting . am anxious to get into this with both feet ,also need to know how others have solved the engine hatch (hinge) problem . my 88 convincor had same problem . thax , RISENSHINE
 
How long did you run the HP500 with a bravo 1? That drive will never handle 600+ HP. Better look into an XR or imco drive. Then 26-27 pitch to start.
 
thanx ! still trying to master this site . anyway 9 seasons on the bravo . never missed a beat . broke the motor twice though . am more concerned with the efficiency of the drive ( and the whole package for that matter ) vs all the new stuff , than durability . i try not to fly it , but love to hang it out . we run through your area a couple times a year ,albany to nyc . usually HEAVY . if you ever make it to sacondaga ,we'll find ya ! RISENSHINE
 
9 years with a HP500 and a bravo 1 proves your easy on the drive, but if you try to run 600+HP with that drive you WILL be paddling back real soon. 550HP in my old persuader blew the bravo in 1 month. I've never made it up to Sacondaga, maybe some day. I'm up in lake george a lot.
Good Luck
 
Definately should look into a XR drive or a Imco. I have the HP500 with the XR upper and Imco lower. Its never given me any problems. Hard to believe you blew up the HP500. Super reliable motor, no problems usually. What went wrong?
 
4 years ago ,valve train destroyed itself including the cam . this time , head gasket . in the process it flame cut cyl wall between 5 and 7 and also the head . should mention that the hp 500 has been run nearly flat out ,most of the time from albany to nyc and back , 300 or so miles . so i ain't complaining . i just spent a ton on the new motor , and a new drive is not in the budget this season , unless i have to get towed ...... what kind of $$$ we talking for imco ????
 
you guys are killin me ....was totally unprepared for this . wanted to go for a killer paint job this winter . then the motor went . paint is on hold . i am going to reserch the drive options though , RISENSHINE !!
 
Bob,

Do yourself a favor and get the drive before you get the paint job. In my opinion, you should have a drive, steering, and tabs before you even think about a killer motor. There is no sense in having a ton of power if you can't use it safely. I am assuming that the HP you have or should I say had, is a carb. model. Those motors are notorious for valve train and exhaust failures. Mercury fixed those problems with their newer HP EFI motors.
 
I am researching either an XR or an Imco drive for myself. I am planning on upgrading the power in my 259 soon. I talked to, I think his name is Chris from the attached link. He gave me some suggestions for my power. His prices were reasonable as well. He may also be from your area, but I am not sure.

http://sterndrivespec.com/
 
thanks vinny ! i've just checked a few sites myself ,and am continuing the learning process .if the drive breaks it will be replaced , like the motor . i could use a breather in between though . my curiosity now has more to do with any efficiencies (speed) to be gained and also the install . does anything else need to be changed . is the drive hight and all that the same on the original bravo vs the xr ? and yeah the paint is on hold ...RISENSHINE !!!!!
 
You will need to replace the gimble bearing and add trim spacers. But it's not too bad. It cheaper than a tow-

BTW, Vinny is right about the steering and tabs. Once you hit 75mph everything starts to change. You will NEED hydraulic steering and a good set of racing tabs to control it.

I've already been down this road and it gets expensive. There is a reason we say $1000-$2000 per mph gain.

Welcome to the big leagues!
 
ZT260,

I am with you. I feel your financial pain. Nothing is cheap when you want good Go-Fast parts, especially for boats.
 
We learned the hard way also, there are no short cuts. You cant go cheap on anything, it will fail and cost you more. Speed is very exspensive!
F150
 
Bob ,
I run sagandaga all the time .What color is your mate? Like Vinny said ,You should call Chris He is A great with bravos for upgrades.600hp is alot for stock bravo.
Dave
 
thanx for input guys ,we're trying to get up to speed in more ways than one . checked one of my sources yesterday and was reminded of the bravo shop from florida , words like guarantee and loss of speed from bigger gear cases came up . guy i talked to ran their stuff w/o problem in a 850 hp 26ft american offshore . DAVE !!!!!!! my ride is the 283 with the same graphics as the 303 brochure boat .check out the " showroom "section , scroll down to 1995 brochure and look at the 303. last year there were 2 other smaller mates up there similar paint. usually run with a black and red 22 ft checkmate. what is yours like ? risenshine !!!!!!
 
There is no question larger gears will consume more HP, but now your splitting hairs. An XR or IMCO will only lose 1-2 mph top end vs. a bravo 1. Not one good professional would even consider recommending a bravo 1 for your application. Guarantees don't really exist in this sport. (At least don't count on them)

And if you blow that drive at high RPM you could easily do some major engine damage. $$$

7K will sound cheap if you break a motor. Not to mention the down time with our short summer.

Don't wait until its too late-
 
A good place to look for performance drives either rebuilt, upgraded or new is Offshoreonly.com in the classified area. Sometimes there are Imco, xr and other upgraded drives. Just an idea. I think the best way to start your boat over is to start with the drive.
 
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