25 daytona makeover

[Wendi]

Great stuff MM thanks for sharing this project!

[GotHalos]

New motor looks awesome! How'd it run with the 950? Great looking boat

[Menace Marine]

New motor looks awesome! How'd it run with the 950? Great looking boat

Unfortunately I didn't get to run the boat to much with the whipple motor. I had it out once in Havasu right after we got the boat together. We were just taking it easy trying to get everything dialed in. It ran 105 at 5400 rpm. I was on it hard coming up to the gorge and the drive let go at a little over 100. After all the work to get the boat together I only got to drive it for about an hour and a half. I guess I had it coming for buying a used drive.
I brought the boat back to the shop and rebuilt the drive. While waiting for parts and trying to find time to work on my personal stuff the opportunity came up to sell the motor and step up. I was thinking about it last night and realized since I've owned the boat it has been to the lake a total of five times with three different motors.
To answer your question a little more directly, the boat ran great with this setup. For the budget minded boater it is really the best way to go fast. A well built drive will last for a while at this power level and the motor is not a ticking time bomb. The boat was fast enough and should have easily ran 115. It was also kind of cool having mufflers and a flat engine hatch most people thought it had a 496 or 525. I loved them not knowing and then seeing their face when I opened the hatch.

[rschap1]

Congrats
looking very nice

[niceguyeddie]

Nice!!!!!

[Menace Marine]

Here are a few pictures of the motor install in the boat. Still a lot of plumbing and wiring to do but I needed the motor in place to address any clearance issues.

[Menace Marine]

All cleaned up and tidy. Custom tail pipes with slip in mufflers were made in house. The coolest part of this setup was it all fit under a flat hatch Nobody new this boat was capable of 110 + It looked and sounded stock from the outside. If you are wondering where the batteries are they are mounted in custom boxes in the sponsons under the rear seat. The trim pump and fuel valve are hidden behind the rear bulkhead on either side of the motor.

[Menace Marine]

Gauges installed and wired along with new controls and the stereo remote. Everything easily within reach of the driver.

[Menace Marine]

Thanks for the kind words. I'll get more pics and info up soon.

[Menace Marine]

All the hardware on the boat was stripped and clear anodized. No more peeling purple powder coat. You can see the exhaust holes have not been drilled yet. I wanted to make sure the pipes would come out above the wing plates on the box and not interfear with the swim steps at all.

Ok, the holes are cut now. Anyone who has ever done this knows what a pain it is. A 5-1/2" hole saw will make kick your ass if your not careful.

Here is the motor that was going into the boat first. 540 ci BBC with dart pro 1 heads and a 3.3 whipple. Estimated 900-950hp.