More power

[formulafisher]

i HAVE A 351 FORD MERCRUISER IM TOLD THIS ENGINE MAKES ABOUT 260HP MY BOAT ISNT PERFORMING TO MY SATISFACTION. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY GOOD WAYS OF GETTING MORE POWER OUT OF THIS ENGINE. HOPEFULY SIMPLE BOLT ONS.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: More power

Welcome to iboats....<br /><br />First kill the cap lock button it seems to offend most people.<br /><br />You need to get a little more specific...<br />What RPM's are you turning at WOT?<br />More power for sking? Top Speed? What prop are you running. There are bolt ons but the gains are not usually worth the cash. Prop changing makes significant changes and is almost your cheapest.<br /><br />Bob

 

[formulafisher]

Re: More power

Sorry about the cap locks. Wide open throttle is 4400-4500rpm. The prop is a 15 1/2in diameter im not sure of the pitch but my boat is heavy, laround 4500-5000lbs.

 

[Bondo]

Re: More power

MY BOAT ISNT PERFORMING TO MY SATISFACTION.

Buying a Different Boat is the Only, Easy Way, to Increase the Performance of your Boat.........<br /><br /><br />

HOPEFULY SIMPLE BOLT ONS.

Unfortunately your Ford isn't the Best Place to be Starting.....<br />I think it's around 235hp stock......<br />Increasing that # is going to Very Expensive...<br />You could do a 4bbl Carb,+ Manifold... That Might get you to the 260hp level........<br /><br />If it was a Chevy, It would be Much Simpler,+ Cheaper..........

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: More power

how old is the engine? it could just be worn out, i suggest checking compression first, anything lower than 125-135 PSI indicates a worn out engine, especially if one or two cylinders are substancially lower than the rest. Bolting ANY performance parts on to a worn out engine will probably REDUCE performance. Ford engines are pretty good, they just cost more to get the same output as a GM engine due to parts availabilty and they are easier to work on IMHO

 

[formulafisher]

Re: More power

The engine has around 400hrs on it and the compression is good im just looking to make more power and i want to know the best way of going about this

 

[KaGee]

Re: More power

With 400 hours and provided it had proper maintenance it should have a lot more hours left on it.

 

[wvit100]

Re: More power

raising the horsepower by 10% isn't going to show up much on the water. a 260 hp motor isn't going to be but maybe a couple of mph faster than a 235 hp motor. my boat has a 260 hp, 350 4 barrel motor, the same boat with a 300 hp, 350 fuel injected motor is only about 4 mph faster.<br /><br />save you money for beer and be happy with your boat or trade it for one with a

 

[bomar76]

Re: More power

It takes 12-18 HP (or more depending on hull and speeds) to gain just ONE MPH.....the solution to an appreciable speed increase (if you are currently propped corectly, are in good tune, have a clean bottom, etc) is a much higher HP engine.<br /><br />Sorry, but that's the way it is.<br /><br />I keep trading up to reach my desired speed.<br /><br />Still working on it