New 1984 225SRV

OK, well the glass guy called today to tell me that he's finished with the transom. I'm going to get it either tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll take some pics.:smt001
 
270win,
Is it all painted and ready for the engine? Just wondering what he used for paint. I used Interlux2000 barrier coat and that stuff is really tough.
 
It's not painted yet, I'm going to use Interlux2000 as well. The glass guy says he has 2 gallons still sealed that he'll let me buy for $100. I figure that's cheap enough, I haven't even looked but he said it's a steal.

Also, I may have a big change of plans:
I have a friend that is not going to redo his boat, it's a Caravell Interceptor. He has less than 200 hrs on it and he wants to sell it to me cheap. The boat itself is rotted badly. But it has a 350mag/Bravo1 setup that looks like new. I'm going to hear it run and check compressions. I can get it for $3K so either way I'll probably buy it...the trailer is worth an easy $1K.

That 350mag/bravo setup would be sweet in the searay!!!

I'm leaving to check it out right now, I'll post what I find...
 
Good luck! That sounds like a great upgrade.

Yeah, $100 is a steal for the barrier coat. That stuff runs $100/gallon at West Marine.

Keep us posted.
 
Well, it was a bit too good to be true. The drive was already sold so all he wanted to sell was the motor. I did end up buying it but it may present some challenges to use. I got everything, wiring harness, fuel pump, risers, corsa silent choice, bravo y pipe etc. but I may just flip it. So far it looks like finding a deal on just a bravo drive is not an easy thing to do. Also not sure, other than an ecm swap, what else would have to change to use an alpha with this engine.

Either way, it had to be bought, it was just too cheap. 180 hours and VERY clean.
 
Last edited:
Here's a pic of the motor-
IMAG0112.jpg
 
The more I'm looking at this, the more money it's going to cost...I'm figuring somewhere in the 5-6K range to convert to a bravo. So now the question is, do I put this motor in front of an Alpha drive? If I made it a carb motor it would surly lose some hp. OR, I could sell it, make a few bucks and press on with the original plan.

Any thoughts?

I have yet to pull the wiring harness and steering setup for the bravo so selling it would save the hassle...
 
Do you know the HP rating for the newer engine?

My 330hp big block has an Alpha drive behind it.....3000 hrs, no issues.
 
It's rated at 300hp. I was thinking that with a new Alpha and me not hammering the drive that an Alpha should be okay.

SO, lots more research. There are alot of differences between the 98 and the 84 engines! When you add the Bravo/Alpha factor in it becomes exponentially more complicated.

To run this engine, I would have to lose the MPI...unless I found an EMC that is Alpha compatible and compatible with the 350mag. The ECM runs the injection system and it will not work with the Alpha because the Bravo does not use the same shift interrupt that the Alpha needs.
I would also need to find a serpentine setup for an Alpha engine because the bravo uses the engine driven pump. I also don't need the fuel cooler running a carb.
I would have to use the flywheel and coupler from the old engine, some of the Bravo/Alpha years they were compatible, this was a year that they are not.

With all the changes to the new engine, it would be less expensive in the long run to just get a long block and go back with a rebuilt 5.7 260/Alpha...And I would end up with new everything.

Had I been able to get the entire setup, this would have been an easy AND inexpensive swap.

But, on the brighter side, looking at what these 350mags are bringing on the used market, this one should earn me a few bucks toward the project.:grin:

I'm hoping to go get the boat today. If I do I'll get some pics.
 
Yeah, it sounds like simply rebuilding the old motor is the cheapest and easiest way to go. Then you know you will be problem free. Problems are not fun when boating and it takes away from the boating experience.

If you can get a few extra bucks for the motor, then that makes the deal even sweeter.

Good luck.
 
Thanks!

Now the question is who to get the engine from...:grin:
 
Can't help you there. I just had mine rebuilt and we used the existing block/heads.

Good luck. I've heard great things about Jasper engines.
 
I've built several engines over the years, but as you saw, my block was toast... :)

I'm really not up for a complete build anyway. If anyone has any experiences with buying long blocks that are good, bad or whatever feel free to share...
 
I change plans WAY too often. :) BUT, I was looking through CL last night and I found a Bravo One drive for sale, the guy was asking $1,750. After calling him today I learned that he only lived 2 miles from my house. I decided to drive the GTO over just to run it this week and it turns out this guy is also a car nut. We talked for an hour before we even got to the drive. Turns out he was including EVERYTHING with the drive, from the flywheel to the prop and everything in between, even the trim pump. He did say that it needs a gimble bearing replaced but otherwise was just completely serviced. He offered me everything for $1000 and I bought it. So now I'm basically set, looks like the ol' girl is getting a 350mag/Bravo setup after all. I'll have the drive checked out just to be sure before installing it, but it really looked like new...never sat in the water over the season.

He also threw in the heads, manifolds, risers, carb, intake and all the accessories from his 454mag which apparently spun a rod bearing. The risers/manifolds are brand new looking too. Should be a good little bit of money back by selling all the big block parts.

Also, I have to go get the boat Tuesday so we'll see what we have. My fiberglass guy fell off the fore deck of a 42' Hatteras that was on stands at his shop just before he got to the finish work on my transom. Broke both wrists, fractured his pelvis and messed up his knee...I'm just glad it didn't kill him! Anyway, I'll have to do the sanding and final coat of duraglass. But, he offered me a HUGE discount for not finishing it so that works out too.

I'll get some more pics tomorrow and Tuesday of the drive and the glass work.
 
270,
What year was the big block? I might be interested in the exhaust manifolds. My motor likes to eat them up.

Bob
 
It was in an 89 Chaparral. Strictly a fresh water boat...would they work for yours?
 
Yup! I have an '88 and they would fit perfect!

I'll send you a PM.
 
nice boat I just sold my 225 Cuddy Cruiser it was a great boat the best thing I ever added to that thing was trim tabs
 
I was considering tabs..and underwater LEDs...now I just want to get it done and in the water.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,825
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top