454 Built for Blower W/O Blower

[RLJ676]

I'm planning on buying a boat this spring. I am intersted in 28 Panteras and AT's, or maybe a nice Cig Bullet. As this will be my first boat I've owned, and obviously first perfomance boat, I can't get reasonable insurance then on as much power as I'd like to get

I have found a Bullet I like, but it has blown 454's. It has the 250 blowers, and was built to run blown. I'd estimate the HP at 600 or so. They are set up with twin 4 barrels.

So, my basic question is could I run them without the blowers for a while, or put on a bigger pulley to get the HP below 500?

I'm just trying to get a feel for what the options would be other than lie about the power, which I wouldn't want to do of course.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

If it is your first boat I would suggest picking one with out blowers. Pick you that will go about seventy with stock power.

If you lie for your insurance it will be useless at claim time.

 

[HaxbySpeed]

Lie about the power... :26:
Depending on what it's got for heads, you can do a cam swap and still make some decent power with 8.5:1 compression. I built a blown 454 for a buddy who ran out of money and didn't end up buying the blower. It still made 510hp and 530trq. Depending on deck height, gasket thickness, etc, you might be able to find a bit more comp as well.

 

[RLJ676]

Lie about the power... :26:
Depending on what it's got for heads, you can do a cam swap and still make some decent power with 8.5:1 compression. I built a blown 454 for a buddy who ran out of money and didn't end up buying the blower. It still made 510hp and 530trq. Depending on deck height, gasket thickness, etc, you might be able to find a bit more comp as well.

Thanks. I'm not too concerned with making the most power for the first season. I would like to be able to just leave the blowers off for a summer or two then use them once I've gained experience enough for insurance to still be reasonable.

I'm just wondering if with the lower compression setup for blowers would they run reliably without them?

 

[HaxbySpeed]

There's no problem running without them.

 

[YoungPerformance]

There is certainly no problem running without the blowers. Nor will you do any damage. It just will not make as much power as it would if it had a little more compression. It all depends on what the comp. ratio is as to how much power it will make.
Eddie

 

[HaxbySpeed]

There is certainly no problem running without the blowers. Nor will you do any damage. It just will not make as much power as it would if it had a little more compression. It all depends on what the comp. ratio is as to how much power it will make.
Eddie

Ya, what would you know about blower motors.. :03::03: :rofl:

 

[RLJ676]

There is certainly no problem running without the blowers. Nor will you do any damage. It just will not make as much power as it would if it had a little more compression. It all depends on what the comp. ratio is as to how much power it will make.
Eddie

Thanks guys, that is what I was hoping to hear. :26:

I know I can get reasonable insurance with 425 a side (which won't push a bullet too fast :ack2, and think that'd be a safe estimate for these without blowers, so I wouldn't be "lying" to insurance.

I just figure with them "built" for blowers, they will make less power without them, but be "overbuilt" for running that way and be able to use lower octane, right?

 

[HaxbySpeed]

I just figure with them "built" for blowers, they will make less power without them, but be "overbuilt" for running that way and be able to use lower octane, right?

Right.

 

[RLJ676]

Right.

Thanks.:sifone:

Now if I can just figure out financing an "old" boat, reasonable storage, etc....

But I'm glad to know that the engines won't be a dealbreaker on this one, assuming the compression test and leakdown would be good.

 

[YoungPerformance]

Ya, what would you know about blower motors.. :03::03: :rofl:

I read some stuff about them in Family Handyman Magazine.:26:

 

[Griff]

Thanks guys, that is what I was hoping to hear. :26:

I know I can get reasonable insurance with 425 a side (which won't push a bullet too fast :ack2, and think that'd be a safe estimate for these without blowers, so I wouldn't be "lying" to insurance.

I just figure with them "built" for blowers, they will make less power without them, but be "overbuilt" for running that way and be able to use lower octane, right?

You are gonna need new intakes, carbs, and props. With new parts it'll probably run about 3k + labor to do both engines. I think CP Perf had some deals on an Intake/carb combo.

 

[Birdog]

I owned a "blown" Bullet...Leave them on. You will love it !1

 

[RLJ676]

You are gonna need new intakes, carbs, and props. With new parts it'll probably run about 3k + labor to do both engines. I think CP Perf had some deals on an Intake/carb combo.

The carbs wouldn't work still? I had figured an intake maybe, and props to run the best without them.

Hmmm, for 3K to take off what I really want anyways.... that would hurt.

 

[RLJ676]

I owned a "blown" Bullet...Leave them on. You will love it !1

I would, but my insurance wouldn't.

Hell, it appears moot anyways though as I can't find insurance for a 20+ year old boat.

 

[Griff]

The carbs wouldn't work still? I had figured an intake maybe, and props to run the best without them.

Hmmm, for 3K to take off what I really want anyways.... that would hurt.

The carbs are gonna be too big without the blowers and they are probably already tuned for the blower application. They are probably 950-1050cfm carbs.

The Hardin Marine intake/carb kits are $700 each plus shipping. If you can find a used set of props, you might get by just over 2k.

http://www.cpperformance.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=235&Manufacturer=47

 

[duunoit]

Is that the one in Old Saybrook, CT? I was ready to go up there and look at it. It seemed like a very good price until I found out it didn't have a trailer...

(sitting on one in the ad pictures, nothing said about it not going with the boat)

 

[Hollowpoint]

If the engines were built for the blowers and is not running more than 5-6lbs boost, I can almost garentee the carbs are not 1050's. They will be 750 to 850's probably. Although they will need to be rejetted, they can probably be reused for a N/A application.

But as others have already said, if the engines were done right, that is about the ideal engine combo for that boat with bravos. I wouldn't change them. I'd find another way with insurance. I hate to say it, but I only carry liability on mine for the same reason.

I have the EXACT same setup with the B&M 250 blowers running about 5lbs and am guessing I have just under 600hp (probably 575). The boat should run mid to upper 70's with that setup turning 27 or 28 pitch props.

 

[RLJ676]

Is that the one in Old Saybrook, CT? I was ready to go up there and look at it. It seemed like a very good price until I found out it didn't have a trailer...

(sitting on one in the ad pictures, nothing said about it not going with the boat)

This one is in OK.

 

[RLJ676]

If the engines were built for the blowers and is not running more than 5-6lbs boost, I can almost garentee the carbs are not 1050's. They will be 750 to 850's probably. Although they will need to be rejetted, they can probably be reused for a N/A application.

But as others have already said, if the engines were done right, that is about the ideal engine combo for that boat with bravos. I wouldn't change them. I'd find another way with insurance. I hate to say it, but I only carry liability on mine for the same reason.

I have the EXACT same setup with the B&M 250 blowers running about 5lbs and am guessing I have just under 600hp (probably 575). The boat should run mid to upper 70's with that setup turning 27 or 28 pitch props.

I believe I'll need coverage for a loan. Assuming I could get the loan on a 20 year old boat. I haven't even gotten that far due to the insurance issue.