Spectra 24XS V-Drive questions.....

[BobbyB]

I have the chance to pick one up, from the original owner. It has a 454, and the guy said it's been rebuilt once. :idea:
I currently have a jet drive, so I don't know much about V-Drives.
My questions are:
1) What kind of speeds can be expected? (the guy said he remembers 45)
2) Do you have to blueprint the bottom to get more speed from it?
3) What is it worth?
-C77 :confused:

[spectras only]

Great boat . Has no hook in the bottom design. 45 mph sounds slow , depends on what engine it has . Mild 460 bbf you can expect up to 50. My boat has the LS-6 and got it close to 60 with light load and repitched prop. Make sure you have a proper
V-drive pan with baffle and trap door,like Dooley . Most of these boats came with crate engines and wrong [ automotive ] pans. There's no limit on speed [ I'm sure it would run rock solid 80+ ] providing you have a monster engine. The hull is super strong [ 4400lbs dry] with four full length stringers. Gary Garbrecht ran one with twins well over 80 mph in the late 70's.Make a visit to Greg Shoemaker ,he rebuilt that one .Jim Wilkes used to be a spectra dealer,so he should know a lot about them.Price wise they run as low as 7 K , high as 25 K , depending on condition and power plants .I would jump on it since it's the desireable low cabin version.

[BobbyB]

Great boat . Has no hook in the bottom design. 45 mph sounds slow , depends on what engine it has . Mild 460 bbf you can expect up to 50. My boat has the LS-6 and got it close to 60 with light load and repitched prop. Make sure you have a proper
V-drive pan with baffle and trap door,like Dooley . Most of these boats came with crate engines and wrong [ automotive ] pans. There's no limit on speed [ I'm sure it would run rock solid 80+ ] providing you have a monster engine. The hull is super strong [ 4400lbs dry] with four full length stringers. Gary Garbrecht ran one with twins well over 80 mph in the late 70's.Make a visit to Greg Shoemaker ,he rebuilt that one .Jim Wilkes used to be a spectra dealer,so he should know a lot about them.Price wise they run as low as 7 K , high as 25 K , depending on condition and power plants .I would jump on it since it's the desireable low cabin version.
Spectras Only, Thanks for the reply. It's funny you mention "the Hook" in the bottom, because hearing of that is the reason I asked. The boat actually falls in the lower part of that price range. I will post pics if I get her.
THanks,
-Custom77

[spectras only]

If you got the Ace Champion V-drive unit like this here=
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/Champion%20Ace.jpg
it has a feature you can flip it to change the gear ratio from underdrive to overdrive ,without replacing gears .It's one of the toughest and quitest drives. Good luck with it.

[BobbyB]

If you got the Ace Champion V-drive unit like this here=
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/Champion%20Ace.jpg
it has a feature you can flip it to change the gear ratio from underdrive to overdrive ,without replacing gears .It's one of the toughest and quitest drives. Good luck with it.
So flipping it to make the ratio to an overdrive, will give it more top end?
Thanks,

[spectras only]

Generally yes. The holeshot would suffer a bit. Crank up the HP and go overdrive,that's everybodies goal. :D

[Beer-30]

Horsepower ultimately governs your speed. :cool:

[burtandnancy]

I owned a couple of them too. I turned the original V-drive upside down when I turboed it, then had to start changing V-drives to get better performance as I increased HP. V Drives are always fun, fast and challenging. The designer, builder and one time racer, Bud Bailey, lives in Boulder City, NV and can tell you more than you'll ever want to know. I also had one with a TRS I/O and it handled much better. Both boats are worth owning if they are still in good shape. They look great re-gelled...

[BobbyB]

Thanks for the replies
Sounds logical. Is there another option involving the use of a transmission?

[BobbyB]

Generally yes. The holeshot would suffer a bit. Crank up the HP and go overdrive,that's everybodies goal. :D
10-4 :D

[burtandnancy]

Yes, with my turbo motors I used a T400 with 1st gear locked out and the Park position left in (really helps with 2 things; 1 - prop changing and 2 - warming up or idleing at the dock; in Park it prevents creep). Back in those days, a guy named Dave Zielebra in West Covina developed this transmission for boats (he left first gear in). I was at the Nautical at LHC and I heard the most amazing thing, this guy in a Campbell was racing everyone and blowing their doors off from 0 - 60, and his boat was shifting! I chased him down with my XS and got the details. Since then I've owned at least a dozen boat with auto's, single and dual engine. It will do nothing but improve the performance of you 24 Spectra (along with gobs of horsepower)

[spectras only]

custom, here's mine with original engine and V-drive equipment.
I've changed the doghouse to a rear bench and used the original bucket seats with upgraded Garelick pedestals.
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/24spectrahelm1%2520copy.jpg
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/spectravdrive3%20copy.jpg

[SPECTRABRENT]

I have the chance to pick one up, from the original owner. It has a 454, and the guy said it's been rebuilt once. :idea:
I currently have a jet drive, so I don't know much about V-Drives.
My questions are:
1) What kind of speeds can be expected? (the guy said he remembers 45)
2) Do you have to blueprint the bottom to get more speed from it?
3) What is it worth?
-C77 :confused:
Custom77
Custom77,
If the Spectra XS has a stock 454 you should see high 40's low 50's.
If you want more speed, turbo charge your 454 or cubic inches (509 540 etc.). I dont know how much MPH you will pick up by blueprinting the bottom. I have a Spectra 24XS that had a 850 HP Gale Banks turbo 454 setup and the MPH was around high 60's low 70's. I am in the process of going to a 540 Chevy (650 to 700 HP). I will let you know what kind of MPH I get.
The value of the boat should be around 8500.00 to 25,000.00 depending on the condition.
Post some pictures so we can see the boat.
Good Luck,
Brent

[spectras only]

Brent , when are you going to post some pictures of your XS ?
Been a long haul ,bet it's coming out stunning :cool: .If I replace the LS-6 ever, I would marinize a ZZ572 for it.Me and a friend are just going to do that for this 35' project >
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/Img_0059.jpg

[BobbyB]

custom, here's mine with original engine and V-drive equipment.
I've changed the doghouse to a rear bench and used the original bucket seats with upgraded Garelick pedestals.
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/24spectrahelm1%2520copy.jpg
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/spectravdrive3%20copy.jpg
That is a FOCKING GOOOOD LOOKING BOAT!!! :cool: Cheers to you SPECTRASONLY. Thanks again for the info.

[BobbyB]

That is a FOCKING GOOOOD LOOKING BOAT!!! :cool: Cheers to you SPECTRASONLY. Thanks again for the info.
Now is this a 24, or a 24xs?

[BobbyB]

Custom77
Custom77,
If the Spectra XS has a stock 454 you should see high 40's low 50's.
If you want more speed, turbo charge your 454 or cubic inches (509 540 etc.). I dont know how much MPH you will pick up by blueprinting the bottom. I have a Spectra 24XS that had a 850 HP Gale Banks turbo 454 setup and the MPH was around high 60's low 70's. I am in the process of going to a 540 Chevy (650 to 700 HP). I will let you know what kind of MPH I get.
The value of the boat should be around 8500.00 to 25,000.00 depending on the condition.
Post some pictures so we can see the boat.
Good Luck,
Brent
Hello Brent,
Please keep me posted, as I will with you. I dig that SPECTRAMARINE site. :D
I would like to see some pics of your 24 also. What color is it?

[spectras only]

Thanks Custom. It's the XL tall cabin model. The XS is more desireable, but I like the room inside ;) .

[BobbyB]

Thanks Custom. It's the XL tall cabin model. The XS is more desireable, but I like the room inside ;) .
I think I like the room too! I will try to look at both before I make a decision.

[wsuwrhr]

Horsepower ultimately governs your speed. :cool:
Don't you mean LACK of horsepower.......
haha
Brian

[SPECTRABRENT]

Brent , when are you going to post some pictures of your XS ?
Been a long haul ,bet it's coming out stunning :cool: .If I replace the LS-6 ever, I would marinize a ZZ572 for it.Me and a friend are just going to do that for this 35' project >
http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/Img_0059.jpg
Dave Sammonds is doing the rigging on my Spectra and it should come out
NICE:D. As for pics I will see if Dave canm post some.
That 572 would be a good choice in power for your Spectra.
Brent

[BobbyB]

If I replace the LS-6 ever, I would marinize a ZZ572 for it.
How do you MARINIZE the crate engines? I noticed that the Goodwrench crate motors note that they are not for marine applications. What's the diff? :messedup:

[spectras only]

Custom, GM will not warrant these engines in boats ,so you're on your own :D . I can get them for around 12K cdn, so it's cheap comparing it to any merc or built mill.
They come with brass plugs already , electronic breakerless distributor and the rest you use from your existing engine.I'll post pictures in the future when we start installing it in the project boat . BTW Brent ,that's a canopy boat in the picture .You know it's a "Wetcoast Special" for all seasons use :wink:

[Beer-30]

http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/24spectrahelm1%2520copy.jpg
Spectras Only, that has got to put the hurts to that poor Cherokee!?
Beautiful specimen, though!

[spectras only]

Beer, the 1998 GC is rated to 6500 LBS. The spectra is 4400 and the trailer 1550. I've got the 5.2 pushrod engine with low rpm torque [3200] compared to the new OHC 4.7 that needs to rev to 4200 :eek: . I tow the spectra to the Okanagan through extremely steep mountains without a sweat. I had several Cherokees in the past and had no prob pulling my 21 spectra [4000+with trailer] with a 1990 6 banger 4L. I'll be getting a 3/4 T 4x4 in the near future for my 257 twin engined boat that's right on 6500 maxing my tow cap.I only tow that one on the lower mainland ,so it's no problem :wink: .Thanks for your concern :cool: