Pacemaker Boat Owners Association

Could you give us some more information? How much more power are you looking for? are you willing to upgrade running gear such as the shaft the prop the strut and shaft logs as well as couplers to handle the increasd power.? A 350 can produce 300hp pretty easy and be reliable and it might not requier you to upgrade all the other hardware other than the prop. Hope this helps.

Well, I'm completely restoring the boat, and it's pretty much all gutted now so upgrading hardware isnt really a concern. I'd like to cruise comfortably at 25-30 mph... I have the original motor now, and would like a motor project. Im thinking a 383 kit will be the least expensive way to upgrade the power, and a fun project.

Depending on your hull (year of Pacemaker) 25-30mph cruise is asking a lot. I have a 1970 26' with the soft chine hour glass bottom - powered by a 350 MPI (300HP). I find I need a lot of throttle to take the hull from 20-30 mph = decline in fuel efficiency.

My hulls the hard chine, 1978. I no this may seem like a stupid question, but is there a hp rating to the hollow stringer design? Wasn't sure if there is a max torque output those hollow stringers can hold without possibility of damage to them, if that makes any sense

Something you might consider is a big block. There are many take outs for sale where people are repowering with diesels. Sometimes a late model 454 or even a MPI 496 will come available. By the time you go through your 350 and freshen up your marinization parts, you will have a good amount of money invested. If time is on your side I would do some research. But the other thing to remember is do you have the clearance to properly wheel your boat with the added torque. If not then a 350 is the answer. Just makes sense to overpower a little to let the engine work easier and keep the GPH down. The 5.7 MPI engines are also plentiful and are excellent on fuel and give you that aded push you are looking for.

I actually think the 383 would be a good idea if you are looking for more power and torque within the same, small-block "envelope". I don't know if the later model 26-footers like yours had the same engine clearance problems as the earlier, soft-chine boats. If not, your options are less limited (without worrying about modifying the engine cover). I think the 5.7MPI suggestion would be better in such an instance. Fuel injection, electronic ignition, and more power and better fuel economy out of the box than the old carbureted 350's. Sticking to a small block option should allow you to avoid having to change prop shaft size, gearbox, etc. We're only talking a difference of 30-40hp or so.

I have to respectfully disagree with regard to the big block. I would not want to increase the gross displacement of the small boat with a big block - and that would certainly require that you change prop shaft size, strut, prop, and even the exhaust outlet diameter in the transom. Given the limitations of even the hard chine hull, I think a good 5.7MPI (or a fresh 350, or if desired a 383) would give you all the power you can reasonably make use of.

If it were me and I were looking for more performance and the bottom end of the engine was still good I would exchange the heads for a set of vortec heads swap the cam for a roller cam nothing too wild something along the lines of a 350 mag cam (cheap find online) besides the exhaust on the old style camel back manifolds are pretty restrictive. put a mid rise intake if space allowed and a edlebrock marine carb somewhere around 750cfm once again pretty cheap, add electronic ignition and let her go your talking power somewhere north of 300hp and equal torque the engine will just turn a little higher and your powerband will be higher good budget package. I come from the side of cheap boating and cheap performance. A 383 kit will give you more power but it would be able to be utilized until you allow the engine to breath properly.

guys thanks for the feedback.. of course i have some time to think about this as i continue to bring her bak to life.. i'll have to upload some pictures..