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cigarette30
12-10-2003, 08:15 PM
I have followed this site for years. (You all are GREAT, what a family!) However just registered based on the question regarding 22' outboards. I have had 6 Donzi's. Question for you all. My first Donzi was a new 1977 X-18 with a factory 454/T.R.S drive. Wondering if there are others out there?

Mark Albers
12-10-2003, 08:51 PM
Cancer Thirty :confused:

Was that speedo also on a X-18 ??? :(

Mark 311 :cool:
Sarasota - - - W F O (close to the factory and far from a dream)

terry
12-11-2003, 06:09 AM
Nice avitar!

Kent Perroux
12-17-2003, 10:11 AM
How did the X-18 ride with the TRS and 454?

Still considering the HP500 in the 18.....

cigarette30
12-17-2003, 06:42 PM
Regarding the ride. In hindsight TERRIBLE. Matter of fact, if you came off a plane without putting the trim tabs down, you could and would swamp the boat. Anyone on the rear seat was soaked. The boat looked cool though, you could tell the extra wieght was in the transom, as it sat much lower. Also the chime walking at top end was not for the timid. Thats the bad news, the good, what a ride! The torque was awesome. Running 30 m.p.h., hit it, the boat would almost leave the water. Another issue was accessibility. The motor was installed PRIOR to the deck, therefore to remove it, you had to remove manifolds and water pump and reinstall in the boat. At the time I was 25 years old, 175 pounds and very limber, at 190+, and 42,forget it! Another issue was the manifolds and carb would not clear the stock hatch, so makeshift scoops were used, however the newer raised hatch may work. Good and bad, a big block that ran low 70's, the 377/350 at 75+,(the newer Bravo drive would not have the wieght or power loss the old T.R.S + tansmission had, also helping with the aforementioned accesibility) A 500 e.f.i., with the Bravo, maybe not wise, but count me in !!!!

cigarette30
12-17-2003, 06:44 PM
Regarding the ride. In hindsight TERRIBLE. Matter of fact, if you came off a plane without putting the trim tabs down, you could and would swamp the boat. Anyone on the rear seat was soaked. The boat looked cool though, you could tell the extra wieght was in the transom, as it sat much lower. Also the chime walking at top end was not for the timid. Thats the bad news, the good, what a ride! The torque was awesome. Running 30 m.p.h., hit it, the boat would almost leave the water. Another issue was accessibility. The motor was installed PRIOR to the deck, therefore to remove it, you had to remove manifolds and water pump and reinstall in the boat. At the time I was 25 years old, 175 pounds and very limber, at 190+, and 42,forget it! Another issue was the manifolds and carb would not clear the stock hatch, so makeshift scoops were used, however the newer raised hatch may work. Good and bad, a big block that ran low 70's, the 377/350 at 75+,(the newer Bravo drive would not have the wieght or power loss the old T.R.S + tansmission had, also helping with the aforementioned accesibility) A 500 e.f.i., with the Bravo, maybe not wise, but count me in !!!!

Kent Perroux
12-19-2003, 09:31 AM
Thanks.

May just bump up to a larger ci short block.

Rootsy
12-19-2003, 10:01 AM
Genuine Trouble is an 18 2+3 BBC... Red Dog would know that deal inside and out :)

75+ for the scorpion in the 18 is just a weeeeeeee bit optomistic... now with a 2 inch shortie very doable...

Kent, you could put together a very stout BIG inch sbc for the price of the HP500 :D

RedDog
12-19-2003, 12:29 PM
Rootsy:
Genuine Trouble is an 18 2+3 BBC... Red Dog would know that deal inside and out Nervous Energy aka Genuine Trouble aka Genuine Risk - 454 GM BBC with OMC King Cobra - I would guess the King Cobra is lighter than a TRS but heavier than a Bravo I?

I never had a problem coming off plane unless the throttle was chopped - did that intentionality a few times just to cool the passengers off...

Also, she seemed to handle just fine to me. But then I can't really compare because I have never piloted an 18 Classic with one of the little engines in back :D

cigarette30
12-19-2003, 09:16 PM
Red Dog,

What type of speeds did you see. Was the big block with the OMC factory? I also had a small block OMC cobra in 1989, not a bad setup. (64m.p.h.) My factory big block (1977) was 73m.p.h. + -.

N2DEEP
12-19-2003, 09:26 PM
Livewire is my 18 2+3 BBC with TRS. She rides low in the rear and has that deep big block sound. The coolest thing is the comments at the dock after you tie up. "WHAT have you got in that thing, I thought they were all small blocks!!" It's the boat's attitude more than the performance in this case. :cool:

BLACKIE
12-20-2003, 08:10 PM
N2Deep, nice to hear of other BBC 18' Classics. I'm the new owner of "Nervous Energy". She was formally known as "Genuine Trouble" when RedDog owned her. I've got some great engine photos but they are not on my laptop (they are on my desktop machine). Next chance I get I will post a couple and you and Cigarette30 can see what one example looks like. If you guys have any photos of your engines I would be interested to see them. As far as riding lower in the water, I don't really see much difference in "Nervous Energy". I have a photo of her with RedDog driving that I'll post too.

cigarette30
12-21-2003, 01:47 PM
The boat was delivered with a "honey" base, dark brown stripe, with the dark brown accents on what was then called the "Statesman" upgrade interior. I later had the factory change the dark brown to a forest green, on both the interior and the stripes, looked great. I wish I still had the boat. I like the "one off's". I am currently looking at a special edition 22' Classic, like the one in the Powerboat magazine test, with the 500 e.f.i.

rickrsbro
12-26-2003, 08:55 AM
i had a 73mph ride in nervous energy/genuine trouble/genuine risk. plus or minus of course.

that was a few years ago and i think i still have the drool in my ears.

BLACKIE
12-27-2003, 07:35 PM
As promised here are some photos of Nervous Energy's engine. She is a 1990 18' Classic. the engine is a BBC, 454ci, rated at 420hp. RedDog & RickR would have more information on how she runs than I at this time. They were the previous owner(s). I just became the owner in November 2003. I am looking forward to running her in the spring. I'll let you know how she runs (for me) then.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/acf5ef.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/acf5f1.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/hrblack12.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/hrblack13.jpg

cigarette30
12-27-2003, 10:07 PM
Very Impressive! Happiness is a Big Block. I ran an old 25" cleaver, worked to about 27", it would be interesting to see what todays new props would yield. Keep us updated.

N2DEEP
12-31-2003, 08:58 PM
Here are some shots of Livewires' 25 year old mill. 330 TRS,454,ls-6 heads,holley 650. HP unknown. 27 cleaver,68MPH on conservative speedo at 4800RPM. Can't wait to try my X-mas GPS and 25 pitch Hydromotive. :) Previous owner claimed 78MPH on Radar at 5500 with unknown prop :rolleyes: Anyway she is reliable,strong, http://www.donzi.net/photos/grove94.jpg and a real blast. http://www.donzi.net/photos/grove97.jpg http://www.donzi.net/photos/grove100.jpg http://www.donzi.net/photos/grove105.jpg This is my other "Big Block" for those days when the water is too cold. http://www.donzi.net/photos/grove106.jpg

N2DEEP
12-31-2003, 09:34 PM
http://www.donzi.net/photos/grove21.jpg