Swamped engine need advice.

[swampdonkey]

I just purchased a 18x8 panther airboat that was swamped in salt water. I have not opened the motor yet but I don't expect to salvage the engine. Engine is a 454 with 2:1 gear box, I beleive the gear box is a precision?? Does anyone know if the gear box would be salvagable? And if so is it possible to change the gears in it to make it a 2.68:1. I would like to try a 2.68:1 and swing one of those monster props that Thunder talks so highly of. I currently have a 18x8 direct drive a not firmiliar with gear boxes. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Just one more question. Thunder talked about a 496 Gen IV being a great torque monster, and more reliable then the Gen V and Gen VI What years did they make the GenIV engines, and what type of vehicle were they available in? If anyone knows of a website that I could reseach the difference between the Gen IV, V and VI. Sorry to bombard you with so many questions. HAPPY POSTING
SWAMPDONKEY

 

[cntry141iq]

just tear into it and see what you got. The precision box probably can not be converted to a 2.68. It is a very tough but extremely noisy box. Actually the box is just responding to the situation where the prop is a constant load on the motor and the engine is not a source of constant power hence the prop bounces. the more cam and the more prop you have the more pronounced this is. As soon as you pick up the throttle a little the noise goes away because of the flywheel affect. In a car the items behind the rear main get smaller as they progress thru the drive train, on a airboat they get much larger.

But if you change the box to another brand then you wil need to possibly remake the rear mount leg to fit the new box you choose.