Making good progress 79 255 Liberator

[sprink58]

Here's a link to a little progress video I made..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R526BfFVXbE

I replaced the entire propulsion system with twin 425 horse 355 Vortec Roller Cam motors spinning Mirage Plus 23" props thru '98 model Bravo I's.

The whole bilge and cockpit has been re-wired and cabled with new steering and bilge to helm as well as engine harnesses.

This old girl amazes me still with how well it runs. With the torque from the Vortecs 2000 RPM is 35-37 MPH...3000 is 50-55...4000 is 65 and 5000 is 70-75 depending on load and trim. It planes effortlessly out of the hole and accelerates from 30-60 like an bullet!! I have only logged about 10 hours but i think with the right tuning it might see 80 on a good day. It is very economical...I can run 50-55 on the primaries of the carbs.

Recently I am experiencing an electric fuel pump (Carter 72 GPH@6-7 PSI) issue on both engines that is limiting the RPM to about 3500. I am thinking of moving up to the Carter 100 GPH pumps to see if that corrects the issue. I replaced the anti siphon valves in the tank pick up and the timing on both engines is 32* at 3200 RPM.
Ignition is Davis DUI Marine with their best wires. Carbs are Big Block Q-Jets with a pair oif 750 CFM Quick Fuel pieces on the way. Exhaust is stock Mercruiser thru the Y-Pipes (I want to be able to slip in and out of residential areas quietly).

Future plans include new upholstery in the cockpit to match the bolsters and freshen up the cabin. I need a killer sound system, Garmin 740S Chart Plotter and maybe cabin A/C.

It's an "Old School" "Flat Glass" Thunderbird Formula from the late 70's that gets a lot of admirers at the ramp and the water front bars here in SE Florida...especially when they see twin Bravos hanging off the transom!!

I ran it once this Summer from Palm Beach Inlet to Freeport/Lucaya in the Bahamas...68 miles in about an hour and a half each way.

This is a testament to Formula's quality and with modern power and drives...these boats are on par with all but the very best of the new stuff...at a fraction of the cost.

The style and lines are timeless and classic and I have noticed that a few of the new Active Thunders and Baja's have adopted this "Retro" look.