Have any of you guys swapped a small block for a big block chevy?  I'm interested in problems you may have encountered.  What's the weight difference.  How about dimensions?  Seems to me, the mounting points are the same dimensions, right?  Big blocks are wider and longer by 4-5 inches?  I bought a BBC and planned to build it with my 12 yr old son (and a good machine shop).  My goal, is a blown 6-700 hp BB. The boat I have is a 1988 16ft Tahiti w/sbc and Berk 12je.  I planned on a couple year build, then buy a different hull to put it in. But I was thinking, why couldn't I put it into the Tahiti?  Any suggestions? Certainly, you Cali guys have been there and done that. Any input?

Sell me that boat the way it is and find a bigger hull    That is a sweet deal there!

Boat is to sweet to sell.

I'll  take it the way it sits

That is the nicest looking 16' jet boat I have ever seen. 

The SBC and the BBC use the same rear engine mount. You shouldn't need to move the rear engine mounts feet on the stringers. The front mounts are very similar but I've never had a chance to actually check to see if they're exactly the same. I'm guessing the weight shouldn't be more than a 100 pounds difference.

I"m guessing your Tahiti has 1/4 stringers, if it does I wouldn't put a blown BBC with 600 -700 HP in it.

Build a nice 383 stroker and call it a day. It can be set-up to run real well, won't stress out your hull like a blown BBC, and IMO a cooler boat. Good luck!

The boat has full length stringers.  Sure would look sweet with a blower back there.

I will be putting a spam thread on here shortly. It will be Everything for a jet boat BBC, and possibly sell a core motor as well

I agree with the 383 idea. Actually looking at one myself. TandLengines.com has some pre balanced, checked and machined stroker kits for Chevy's. They're ready to go out of the box if you want to assemble it yourself. Prices are also very reasonable. These guys are absolute professionals they have a long list of NASCAR teams and drivers for clientèle. Definitely worth a look and a call. If nothing else you'll come out of it with a whole lot of ideas and a better understanding of the advantages of the 383.

Here are their kits for the 383, or you can have them complete an engine for you starting around $3200 for that price you can expect a solid 400HP and let them know you're planning on a blower motor so they can supply the right equipment.

Alway's good to be re-inforced by the pro's Tom...
P.S. T&L engines offers a 2 year 24,000 mile warranty with every engine they sell.

Sounds like a good time, however I just so happen to have access to some small block parts you may find yourself interested in. Thru transom exhaust logs, motor mounts, etc. If your dead set on headers ask Tom he seems to have a good working relationship with Rewarder. I have had 2 sets of headers done by Jim and family. Great people, reasonable pricing. Headers are inherently expensive however the last time I spoke with Jim I drove down to his shop on a sunday for a custom set of headers and he seemed to be in a place mentally where he is more out to see people having fun and enjoying their toys (as he does) than he was with making outrageous profits. He gave me very good pricing and he will be my header source in all my future projects.

Tom at Jet boat performance is your man for the rewarder headers. But I will keep an eye out for you. I love small blocks. Had all big blocks until 4 months ago. Now my 600WHP F250 w/460 is gone, 454 conservative 550HP 18' jet boat is gone, now all I have is a 354 Hemi and 350 Chevy, and a bunch of blocks lying around. My next planned project is already in the works and will absolutely be a small block.

Like Tom was saying, he's been very successful with small blocks, and had some good times with one screaming SBC jet. (literally 7000RPMs w/ a 6-71 huffer up top 10.5:1 compression).

$3k? You definitely need to call Rewarder, on a cold call basis I'm pretty sure he can at cut that in half. unless you're talking about an IMCO system or something. The expensive ones are for a 460...

http://www.rewarderheaders.com/search_result.asp?CATEGORY=ALL&MANUFACTURER=Thru-Transom&DESCRIPTION=&PRODUCT_ID=

Second nicest, I forgot about the 16' jet boat that Josh at JBP has... it's still a beutifull boat.

Then my guess is you can put pretty much anything you want in there. But you can still put a blower on a small block and get plenty of HP.

Have ya got a couple of pictures of Josh's boat? Or any other 16 footers?

http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=1784.0

Very cool. Nice clean rigging, i like that alot.