Hellow all I just got a 1980 Baja 18 SS setup for a SB. The hull looks good need a littel glass work in the floor and a good paint job. No motor but I have something that I built that should work it is a 383 stroker that is built to run 6800 to 7000 rpm for a long time could need to look into some other type of cam but that will came in time. I have built boat befor but this is the frist jet so getting in to new thing and new setup new all. Any help you could  give me would be great. Like to see what some of you think of the hull and the pump is a 12JF A  and you now what I am looking into putting in it. Like to see what speed I can get out of it and make it in to a sleeper like you would see on the street but you just saw it pass you like you where tied to a stump. That could be a littel much but like to see what I could do with it. Thanks for you help. Doug

A 383 will make a whole bunch more torque at below 6k. Our first marathon boat ran a 383. We built it to stop pulling at or near 5,800 rpm and it ran quite well.  We were running a B/C impeller and as far as "running away from other boats like they were tied to a stump", you can probably get that thought out of your head.

I think you will find that a properly set up big block with modest HP will stomp on you like a piece of chewed up gum.

If you really want to get a true sleeper, I would look into an LSX. The bell housing will work, but you will need to get some creative juices flowing for the rest.

An LSX can make almost twice the HP and torque as your 383 with several times the reliability.

Good luck with the build and welcome to this thing they call jet boats.

GT

Sent from my SCH-I545 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app