Paul
The boat originally had 350/350hp Chris Craft engine in it. It had a big AFB carb on a Wiend high rise manifold, 202 heads, solid lifter 3/4 race cam, pop up 11 to 1 pistons, 4 bolt mains, transistorized ign and the engine was balanced and blue printed.
The Chris Craft mechanic in Seattle said that the engine actually produced closer to 400-425hp, which I believe. It was too much engine for the boat. It would not run on regular gas only on 101 octane, spin the hub on the prop, suck gas big time, need a tuneup and the valves adjusted every other year. In about 1978 the engine broke a rod cap and wiped out the engine. A replacement engine was about $4500 so we went with 350/300hp engine for $3000. It was the best thing we ever did. This engine runs on regular, has hydraulic valves, not as many tuneups and does not suck gas like the old one did but accelerates and goes almost a fast.
This boat was the first 1971 XK19 so I assume they may have tamed down the later boats to be more manageable.
Patrick
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