1997 2859 vs 1998 2859-gctid812477

[Northern_Bayliner]

Looking at up grading to the 2859 model, Is there any difference between 1997 and 1998? Both Big block Chevys(454)

[Guest]

I think you would get more power. We have a 97 2355 with the 5.7L Mercruiser. GM came out with the "Vortec" Heads in 96 for the cars and suburbans etc. I know that because we got a 96 Burb with the 7.4 L big block with the vortec heads. It was an awesome machine! Had much more mid range acceleration than the older models. Mercruiser started putting the engines with the vortec heads into the boats in 98 (both the 5.7 & 7.4). For the 5.7's the HP went from ~210 hp to 240-250 hp. You should see a similar proportional improvement in your big block boat. We upgraded our 97 5.7L engine with a vortec head kit. All worked well and we got a significant improvement when getting on plane and several MPH at WOT. That , our switch pitch prop, and 4 barrel carb took our wot speed up to ~42 mph, vice the 34 mph wot it originally had.

There used to be lots of posts on the forum about how to get up on plane. Those posts dried up with arrival of the newer engines.

Cheers, DonM

[SomeSailor]

No difference unless one of them is MPI, but I think that started in 1999. The MPI 7.4L motors are sweet. I had the barb'd 7.4 in my 1997 2859. Both are nice motors, and well worth the extra over a 5.7L motor in that boat.

[JThiessen]

At some point post 97 they started using the Bravo 3 outdrives.

[aknurse]

The only difference between the 2 is likely how well they have been cared for and what other items the POs may have installed. There were no major changes between the 97 and 98 model years. Heck there weren't many major changes from 97 to 2001 minus the 7.4 MPI engines in 99.

[MOL]

I have an MPI from 1998 - so must have started in 98....

/MOL

[Download_Complete]

"MOL" post=812541 wrote:
I have an MPI from 1998 - so must have started in 98....

/MOL

Late 1997 for MPI, early 1997 for Bravo 3.

Highly dependent on stock at the plant, as usual.