Ilmor releases a brand new counter rotating surface drive!

[RiverDave]

I’ve seen the arneson drive, but it appears to come straight out the transom, and they usually still run a rudder. So to see it look like a regular out drive threw me off. But what the hell do I know, im from California.

Arensons have ones that turn and trim or they have straight shafts.

 

[RiverDave]

So basically this is a modified high performance Bravo 3 setup?

More like a Blackhawk

 

[RiverDave]

I'm not well versed in this sort of stuff.

If this is similar to a Blackhawk drive... why don't they sell boats with those anymore? If it was such a good idea, wouldn't they have been selling them all these years?

The blackhawks were kinda fragile. Max machine Worx makes a conversion kit that turns them into a giant single instead of counter rotation that is pretty cool

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

The blackhawks were kinda fragile. Max machine Worx makes a conversion kit that turns them into a giant single instead of counter rotation that is pretty cool

What does the counter-rotation do?

 

[dnewps]

What does the counter-rotation do?

A single prop surface drive tends to have a paddle wheel effect...to correct it, you turn your steering wheel a bit which means that the drive is a little bit sideways creating more drag. Counter rotation is one way to fix that problem.

 

[HTMike]

Glad to see some new IO stuff. The outboards are cool but not exciting at all.

 

[counterpart7]

I watched an RDP video the other day of the 24’ Nordic with this same engine and it ran 99mph. I thought 80mph sounded pretty good at first but shouldn’t it be over 100mph with the same motor and adding a surface drive?

Is the Nordic hull just that fast?

 

[rivrrts429]

I watched an RDP video the other day of the 24’ Nordic with this same engine and it ran 99mph. I thought 80mph sounded pretty good at first but shouldn’t it be over 100mph with the same motor and adding a surface drive?

Is the Nordic hull just that fast?

They didn’t have the right props in time. They knew it wouldn’t run the number. I’m sure it was a thrash to make the show. They’ll further test in the coming weeks and get a true speed.

 

[attitude]

I watched an RDP video the other day of the 24’ Nordic with this same engine and it ran 99mph. I thought 80mph sounded pretty good at first but shouldn’t it be over 100mph with the same motor and adding a surface drive?

Is the Nordic hull just that fast?

There are a couple of reasons. The Nordic is a lot smaller hull, more comparable to a 22 Daytona, the Eliminator had mismatched props (literally) and they were only running up to 4800 rpm even though that motor has a 6k redline. I would not be surprised if it breaks the 100 mark after the get the correct props and have more than a windy day in Havasu to dial it in. This boat will be Ilmor’s baby and I’m sure will receive the best setup possible.

 

[DaveC]

It took every ounce of my self control to not post pics of this setup for the past couple of weeks

I tried to get a picture of it when I was there but the drive was hidden so no dice.

Good thing too cuz I would have rained on the parade. Lol

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Did you happen to hear it start? It puts the 565 to shame lol.

So do outboards! The 565 is SUPER mellow!

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I tried to get a picture of it when I was there but the drive was hidden so no dice.

Good thing too cuz I would have rained on the parade. Lol

Did you at least get a good picture of the blonde? That's more important than the drive.

 

[farmo83]

Curious on the price for this. I would hope it would be plug and play or minimal changes to covert over from an XR, that seems like where the value proposition is for this type of drive.



A guy at Sommerville in Texas had a Super boat with around a 650hp in front of a Blackhawk and it hauled the mail. He leaned on it too and it held up.

 

[RiverDave]

The Ilmor uses a standard bravo bell housing too…I wonder if the helmet is the same? Can’t tell from the pictures but it’d be interesting if it bolts right in place of a bravo.

There is some difference, you need to use the Ilmore transom assembly and make some adjustments to the cut on the transom

 

[RiverDave]

I wonder what the HP range is for that drive. Mild to wild, or just mild? I wonder how well it would run in a deeper application (ie more holeshot, midrange and less top end).

Not that this is going to wind up on a boat someone might ski behind but we ski behind boats with Merc #6 (set deeper) pretty frequently and its do-able, so I wonder what roost this puts up.

I also wonder if this is going to pressure IMCO to step up their game on the SCX. They already have a dual downshaft SCX lower, how hard would it be to put each input on a separate shaft and turn two props?

Currently it is 570.

 

[Racey]

More like a Blackhawk

from the pics the X dimension looks more like a normal bravo, or 2" short bravo than a black hawk. Those things had a crazy short X, so much so that the cav plate on the drive was at an angle.

 

[Ilmor]

Looks very cool. Did they release anything on max HP?

Also curious
- standard after market steering work?
- gear availability and ratios
- these special props or standard bravo counter rotation?

The drive will be packaged with Imco steering rams and Ilmor-specific mounting brackets
Available in 1.65, 1.78, 1.97, 2.18 ratios
Drive accepts standard bravo counter-rotating props

 

[Ilmor]

What pitch are the props currently


Is the motor a 454 cid LSx based engine? I heard it and was amazed at how loud it was for a LSx

That's correct; the Ilmor MV8 570 utilizes an LSx block and is 454 cid.

 

[RiverDave]

The drive will be packaged with Imco steering rams and Ilmor-specific mounting brackets
Available in 1.65, 1.78, 1.97, 2.18 ratios
Drive accepts standard bravo counter-rotating props

Welcome to the forum Ilmor Marine!

 

[Blackmagic94]

That's correct; the Ilmor MV8 570 utilizes an LSx block and is 454 cid.

Any desire to make a replacement drive for a ssm3/4/5?

 

[MK1MOD0]

from the pics the X dimension looks more like a normal bravo, or 2" short bravo than a black hawk. Those things had a crazy short X, so much so that the cav plate on the drive was at an angle.

Totally agree. Not nearly as aggressive as a blackhawk. Interesting that the tallest gearing they have available is a 1.65 as well.

 

[Nosocks]

That's correct; the Ilmor MV8 570 utilizes an LSx block and is 454 cid.

May I ask why not an aluminum block?

Is it a cost/supplier thing? I feel like the usual LS blocks can handle 600ish horsepower just fine.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Was there anything at the boat show running this drive? I would really like to hear how all this drive is working out.

 

[hallett21]

How’s this drive doing? I feel like I’ve only heard about it on the white eliminator.

 

[RiverDave]

How’s this drive doing? I feel like I’ve only heard about it on the white eliminator.

I haven’t really heard much about it.. I will ask the Ilmor guys they will be at supercat

 

[counterpart7]

The B3 thread got me thinking about this again. Any updates or new builds with this drive?

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Did Ilmor ever state the max HP or TQ stats for this drive or do they not intend someone to use it with a non-Ilmor engine?

 

[Our boat...]

Anybody have a contact at Ilmor?

 

[hallett21]

News on this drive seems pretty quiet.

 

[JFMFG]

News on this drive seems pretty quiet.

Seems like that double down speedster has had no issues. Maybe not enough out there yet.

 

[hallett21]

Seems like that double down speedster has had no issues. Maybe not enough out there yet.

That’s the only one I’m aware of. It seems to run great. Figured we’d see a lot more by now.

 

[Our boat...]

Seems like it’s got everything everybody wants goin for it… figure they would be sellin like hotcakes! That eliminator is the only example of it I’ve seen in the wild

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Kind of a bummer i was really hoping this drive would gain traction.

 

[JFMFG]

That’s the only one I’m aware of. It seems to run great. Figured we’d see a lot more by now.

Seems like it’s got everything everybody wants goin for it… figure they would be sellin like hotcakes! That eliminator is the only example of it I’ve seen in the wild

My opinion is people may be a little nervous ilmor will pull out of the performance game again. If they did that it would be hard to source parts later on. Issues they had with the 625 and 710 packages. Maybe I’m wrong on that but idk.

 

[Our boat...]

Yea but I figure at least one or two other units would be in use after 2 ish years of launching it

 

[JFMFG]

Yea but I figure at least one or two other units would be in use after 2 ish years of launching it

I’m sure there is we just don’t know where lol

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Update guys. I didn’t even know this thread existed.

Boat is running 3” above the bottom with a custom 29p 4 blade cleaver and a 29p round ear front prop. Slip is around 4-5% and she’s seen 94mph with headwind and heavy chop. She’s definitely dialed and rides like no other sterndrive I’ve driven. The transom lift allow the sponsons to break heavy chop. I ran Big Cat poker run in the San Jauqine river with big skaters. They were all impressed how smooth she looked over the big stuff. 150hrs so far on the setup and I’ve had zero issues. I’ll upload some photos and video

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Here is on the San Juaqine at Big Cat

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Desert Storm poker run

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Some shots of the final setup. Imco 3+ rise and custom imco steering.

 

[4Waters]

Update guys. I didn’t even know this thread existed.

Boat is running 3” above the bottom with a custom 29p 4 blade cleaver and a 29p round ear front prop. Slip is around 4-5% and she’s seen 94mph with headwind and heavy chop. She’s definitely dialed and rides like no other sterndrive I’ve driven. The transom lift allow the sponsons to break heavy chop. I ran Big Cat poker run in the San Jauqine river with big skaters. They were all impressed how smooth she looked over the big stuff. 150hrs so far on the setup and I’ve had zero issues. I’ll upload some photos and video

Well, welcome to the forum. I see you like to make an entrance

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Well, welcome to the forum. I see you like to make an entrance

I would have chimed in sooner if i knew there was a thread haha

 

[attitude]

Hey @MarkBakerEB do you know if Ilmor has any more of these out running?

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Boat shots

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Engine

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Interior

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Hey @MarkBakerEB do you know if Ilmor has any more of these out running?

We have a fundeck on the water with the 570 and 100hrs. I have a 19 formula restoration getting a 570

I have a new version of the 255 getting the supercharged ILMOR 650 6.2 LT4 and Imco SC and another of the same boat getting the ILMOR 6.2 650 LT4 and ILMOR drive. I have a 27 speedster on the water with the ILMOR 6.2 650 LT4 and the ILMOR Drive. It’s currently undergoing prop testing

 

[attitude]

We have a fundeck on the water with the 570 and 100hrs

Is the fundeck running the Ilmor drive? The 570 seems to be really well received, they sound good too.

 

[MarkBakerEB]

Is the fundeck running the Ilmor drive? The 570 seems to be really well received, they sound good too.

The fundeck ran the bravo XR ITS. He was second ILMOR boat after mine. The drive was not finished being tested on mine.

 

[QC22]

The 570 seems to be really well received, they sound good too.

I like this setup a lot! As long as it lives I think there’s a real opportunity here.