Repower 330 with 300's or 350's

[grady33]

Have a 2006 330 and considering repowering. Our F250's are fine (700 hours) but was thinking we'd repower before we got over 1,000 hours. Also looking for better economy scale. Right now we get 27-30 MPH at 4800 rpm cruise burning about 27-28 GPH. I think the 300s would lower that to 4200 cruise at 24 GPH. Has anyone moved up from F250's to 300's and are you happy? I've heard cost is 40-45k but resale on 250s should be good. Thoughts anyone?

 

[ocnslr]

While there may be lots of good reasons for re powering, I wouldn't use hours as one of them.

We have a pair of 2006 F150s on our 2002 Islander, and we have 1350 hours on them. Just had a complete servicing and they run like new.

Those F250s have a couple of thousand hours in them, minimum.

JMHO,
Brian

 

[grady33]

Brian - I know what you are saying. We are looking to reduce the cruising RPMs and save some fuel. I'm just weighing the pros and cons of moving to 300's. If anyone has upgraded their 330 from 250s to 300, let me know your thoughts.

 

[magicalbill]

I don't know if the fuel savings would be significant enough to recoup the cost of a repower, even over the long term. You would probably go from 1.2 to 1.3-1.4. That's a lot of cruising before you catch up financially to your repower cost.

The interesting question I have is the longevitiy of the 250's spinning in the 4700-5000 range their whole life. I have friends with 330's and those 250's work pretty hard from the moment they plane off.
I would imagine 300's or 350's would bring the cruising rev's down to 4000-4300. That would be significant over time, and lead to a longer life, which would be the reason I would consider it, as opposed to a minor gain in fuel consumption.

Ocnsir, do you think the 250's will go the distance even with the high rpm register they run in? What do your 150's cruise at?

 

[wspitler]

One point of interest, if you are insured or care, the 2006 330s are only rated for 600HP. I don't know if GW actually did anything to up the rating of the newer ones to 700, but you can bet GW won't tell you it's OK to put 350s on a 2006.

 

[grady33]

That was my thinking. The engines right now seem to want to cruise at 4800 RPM range. 300's would get those down to 4200-4300 I'm guessing.

 

[Off the Hook]

From what I understand you will have to go with the 300s.

Grady had to beef up the transom in 2008 to be able to support/handle the weight of the 350s. If I am not mistaken the new 300s a actually weigh less than the older 250s so it is not an issue of moving up to the 300s

 

[magicalbill]

I would not buy 350's anyway until they correct the problems they seem to be having with them. I have heard nothing bad and all good about the 300's.