What should I do with this old square nose?

[streetroc]

I picked up this 92 square nose superjet about 8 years ago for less than $2k. It had been upgraded with a single carb 701, footholds, and the hull has been reinforced for freestyle. I also installed blowsion 2 degree bars cut down 2" on each side, ODI grips, and a hooker 10/16 prop. (which in hindsight was a little too steep, I should have gone with a 9/15). Not long after I got a mint FX1 which threw a rod so I took the single carb 701 out of my SJ to replace it. I never did get around to putting another engine in it because, well, it handles like a pig compared to my FX1. However this sad little square deserves better than to be forgotten about in my garage. So what do y'all think I should do with it? Replace it with another 61X and call it a day? Convert it to a dual carb 62T?

 

[SteveC]

Single carb 61x. Keep the hood liner intact. I didn't and now wish I had.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

Put a decent 61x engine in it stock pipe and sell it. Would make a great first ski for someone

 

[E350]

Just a point for contrast. My wife prefers her '94 SN SJ over the FX-1 and the 2019 RN SJ. She is one with the ski (as a former racer) and loves to scallop* side to side carved turns at a high frequency.

* intransitive verb To edge with a series of curved projections.

 

[streetroc]

Single carb 61x. Keep the hood liner intact. I didn't and now wish I had.

Do you have to modify the hood to fit dual carbs?

 

[streetroc]

Put a decent 61x engine in it stock pipe and sell it. Would make a great first ski for someone

I'm definitely thinking about an aftermarket pipe but I'd like to keep the ski. It is nice to ride on rough water when I don't want to beat myself to death on my FX1. It's also nice to have a beater ski to teach people how to ride

 

[streetroc]

Just a point for contrast. My wife prefers her '94 SN SJ over the FX-1 and the 2019 RN SJ. She is one with the ski (as a former racer) and loves to scallop* side to side carved turns at a high frequency.

* intransitive verb To edge with a series of curved projections.

Is there anything that I can do to a square nose to make it less piggish? Or at least to make it not handle like a battleship?

 

[SteveC]

(1)!fitting dual

Do you have to modify the hood to fit dual carbs?

Yeah, you have to remove the inner hood liner because the air inlet is right where one carb will be. But if you do that, the hood acts like a welded wire fence in terms of how well it keeps water out.

Regarding a B-pipe, it's very likely that the pipe chamber will hit the wall of the hull or at lest the ribs in the hull, so you'll have to just accept that (bad idea), remove the ribs, and/or glue some turf on the hull to keep the pipe from vibrating against the hull. Maybe it'll never be a problem if you just leave it alone, but it seems like asking for problems.

Regarding handling like a battle-ship, is the thing water-logged and thus weighs a ton? If not, a 701 in there should really make it tolerable/fun. Swapping the SN pole/steering for a RN pole/steering is a big improvement, too, IMO.

 

[E350]

IMHO it will always feel like a battleship compared to a 550 or an FX-1.

But my buddy just refinished and vinyl wrapped his SN and it looks great. It has a b-pipe and he says that putting a pipe on any SJ will wake it up.

Basically he says that power to weight ratio in a SJ can only be cured with more power.

But he also has lowered aftermarket hoods on all of his RN and SN SJ's.

 

[streetroc]

(1)!fitting dual

Yeah, you have to remove the inner hood liner because the air inlet is right where one carb will be. But if you do that, the hood acts like a welded wire fence in terms of how well it keeps water out.

Regarding a B-pipe, it's very likely that the pipe chamber will hit the wall of the hull or at lest the ribs in the hull, so you'll have to just accept that (bad idea), remove the ribs, and/or glue some turf on the hull to keep the pipe from vibrating against the hull. Maybe it'll never be a problem if you just leave it alone, but it seems like asking for problems.

Regarding handling like a battle-ship, is the thing water-logged and thus weighs a ton? If not, a 701 in there should really make it tolerable/fun. Swapping the SN pole/steering for a RN pole/steering is a big improvement, too, IMO.

Is there a way to cut a relief in the hood and then make some kind of fiberglass dome to seal it?

I've got no problems modding the hull. Superjets are a dime a dozen and this one is already ragged out so I don't have to be careful with it.

It could very well be waterlogged. Years ago I broke my pump shoe and tried riding it without the intake grate so the bolt holes were exposed to the water. However after I fixed it and sealed everything up it didn't feel any different than it did before. The RN pole is the same as the FX1 right? So I would have to get a different pole bracket?

 

[streetroc]

IMHO it will always feel like a battleship compared to a 550 or an FX-1.

But my buddy just refinished and vinyl wrapped his SN and it looks great. It has a b-pipe and he says that putting a pipe on any SJ will wake it up.

Basically he says that power to weight ratio in a SJ can only be cured with more power.

But he also has lowered aftermarket hoods on all of his RN and SN SJ's.

Yeah I was really considering a b pipe. I went to the free ride at allatoona a few years ago and got to try a few other skis that had the 61X motor with a pipe. Huge difference.

I don't want to sink a ton of money into this thing but I could probably drop $1500-2000 on it. What would be your suggestion for that budget?

 

[E350]

^^^ I will ask my buddy and get back to you in this thread with his suggestions.

 

[sturat]

My buddy in Cumming would buy it with a stock 61x in it. This is right up his alley.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Is there a way to cut a relief in the hood and then make some kind of fiberglass dome to seal it?

I've got no problems modding the hull. Superjets are a dime a dozen and this one is already ragged out so I don't have to be careful with it.

It could very well be waterlogged. Years ago I broke my pump shoe and tried riding it without the intake grate so the bolt holes were exposed to the water. However after I fixed it and sealed everything up it didn't feel any different than it did before. The RN pole is the same as the FX1 right? So I would have to get a different pole bracket?

You could probably cut a rectangular hole and fit a piece of PvC pipe cut in half in it , you would have to seal the ends of the pipe with something though , epoxy sticks pretty well to PVC if it's sanded first.

 

[kevbo]

Just cut the flange off flush and cover the hole. Leave a tiny hole so water can drain. The front hose is enough as long as it’s not kinked or restricted.

 

[kevbo]

Is there anything that I can do to a square nose to make it less piggish? Or at least to make it not handle like a battleship?

A “battleship” really? What do you want it to do?

 

[streetroc]

A “battleship” really? What do you want it to do?

Well I was being a little hyperbolic. It does okay and I had a lot of fun with it. However once I really mastered my FX1 there is just no going back. The SJ will always feel heavy and sluggish by comparison.

There is a 61X/62t dual carb engine with all of the carbs manifolds and electronics on FB marketplace right now for $800. I could do that with a b pipe for under $2k right? How much of a difference in power does dual carbs really make? Is it worth the effort to swap all the cables/brackets and mod the hood?

 

[kevbo]

For better performance you will want a pair of 760 carbs and the exhaust port cut a little wider. Dual 38 will allow you to tune each cylinder, a single will always have one running hotter than the other. A pair of 44s will make the pipe hit harder.

 

[mostexcellentdude]

Just cut the flange off flush and cover the hole. Leave a tiny hole so water can drain. The front hose is enough as long as it’s not kinked or restricted.

That's what I did on my 62T SN swap, plus added a small piece of shopvac hose up front for a little extra air intake.

 

[mostexcellentdude]

Well I was being a little hyperbolic. It does okay and I had a lot of fun with it. However once I really mastered my FX1 there is just no going back. The SJ will always feel heavy and sluggish by comparison.

There is a 61X/62t dual carb engine with all of the carbs manifolds and electronics on FB marketplace right now for $800. I could do that with a b pipe for under $2k right? How much of a difference in power does dual carbs really make? Is it worth the effort to swap all the cables/brackets and mod the hood?

I have a 62T swap and my buddy has a 61X single carb, both in SN skis. Both high comp heads, bpipes, mag pumps, etc. They pull basically identical. Those single carb motors are just fine and way easier to tune. I wouldn't do the swap again personally.