Thoroughbred v-drive?

[sbartel]

I've got a Stevens flat with a 327 Chevy. The v-drive has a tag on it that reads Thoroughbred from Los Angeles, CA. Does anyone know about this unit? Should I swap it?

[RiverRacer]

Yep, Aero Marine Thoroughbred, I had one in my Stevens back in the mid 70's and they were out of business then, if you can put up with the noise don't worry about it, they are a good unit and will take a lot more than that 327 will put out!.. Post a pic of the boat, maybe it's my old boat, LOL...

[Moneypit]

I've got a Stevens flat with a 327 Chevy. The v-drive has a tag on it that reads Thoroughbred from Los Angeles, CA. Does anyone know about this unit? Should I swap it?

I have one in a 68 Hydroflite, works great, really loud though. Steve Mc Elroy in Orange county worked for Aero back in the 60s and has a limited amount of parts, (dogs/gears). The seals and bearing are right out of any good bearing house, and I made the gaskets for mine........Bergeron Marine over in Phoenix also has new and refurbished parts and pieces. Mine is driven by a pretty stout 455 Olds and the v dive always worked perfect, even to 78.5 MPH!!!!.......Ray

[RiverRacer]

Just don't expect to sneak up on anyone because they'll hear ya comin, LOL...:D

[NovaSS]

What makes them so noisy? Is it the angle the gears are cut? (Straight cut gears maybe)

[Florida Inboards]

I have one also in my old Ricshaw. I am looking for a taller set of gears. As Art pointed out last time I talked about this unit at 12% I am not utilizing the potential of the big block horse power and torque. So If any one has lying around a set of 19's or 21's for this unit I would be a player for them. At this point I am saving up for a new split case Casale.
And Yes you need ear plugs for the thoroughbred noise!!

[sbartel]

Thanks guys. The noise is one thing I do remember about it. Oh well, I'm not going for quiet anyway! I may put in a 400 small block, but it sounds like it would hold up fine.

[RiverRacer]

I have one also in my old Ricshaw. I am looking for a taller set of gears. As Art pointed out last time I talked about this unit at 12% I am not utilizing the potential of the big block horse power and torque. So If any one has lying around a set of 19's or 21's for this unit I would be a player for them. At this point I am saving up for a new split case Casale.
And Yes you need ear plugs for the thoroughbred noise!!

Might give Steve McElroy a call 800-509-0762 he has a lot of that old stuff!..

[RiverRacer]

What makes them so noisy? Is it the angle the gears are cut? (Straight cut gears maybe)

Yep, straight cut gears!..

[RiverRacer]

Thanks guys. The noise is one thing I do remember about it. Oh well, I'm not going for quiet anyway! I may put in a 400 small block, but it sounds like it would hold up fine.

I ran a 427 Medium Riser in mine with no problems, it'll handle a sbc with ease!..

[Florida Inboards]

:eek: Just ran my old Flatty on the hose. Stored it all winter (florida) under the shed covered and winterized, low and behold water is pumping out of the fill orafice on the top of the old Thoroughbred BD-3 Vdrive. What does that Mean ??? :eek:

NOT GOOD!!
Thought I would give someone a laugh.

Ok question" my father used to run this V drive without cooling water, it ran for years this way. I wonder if I would have the same luck ?
Any one running this type of unit with out cooling water running thru it ?

[Florida Inboards]

Up date.

Need Gasket ! needs to be non water soluable.
Clean as a whistle on the inside.

[RiverRacer]

:eek: Just ran my old Flatty on the hose. Stored it all winter (florida) under the shed covered and winterized, low and behold water is pumping out of the fill orafice on the top of the old Thoroughbred BD-3 Vdrive. What does that Mean ??? :eek:

NOT GOOD!!
Thought I would give someone a laugh.

Ok question" my father used to run this V drive without cooling water, it ran for years this way. I wonder if I would have the same luck ?
Any one running this type of unit with out cooling water running thru it ?

If it sat for a long time the gaskets are probably dried out that's why the leak, since you had water in it it needs to be taken apart and cleaned before water galls the bearings, unless this a high rpm marathon deal just use a Syntethic oil and don't worry about water it won't get hot enough to worry about it!...

[RiverRacer]

Up date.

Need Gasket ! needs to be non water soluable.
Clean as a whistle on the inside.

That's non existent, just get material the right thickness and make your own, and run it dry!..

[Florida Inboards]

No marathon racing here.
I pulled the unit out of the boat. Tore it down on the bench cleaned out bearrings and made new gasket, Pluged water inlets and will reinstall this evening.
looking at this unit it is pretty bullit proof. I wonder how much torque it will take to kill it?

Art,Thanks for the advice.

Jody

[RiverRacer]

Anytime Jody, I don't know how much it would take to blow it, but it held up good with a 427, never had a problem just screamed like hell!.

[Florida Inboards]

Ran the old flatty on Sunday afternoon. No V-Drive Leaks or runs, the thoroughbred is awfull noisy. Some guy chased me down (while I was sittin still) he thought it was a blown boat.
Eric Johnson from OJ set me up with a four blade stainless 11-3/4 x 18. Gps we ran 71 mph. I think that is as fast as we need to go with the running gear and hardware that this boat is equiped with.
Also their have been some discussions about shaft seals and cuttless bearrings on the strut. I am running the XPC system from OJ. I highly recomend these products for the High performance V-drives. these seals and bearrings are made from a material called vesconite. Eric has told me that their are a couple of 5 liter Hydros running this and at this point no failure.
worth looking into if one is replacing seals and cuttless bearrings.

[steveo143]

I have one also in my old Ricshaw. I am looking for a taller set of gears. As Art pointed out last time I talked about this unit at 12% I am not utilizing the potential of the big block horse power and torque. So If any one has lying around a set of 19's or 21's for this unit I would be a player for them. At this point I am saving up for a new split case Casale.
And Yes you need ear plugs for the thoroughbred noise!!

I've got a 12* casale with 18 gears if you're interested.

[Moneypit]

I've got a 12* casale with 18 gears if you're interested.

Nah, they're way too QUIET, and my Olds is real smooth, so without the Aero SCREAMING at me I might think the idling motor died and I might mess up the starter/ring gear trying to restart it..............Huh? What did you say?.......Aye?..........Yeah, its like the "quiet" Jackson Gear drive is suitable for a grave yard at midnight.....Huh? Isn't that what you said?.............Ray

[steveo143]

Thanks for the bump. I don't remeber what I paid for the casale but if it goes t someone who needs it who cares?

[RiverRacer]

Nah, they're way too QUIET, and my Olds is real smooth, so without the Aero SCREAMING at me I might think the idling motor died and I might mess up the starter/ring gear trying to restart it..............Huh? What did you say?.......Aye?..........Yeah, its like the "quiet" Jackson Gear drive is suitable for a grave yard at midnight.....Huh? Isn't that what you said?.............Ray

That's some funny shit there, I can still hear mine screaming, ouch!..LOL...:D

[RiverRacer]

Thanks for the bump. I don't remeber what I paid for the casale but if it goes t someone who needs it who cares?

Watcha want for it??..:)

[Moneypit]

Watcha want for it??..:)

Yeah Art, put it in stock, we may need it sooner than you think.......Ray

[RiverRacer]

Yeah Art, put it in stock, we may need it sooner than you think.......Ray

Well, someone asked me about one not too long ago, now if I can remember who it was, LOL, but I could always stick it under the bench!..:D

[steveo143]

I think 800.00 would make me even.

[RiverRacer]

I think 800.00 would make me even.

Ok thanks!...:cool: