Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

[taw203]

I have an 89 waverunner 500 and its seems each summer i ride it, it becomes slower and slower. So i bought an gp1200r. I want to know if it is possible to swap the 500 with any one of the SBT700 engines. If i get a new motor mount and everything needed.

Is IT Possible?????

[John Kubiak]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

NO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE!!!

SBT does not do uneven swaps

[harveynailbanger]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

I Disagree, it is so possible.
is it safe? probably not
is it practical? probably not
is it a recommended mod? definetly not.
is it possible? if you have the skills to reinforce , manufacture , engineer and install the EXTENSIVE modifications neccessry to the boat and to the engine/ drivetrain and pump ,not to mention the checkbook to do it , it is possible.
the 500 is a modified outboard and shares virtually no similar hardware with the 700.
almost anything is possible john:emoticons

[John Kubiak]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

Mr. Shepler:

My response was to this question:

I want to know if it is possible to swap the 500 with any one of the SBT700 engines.

Everything may be possible, except for the fact that you still can not trade engine types with SBT's program, regardlrss of the amount of money in your checkbook!!! SBT does even swaps only.

[Technical Support]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

No we do not do uneven swaps. No nothing bolts in place but the original design. Yes you could custom build anything you want.

[harveynailbanger]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

does sbt sell engines outright without a core?
i know its cheaper to buy a core motor (usually)but his question was could he swap it ,not if you would swap it. not trying to be a smart allec(although it does kind a come naturally to me) here just making a point. if you have the money and the talent or enuff money to pay someone else to offset a lack of talent you can build practically anything. that however doesnt make it practical. how ever that being said, the idea of cornholeing a big motor into the smallest package possible does make for some interesting thought(at least to me) why not doe the 1200 instead? what the heck i got a small block chevy in garage......
back to the thread at hand , in the end youd have a boat with a 700... whats the point? a lot and i do mean ALOT of money for a mediocre ride at best.
Regards Rick.

[Technical Support]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

No we don't.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

I have a 701 out of a 1994 Wave Runner for sale $400.00, as is or $750 rebuilt. Needs a set of pistons and a bore job.

626 914 9509.

[skraggy]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

I want to know if it is possible to swap the 500 with any one of the SBT700 engines.

Is IT Possible?????

Mr Wallbanger....this question asks if he can swap it for an SBT700 motor.So JK answered the question correctly.If he had just mentioned swapping it with a 701 motor,he may have gotten a different response.And who knows if it will even fit in the engine compartment....Do you ? Have you tried it before? If not,dont mislead the guy telling him it can be done.

Even if it did work....it will never compare to the gp1200r that he has....if thats what hes after.And since you know it all...whats the HP difference between the 500 and the 701 ? Is it significant ? Would it even be worth all the trouble to make all the mods that would be needed...I highly doubt it.You could spend the same if not less and just buy another gp12.

[taw203]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

Im not trying to create some moster jet ski that will keep up with my 1200. im just trying to give the waverunner more power that is more realistic. The 500 engine thats in it right now is so slow and wasn't properly kept that it needs to be rebuilt or blown up.

If its not possible to completly rebuild tha hull and through in another enigne what can i do to get some more HP. I know there not any mods to the 500 engine!

[John Kubiak]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

The whole problem with a WR500 is they have no handling at all stock. If you double the driveline power potential, you will have a squirrely ride that gets exponentially worse with each MPH increase in speed. (to borrow a phrase from Ralph Nader, "UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED"!!!!)

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

Ok, Let's be practical. A WR 500 was the infant runabout when it was built. It was one of the very first sitdown style watercraft. Pretty neat for it's time, but it has been outclassed since almost the day it hit the dealership
showroom floor.

The models that were built and sold by the other PWC companies just flat blow away the WR500 in all catagories, power, handling and speed. To try to modify a WR500 is about as smart as trying to get a '56 buick to out perform a Porsche on a road course.

To modify one for any substaintual speed increase would require an engine swap to a motor with more power and torque. This creates another big problem as the jetpump unit in the WR500 is just not adequite to handle much more power. It was a 35 mph watercraft when new.

Anyone even contemplating modifying a WR 500 either has too much time and money on their hands or they are just nuts.

You can purchase a good used newer model watercraft for a fraction of the costs to modify a WR 500 to the point it is even close to one that can be bought for a very reasonable price off the used market.

[twanger1994]

Re: Swapping Engines on 89 waverunner 500

That all sounds great.. yes someone somewhere can do anything.... so about the 500 you still got it. im looking for the crank case. please let me know...
thnx MIKE