96 xp mod suggestions

[Stevie96xp]

Ok so I have a 96 xp with beach house sponsons a jet dynamics intake grate on it. I have ordered a hard jet kit for the pipe from today we wrench. I’m looking putting a set of prok flame arestors on it and an impeller. I’m looking for a good improvement over all I really don’t want to lose bottom end but I would like to run atleast as fast as I’m going or maybe one or 2 faster. I’m running 56 with the jet dynamics intake grate and 58 with the stock grate. Would be really nice to brake that 60 mark. But don’t really want to lose my bottom. Jsut wondering what y’all’s suggestions on for a prop. With the hard jetted pipe and flame arestors with the carbs being jetted of course. Thanks

 

[mikidymac]

Well, it is tricky to say the least.
Adding the PRO-K filters actually might cost you some performance. The stock airbox provides a strong vacum signal to get the correct fueling at all throttle positions. You could be lean at about 3/4 throttle without it and if you jet up you could be rich on the bottom.

Same goes for hard jetting the pipe as the water regulator is really good at a wet pipe for bottom performance then dries it out for max performance on the top end.

Any intake grate that loads the pump more will shave off top speed. Their purpose is to prevent cavitation in choppy racing conditions which is more important than absolute top speed.

Impellers are lust like gearing and nothing comes for free. If you want more top you are going to lose bottom. Seadoo was really good at selecting impellers from the factory to match the engines. The big performance gain was when stock skis came with aluminum impellers which were really inefficient so a "Stainless Impeller" was a easy hop-up part but your XP already has one.

So the only way to really get a noticeable improvement on these is a pipe.

Remember, all the tricks that the racers used like open flame arrestors, big carbs and hard jetting the waterbox is because they operated at WOT and high rpm the entire race so they only really needed to tune for one condition. They also ran pipes for higher rpm. None of that is really good for a rec ski unless you just want the fastest top speed.

I guess the biggest question is what are you going to use your ski for?

 

[Stevie96xp]

Well, it is tricky to say the least.
Adding the PRO-K filters actually might cost you some performance. The stock airbox provides a strong vacum signal to get the correct fueling at all throttle positions. You could be lean at about 3/4 throttle without it and if you jet up you could be rich on the bottom.

Same goes for hard jetting the pipe as the water regulator is really good at a wet pipe for bottom performance then dries it out for max performance on the top end.

Any intake grate that loads the pump more will shave off top speed. Their purpose is to prevent cavitation in choppy racing conditions which is more important than absolute top speed.

Impellers are lust like gearing and nothing comes for free. If you want more top you are going to lose bottom. Seadoo was really good at selecting impellers from the factory to match the engines. The big performance gain was when stock skis came with aluminum impellers which were really inefficient so a "Stainless Impeller" was a easy hop-up part but your XP already has one.

So the only way to really get a noticeable improvement on these is a pipe.

Remember, all the tricks that the racers used like open flame arrestors, big carbs and hard jetting the waterbox is because they operated at WOT and high rpm the entire race so they only really needed to tune for one condition. They also ran pipes for higher rpm. None of that is really good for a rec ski unless you just want the fastest top speed.

I guess the biggest question is what are you going to use your ski for?

Ok makes sence. I heard that hard jetting the pipe adds bottem and midrange. And flame arestors would add throttle response. But I also understand what you’re saying. I was hoping to add a little bit more power and be able to pull a little bit taller prop. But if not I will have to chose one I suppose. It’s really a rec ski for me I’m looking to pick up a gsx to have for longer rides since the xp only has a 9 gallon fuel tank. I heard that with a pipe you have to run 93 to keep temps down. So I really didn’t want to do that yet because of it being me main ski but latter down the road that may be in the cards.

 

[mikidymac]

Hard jetting the pipe isn't going to give you as good all around performance as the water regulator. It is going to compromise one place or another, not give you more.
As I said, open flame arrestors are actually going to hurt throttle response.
Nothing is going to give more performance without higher octane fuel. A milled head for more compression would give you a little more snap but higher octane is mandatory, same as a pipe.
Have you checked your impeller to make sure it is perfect with no damage? Wear ring good?

 

[Stevie96xp]

Hard jetting the pipe isn't going to give you as good all around performance as the water regulator. It is going to compromise one place or another, not give you more.
As I said, open flame arrestors are actually going to hurt throttle response.
Nothing is going to give more performance without higher octane fuel. A milled head for more compression would give you a little more snap but higher octane is mandatory, same as a pipe.
Have you checked your impeller to make sure it is perfect with no damage? Wear ring good?

Ok I understand that. Yeah impeller is in great shape. Fresh wear ring. As of last spring

 

[mikidymac]

Another option that I did on my 1997 XP 787 was to send it to Group K for a Sleeper mod for porting, and minor head work. I still had to run 91 octane but it was a huge performance increase with no reliability issues and looked bone stock. I was able to keep up with 951 XP Limited's.
It is about the same price as a pipe, if you can even find one.

Sea Doo 785 – Recreational Engine Mods – Group K

 

[Stevie96xp]

Another option that I did on my 1997 XP 787 was to send it to Group K for a Sleeper mod for porting, and minor head work. I still had to run 91 octane but it was a huge performance increase with no reliability issues and looked bone stock. I was able to keep up with 951 XP Limited's.
It is about the same price as a pipe, if you can even find one.

Sea Doo 785 – Recreational Engine Mods – Group K

O ok well thank you that is definitely an option