Sean

I'm with you... I have an 87 Cafe and I'm going the 496HO/Bravo route...it'll be slow, but warranty/service/reliability are more important to me. I have very little invested in mine and even after the repower will still be able to make money on it if I had to sell it(which I doubt I will ever do...considering the replacement cost is 300K)

sakoutis3

I agree with you. When it comes to service locations and warrenty merc can't be beat. I'm not knocking any other engine builders.

Single With Twins

i would go along with a couple of the other guys here and say upgrade the 500's you already have, great engine to upgrade and cost will be reduced then just upgrade drives accordingly. I know warranty is a concern but i think you will still be ahead by using what you have then purchase new.

Good luck

BigDadys93x

I thought about the 496's also but Im a speed junkie! and it seems no mater what I want it can never be fast enough but i also dont want to spend the coin for a couple 1000hp's and 6 drives. i like it the way it is i guess. But I want to be able to run the piss out of it and not worry about breakage . Thats why I want to go with the B-max drives with the new bigger power.

BLee

That can be a pretty big misconception. Just because someone is a Merc dealer doesn't mean they know anything about their ultra high performance stuff. The majority of the Merc dealers and service techs around here couldn't tell you anything about an 850sci or 1075. There are multiple people that have had to fly in, or ship their boat to someone that has experience with Merc power.

There are WAY more mechanics across the nation that can work on a high performance carb motor than an EFI setup.

Stormrider

BigD, where are you located?
To build up your 500s figure 4k each, plus take out and reinstall.
To upgrade to XR inners... 5K for both.
So you'll be close to 18K for all the work.
New 600s w/ bmaxs will be what?? 80-90k for the pair?

Stormrider

Fully agree w/ TSG. That is why I ask where you are located. I'm sure someone here knows a top guy in your locale.
Do you think the guys at your local merc shop have the exprerience that specialty shops have? Plus that warranty you like to much is only 1yr.
I'm sure a local builder can do the same.

BigDadys93x

You do make a good point but what kind of warrenty would I get upgrading my motors to 600hp probably none. Now dont get me wrong I understand i can have my motors rebuilt probably 5 times for what it will cost me to repower with new. I want to get more power and more reliability out of the drives so that I dont break down during a long run or a poker run . I guess I want it to be bomb proof.

p.s. Stormrider Im in Upstate NY about 40 minutes south of Rochester.

OldSchool

JC Performance!!!

Stormrider

Yep, Jeff rebuilt my 454(old) to 461ci 560hp 550lb/ft.

Give him call and just chat w/ him. He'll give you some ideas.
516.216.0778.