Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!
#11
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Portland OR
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What a debate!!!!
I'm looking into buying a crate engine, buying a Merc engine or having one built (383).
Three engine builders( one is on the net and builds engines for Year One and a lot of air boat engines) say about the same thing.....
Most crate motors need to have a different cam for better torque.
They need to have 2-3K more clearance between the piston and the cylinder walls due to temp differance. You might get lucky and not seeze a piston.
Yes, brass freeze plugs and SS head gaskets.
What to do????????
I'm looking into buying a crate engine, buying a Merc engine or having one built (383).
Three engine builders( one is on the net and builds engines for Year One and a lot of air boat engines) say about the same thing.....
Most crate motors need to have a different cam for better torque.
They need to have 2-3K more clearance between the piston and the cylinder walls due to temp differance. You might get lucky and not seeze a piston.
Yes, brass freeze plugs and SS head gaskets.
What to do????????
#12
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Comparing the price of a Merc 496HO fully marine equipped to a crate 502 is not even a close comparison.
Take the 502 and change the camshaft, add coplete electronice EFI fuel system, add closed cooling, oil and powersteering coolers, marine motor mounts, bravo bellhousing, bravo coupler, raw water pump system, complete engine harness, coil near plug iginition system, ECM , etc, etc, etc, and you will be well above $14K. You are comparing apples and oranges! The only thing you really get when you try to get a fully equipped reliable marine high performance engine for "almost nothing" is Nothing!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
Take the 502 and change the camshaft, add coplete electronice EFI fuel system, add closed cooling, oil and powersteering coolers, marine motor mounts, bravo bellhousing, bravo coupler, raw water pump system, complete engine harness, coil near plug iginition system, ECM , etc, etc, etc, and you will be well above $14K. You are comparing apples and oranges! The only thing you really get when you try to get a fully equipped reliable marine high performance engine for "almost nothing" is Nothing!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
#13
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Platinum Member
What a debate!!!!
I'm looking into buying a crate engine, buying a Merc engine or having one built (383).
Three engine builders( one is on the net and builds engines for Year One and a lot of air boat engines) say about the same thing.....
Most crate motors need to have a different cam for better torque.
They need to have 2-3K more clearance between the piston and the cylinder walls due to temp differance. You might get lucky and not seeze a piston.
Yes, brass freeze plugs and SS head gaskets.
What to do????????
I'm looking into buying a crate engine, buying a Merc engine or having one built (383).
Three engine builders( one is on the net and builds engines for Year One and a lot of air boat engines) say about the same thing.....
Most crate motors need to have a different cam for better torque.
They need to have 2-3K more clearance between the piston and the cylinder walls due to temp differance. You might get lucky and not seeze a piston.
Yes, brass freeze plugs and SS head gaskets.
What to do????????
If you are building small blocks. Have a builder make you a 454 small block. 350 with 4.25 crank approx. Put in a really liitle cam for no reversion. In theory this is a torque monster and will never have to rev over 4500rpm.
When I get a small block boat, I am going to experiment with this set up.
#14
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Location: EASTON MA.
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yes my buddy bought a long block 502, bought my old heads502 reworked hdy roller,bought a crane 731can 850bg carb cmi headers used the old maine stuff from a 454 365mag its been 4 or 6 yrs I forget and he leaves his in saltwater all summer doesn't flush and it runs good
#18
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Location: Long Island, ny
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you guys forgot about one of the biggest things. the warranty on the 496 is one year extendable to and tranferable. what is the warranty going to be when you buy the 502 and it craps the bed after you changed everything.
#19
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Fro the record though. I know a guy who succesfully has been running 2 of these in fresh water for a little over 3 years now and cannot kill them. They have been abused severly. About same power as 496.
Nothing was ever changed. They are run as they were out of the crate.
Here is link
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...49886_-1_10763
Nothing was ever changed. They are run as they were out of the crate.
Here is link
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...49886_-1_10763
#20
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Comparing the price of a Merc 496HO fully marine equipped to a crate 502 is not even a close comparison.
Take the 502 and change the camshaft, add coplete electronice EFI fuel system, add closed cooling, oil and powersteering coolers, marine motor mounts, bravo bellhousing, bravo coupler, raw water pump system, complete engine harness, coil near plug iginition system, ECM , etc, etc, etc, and you will be well above $14K. You are comparing apples and oranges! The only thing you really get when you try to get a fully equipped reliable marine high performance engine for "almost nothing" is Nothing!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
Take the 502 and change the camshaft, add coplete electronice EFI fuel system, add closed cooling, oil and powersteering coolers, marine motor mounts, bravo bellhousing, bravo coupler, raw water pump system, complete engine harness, coil near plug iginition system, ECM , etc, etc, etc, and you will be well above $14K. You are comparing apples and oranges! The only thing you really get when you try to get a fully equipped reliable marine high performance engine for "almost nothing" is Nothing!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Ray @ Raylar