Cheap 496 mag upgrades (375hp)
01-07-2011, 10:34 AM
#21
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The Dana Marine exhaust was what I was looking at using. Thank all you guys for all the great info
01-07-2011, 10:54 AM
#22
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My shop told me around $12000 for all forged parts then I would be able to add a whipple to it without damaging the motor. Then I would need to buy a new drive. I was wondering if it would be better to pickup a 502 that already has forged parts in it. I just don't know if the 502 would still work with the smart craft I have. Someday I will get this figured out and get some more HP out of my boat
01-07-2011, 11:13 AM
#23
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. The cam change and ECM will get you 50 hp and a few mph. That is true. Then you will have a 496 Magnum HO. Some people are getting away with whipplecharging a stock 496 but I think you will be running on borrowed time. A shorty drive can add 2-3 mph but I'd start a thread to find out if it would be right for your application.
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01-07-2011, 11:48 AM
#26
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Do It Right Or Don't Do It
Assuming you are NOT doing the labor yourself and are paying shop rates....
Consider the price to get the computer bumped from 375 to 425HO. Add in freight both ways.
Now buy a cam and have it installed etc...
Now, you have to spend another $800 or so on the "right" prop and that means freight back and forth and shipping does add up (30 bucks each way..)
It's quite a bit of money (relative to the gain). Hardly worth it to me but that is just an opinion. I remember "just wanting a little more" but it almost never works out that way.
At the risk of seeming pessimistic, throw in the cost of somebody getting that flash job wrong and you just spent the bank (relatively speaking). Also, if cash is that tight, how long will the boat and engine sit while you catch up? There is a price for having your boat torn apart in the spring and summer in most cases.
If you can't spend the time and money to really do it right, you will spend twice or three times that much money and hassel getting over a bad decision.
Stock engines break too as said a few posts back. But there's no reason to put a rush on it.
If you keep good oil in that engine (knowing she uses a little) and never run it hot, you'll see lots of good use before any major breakdown typically...
Consider the price to get the computer bumped from 375 to 425HO. Add in freight both ways.
Now buy a cam and have it installed etc...
Now, you have to spend another $800 or so on the "right" prop and that means freight back and forth and shipping does add up (30 bucks each way..)
It's quite a bit of money (relative to the gain). Hardly worth it to me but that is just an opinion. I remember "just wanting a little more" but it almost never works out that way.
At the risk of seeming pessimistic, throw in the cost of somebody getting that flash job wrong and you just spent the bank (relatively speaking). Also, if cash is that tight, how long will the boat and engine sit while you catch up? There is a price for having your boat torn apart in the spring and summer in most cases.
If you can't spend the time and money to really do it right, you will spend twice or three times that much money and hassel getting over a bad decision.
Stock engines break too as said a few posts back. But there's no reason to put a rush on it.
If you keep good oil in that engine (knowing she uses a little) and never run it hot, you'll see lots of good use before any major breakdown typically...
01-07-2011, 11:51 AM
#27
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Sorry, didn't mean to rub you wrong. I assumed the caps were pointed at me regarding the price comment.
But keep in mind, if you get heads for that price you most likely will find that the intake will be the new bottle neck as the flow just "doesn't flow".
But keep in mind, if you get heads for that price you most likely will find that the intake will be the new bottle neck as the flow just "doesn't flow".
Last edited by SDFever; 01-07-2011 at 11:55 AM. Reason: spelling
01-07-2011, 11:51 AM
#28
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STOP! Don't do it. Don't go for the BS power gain claims! I spent almost $5,000 on the CMI Sportubes for my 496 HO and saw ZERO gain. If you have the early aluminum exhaust the ports are huge and it flows very well. My final decision after a lot of discussion on forums was to lose the 496 and drop in an '07 vintage 525 which I found on this site for $20,000. Seven hours of run time later I had to upgrade to a Bravo XR upper . The cam change and ECM will get you 50 hp and a few mph. That is true. Then you will have a 496 Magnum HO. Some people are getting away with whipplecharging a stock 496 but I think you will be running on borrowed time. A shorty drive can add 2-3 mph but I'd start a thread to find out if it would be right for your application.
. The cam change and ECM will get you 50 hp and a few mph. That is true. Then you will have a 496 Magnum HO. Some people are getting away with whipplecharging a stock 496 but I think you will be running on borrowed time. A shorty drive can add 2-3 mph but I'd start a thread to find out if it would be right for your application.
01-07-2011, 11:54 AM
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