Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
#1
Guest
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Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
Looking for some cheap, but good, ways to upgrade performance / efficiency of a '99 454 mag. One idea that I've been kind of tossing around is upgrading the manifolds from the stock 454 to the Mercs 496 manifold. Thinking that I might be able to find a good deal on some used ones around a couple hundred buck or so.
So with this in mind I have a couple of questions:
Has anyone done this?
If so is it worth it (performance / efficiency increase)?
Is it a direct replacement (just bolt on a go..)?
Any other thoughts would be more than greatly appreciated..
Thanks in advance for your time...
So with this in mind I have a couple of questions:
Has anyone done this?
If so is it worth it (performance / efficiency increase)?
Is it a direct replacement (just bolt on a go..)?
Any other thoughts would be more than greatly appreciated..
Thanks in advance for your time...
#2
JC Performance Engines
Gold Member
Re: Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
How much $ is cheap to you?
I just got stainless marine manifolds for my 454 mag.
But I think there may be better bang for the $ in other areas.
I just got stainless marine manifolds for my 454 mag.
But I think there may be better bang for the $ in other areas.
#4
JC Performance Engines
Gold Member
Re: Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
I don't know what merc manifolds cost, but the stainless marine are closer to $1000.
HP don't come cheap.
You will need significant HP to see any speed gains.
I think prop work might be the way to go... just my $0.02.
HP don't come cheap.
You will need significant HP to see any speed gains.
I think prop work might be the way to go... just my $0.02.
#5
Registered
Re: Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
$200 - $300, Now thats cheap. I can spend that much on gas any given weekend
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
Yeah, wanted to keep it cheap.......
Performance increase is not really the main driver here, its more a of low cost of ownership thing through efficiency. Now don't get me wrong here I won't cheap out on the correct parts I'll try to buy the best there is but I don't want to create a maintenance nightmare.
I guess what I really want is just to have a great looking boat that doesn't cost an arm & leg to keep up and running, due to then introduction of performance parts to the engine. If that makes sense???
Performance increase is not really the main driver here, its more a of low cost of ownership thing through efficiency. Now don't get me wrong here I won't cheap out on the correct parts I'll try to buy the best there is but I don't want to create a maintenance nightmare.
I guess what I really want is just to have a great looking boat that doesn't cost an arm & leg to keep up and running, due to then introduction of performance parts to the engine. If that makes sense???
#8
JC Performance Engines
Gold Member
Re: Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
A good exhaust should help you avoid manifold failure which would cause big problems. RM could be a good choice if you are in fresh water.
#9
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Re: Cheap upgrades - Exhaust mainifold swap?
Originally Posted by Stormrider
A good exhaust should help you avoid manifold failure which would cause big problems. RM could be a good choice if you are in fresh water.
And I think RM's are cheap, in the $1100 range. Stainless Marine are closer to $2000.
I'd say for $200-$300, upgrade fuel, call it good and enjoy the water.