Advice on re-power options
#21
Registered
iTrader: (3)
I'm not so sure I'd be condeming your current engines to the graveyard already. They've served you well for the past 15 years, and 300ish hours, is certainly not a level of making them ready for the trash bin. AND, they have not even been torn down to evaluate exactly what the issue is, and already you're builder has you buying new power?
At 300 hours, for all you know, they might need a fresh hone job, some rings, bearings, etc. If they were truly "NEW" mercury 454 420hp engines, they should have been standard 4.250 bore size. There should be room for an overbore, even IF, a cylinder was hurt. Or, be sleeved.
Those 454 / 420 engines, had decent parts in them. Certainly capable of supporting the power you are at. A fresh rebuild on the shortblock, some new EQ iron heads, and a blower upgrade, and I don't see any reason, you can't make 600, 650, 700+HP, without getting into them being radical time bombs.
Even IF, the block was trashed, you can find those blocks for a song these days, few hundred bucks. I just saw a guy out your way the other day selling a STD bore 4 bolt main 454 block, for around 500 bucks.
Before I'd hit the big red panic button, I'd want to see exactly what the problem is , and what it will take to fix it. There's nothing exotic in those engines, that should be costing a million bucks to refresh/rebuild them.
At 300 hours, for all you know, they might need a fresh hone job, some rings, bearings, etc. If they were truly "NEW" mercury 454 420hp engines, they should have been standard 4.250 bore size. There should be room for an overbore, even IF, a cylinder was hurt. Or, be sleeved.
Those 454 / 420 engines, had decent parts in them. Certainly capable of supporting the power you are at. A fresh rebuild on the shortblock, some new EQ iron heads, and a blower upgrade, and I don't see any reason, you can't make 600, 650, 700+HP, without getting into them being radical time bombs.
Even IF, the block was trashed, you can find those blocks for a song these days, few hundred bucks. I just saw a guy out your way the other day selling a STD bore 4 bolt main 454 block, for around 500 bucks.
Before I'd hit the big red panic button, I'd want to see exactly what the problem is , and what it will take to fix it. There's nothing exotic in those engines, that should be costing a million bucks to refresh/rebuild them.
#23
Registered
Thread Starter
I'm not so sure I'd be condeming your current engines to the graveyard already. They've served you well for the past 15 years, and 300ish hours, is certainly not a level of making them ready for the trash bin. AND, they have not even been torn down to evaluate exactly what the issue is, and already you're builder has you buying new power?
At 300 hours, for all you know, they might need a fresh hone job, some rings, bearings, etc. If they were truly "NEW" mercury 454 420hp engines, they should have been standard 4.250 bore size. There should be room for an overbore, even IF, a cylinder was hurt. Or, be sleeved.
Those 454 / 420 engines, had decent parts in them. Certainly capable of supporting the power you are at. A fresh rebuild on the shortblock, some new EQ iron heads, and a blower upgrade, and I don't see any reason, you can't make 600, 650, 700+HP, without getting into them being radical time bombs.
Even IF, the block was trashed, you can find those blocks for a song these days, few hundred bucks. I just saw a guy out your way the other day selling a STD bore 4 bolt main 454 block, for around 500 bucks.
Before I'd hit the big red panic button, I'd want to see exactly what the problem is , and what it will take to fix it. There's nothing exotic in those engines, that should be costing a million bucks to refresh/rebuild them.
At 300 hours, for all you know, they might need a fresh hone job, some rings, bearings, etc. If they were truly "NEW" mercury 454 420hp engines, they should have been standard 4.250 bore size. There should be room for an overbore, even IF, a cylinder was hurt. Or, be sleeved.
Those 454 / 420 engines, had decent parts in them. Certainly capable of supporting the power you are at. A fresh rebuild on the shortblock, some new EQ iron heads, and a blower upgrade, and I don't see any reason, you can't make 600, 650, 700+HP, without getting into them being radical time bombs.
Even IF, the block was trashed, you can find those blocks for a song these days, few hundred bucks. I just saw a guy out your way the other day selling a STD bore 4 bolt main 454 block, for around 500 bucks.
Before I'd hit the big red panic button, I'd want to see exactly what the problem is , and what it will take to fix it. There's nothing exotic in those engines, that should be costing a million bucks to refresh/rebuild them.
In any case today I now have an option on some low hour Merc blue motors. Gonna go see them next week and very likely to pull the trigger on them and just get it done.
The motors i have now, any idea of a realistic asking price to offload em? Stbd motor runs but only holds 35# in cylinder #8, the rest vary between 100-130. Didn't do compression tests on port motor, but its running fine.
#24
Registered
iTrader: (3)
Hello Mild. When we discussed the cost of rebuilding them with new blocks (he was adamant about that) and replacing any worn out parts and all the accessories so they would essentially be new motors, he was ball parking at least 10k per side and said at his own price to do it he'd rather see me go the 540 reman route or find low hour drop in 496HO's. Of course he hadn't pulled the motors so couldn't be 100% sure yet whats inside and the exact cost, but I trust Dave as we've had a long and good relationship with him. Maybe much of this comes down to the fact that he's probably not the cheapest option in town for motor work. Whose high quality and fair price for engine building in the Chesapeake area?
In any case today I now have an option on some low hour Merc blue motors. Gonna go see them next week and very likely to pull the trigger on them and just get it done.
The motors i have now, any idea of a realistic asking price to offload em? Stbd motor runs but only holds 35# in cylinder #8, the rest vary between 100-130. Didn't do compression tests on port motor, but its running fine.
In any case today I now have an option on some low hour Merc blue motors. Gonna go see them next week and very likely to pull the trigger on them and just get it done.
The motors i have now, any idea of a realistic asking price to offload em? Stbd motor runs but only holds 35# in cylinder #8, the rest vary between 100-130. Didn't do compression tests on port motor, but its running fine.
As far as your engines go, not sure why the blocks would be needing replacement, unless they have seen lots of salt useage. One of my engine blocks, is a 80's 454 block, that has been in use, well, since the 80s in a boat, and currently putting 800hp to it. The other block, came from a automotive engine, but same deal. I have seen blocks that have been trashed from salt, but a sonic check will tell that story. being as you're were supposedly new 15 years ago, I doubt everyone who has a 2000 era, 502 merc engine, is throwing their blocks away, and buying new blocks.
Some drop in closed cooling 525EFI merc's, would be nice though.
#25
Driver-441
Racer
In your area both Dave at MDG and Tony at CMS are great guys. We have a set of "White Racing Engines" in our shop right now and Im never the one to bash but I would not recommend them. A lot of overseas parts on those.
#28
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
[ATTACH=CONFIG]564412[/ATTACH]
Drop in and go. Top ends have been done with Teague kits.
Drop in and go. Top ends have been done with Teague kits.