Stormrider

How is this engine?
Reliability, power, responsiveness?

Who has them for power and what are your opinions?
What is the stock exhaust?

How does it compare to the 525?

Sean H

i got twin 500hp carbs in my 30 spectre and they run flawless, tons of power, idles well, pretty responsive (my boat is pretty light and moves well)... i have gils for manifolds, probably will swap to some cmi's because i already have them.... i saw they are down probably 50-60 horse to a 525 ( i am guessing efi is what you are meaning, if you mean 525sc i don't have to much exp. with those)... great motors, just watch the valve springs....

Stormrider

Yes, compared to the new 525efi.
I, for some reason, prefer carbs.
And yes, I've heard about the valve springs. What's the proper fix for that?

And can someone post pics of them.

Sean H

just put some better valve springs in, i got some cranes in mine now, i probably will still swap mine every season, just cheap insurance and mine is at high rpm alot..

Scott

If you do a search in the tech section you will have all the info your looking for and then some

BAJA WILL

I am a little curious that you are not considering the 500efi You said you like carb but I have had much better experience with the efi models. Anyway I currently have the 500efi with 350 hours, I also replace my valve springs, you really need to with these motors, I had a broken inner spring at 275hours, got lucky and no problems but I will be replacing them every other year now. As for power it does every thing I expected it to, no disappointments.

WILL

Sean H

500efi's are coming hard too find... 525's are much easier

Tonto

I had HP 500's in my '96 FORMULA 382 and put 450 hrs on them before I did anything to them. Opened them up and they looked great. Changed the springs because of what everyone said. Put another 75 hrs on them before I sold the boat. Great boat and great engines.

Robert

Semper Fi

I've got 2 500EFI's for sale for $32K 65 hours absolutely mint condition. Original hours, not rebuilt.

JaayTeee

Aside from the valve train issues, I would have to
say their as reliable as their "black" siblings.

I have no complaints with mine, they do everthing
I ask of them.

Standard exhaust was MerCruiser Gil's.
( just like the ones in Scott's pix's)