chewymalone

I would also suggest the new hull option. Find something about the new one that your wife wants... like a potty or larger cabin, etc... Then you can break the news that it just happens to be faster. I'd start with the 25-28 foot Nordic's. You can find one reasonably priced and they are quick with stock power, blazing fast for singles with big power.

You can put an additional 100HP in a hull and see squat on the top end. I put big power in a Formula 242 LS with unfulfilling, modest gains. In that case I went from 365HP to 620HP and only picked up about 15MPH.

The drive comment is pertinent too. When you stick big power in front of a drive on a hull that doesn't want to go fast anyway, bad things happen. I mean like bad $3000 (or more)a pop things happen. In the 242LS example above, I popped a drive within 3 hours. I then went to a Bravo X/Imco XR combination which required more investment.

jeffswav

The boat started with a 330 at 55MPH, I have brought it up to 520HP and raised the x dim up 3". Now it hits 74 on a good day, the boat responds well to HP, almost a 20MPH gain. Again we are just speculating here, I may do nothing else to it.
Too sum it up, many ways to get 600HP. A 496 with AFR heads and custom roller, 540 with custom roller, or anything with a supercharger. I am sure we will get some more ideas also

snapmorgan

iTrader: (2)

Go with the 540. I just got my new 540 running friday. Took it to the river Sat and Sun. Eddie Young put the final tune on it yesterday and I believe it was worth every penny spent.

jeffswav

Yea, Eddie knows what he is doing, he is a great help to everyone here on the forum.

jeffswav

I am pulling this one back up from the dead lol. 10 years after I made this post I freshened up the engine last year. Went from 489 to 496, added Flotek 290 heads with AFR valves and isky springs, bumped up the compression to 10.3 from 8.9 to 1 and had a solid 6 mph speed gain.
I reused the RM builder cam with 225/230 duration, 595/595 lift, 112 LSA.
Question is how much HP am I leaving on the table with the smaller cam?

getrdunn

iTrader: (7)

For some of us it takes time to follow through with our “Great” ideas - Goals!

you had to pick up about 90 hp with your gain it seems. With that said and staying NA your cam and heads are about the last of your potential ponies. Could probably gain another 40/50 hp but gotta ask yourself is it worth it for another 2-3 mph. Cam is a little small for what your doing I think anyway. What rpm are you peaking at 5k + -? Just a cam change to keep it simple would definitely help. 235/242-630 ish. JMO.

edit: What size int valves?

jeffswav

Yep, thats what I was thinking. I went way over budget last year and the cam looked like new. I pulled a 25 pitch prop to 5500 RPM last year. Going to try a 28p lab bravo prop the first time out. It runs amazing and doing nothing to it this year. Anyone put a 100 shot of nitrous to it?

jeffswav

2.3 intake valves. Flow numbers are almost identical to the AFR. I actually used the AFR severe duty valves, exact same specs.

Smitty275

The simple way is to get a pair of FloTek's good oval port heads. Victor Jr. intake with a Dominator carb and a proper roller cam set up. You can easily run 10:1 on 89oct. in a BBC with aluminum heads. Just don't over time it.
Of course the 540 would make that power easier. But you'll be a lot deeper in the hole.

jeffswav

Sorry for the confusion. I pulled up a really old post and actually gave a follow up. Went with a 496, 10.3 comp, Flotek 290 heads, kept the same cam. Only question is how much power and I leaving on the plate with my old cam.