Hi,my name is Federico i'm an italian boy and Black Tornado(Marco another italian boy member of thi site)has sayed me that you have a great experience about engines! i would like to change my engines:2x330hp 7.4 v8 mercruiser that stay on magnum marine starfire 27.....and i would like put on about 420 hp for engine and take it around 450/470hp with the exhaust system!!!1
But i'm very uncertain for the choice of the model:new "496mag ho" or "old 502" or other else ,could you give me some advice?Remember that i love the rumbling!!!
Thank's federico.

Hi Frederico: First off, I love the old Magnums, I was production Mgr. at Magnum a few years back and tryed to revive the performance division, and build a limited edition 28` Magnum Sport, as well as come out with a new 39` performance model, however timming was not right, and I moved on. To answer your question. The 502 is no longer in the Merc production line. Racing division uses all 502 configurations from 525 through to the new 700 hp motors.
The inexpensive way to go is with the 496 420hp production motor and put the CMI headers on for nice sound and added hp. If you want to spend the money go for the 525 pkg. from racing division. It is a great reliable pkg. has 1 year warranty etc. If you do that you should re-evaluate your drive system. As I don`t know what drives you intend to run, it`s hard to advise you. I would recomend the Bravo one short sportmaster with the ITS option. That would get your X- dimension up to date and give you some great performance.
Pair of 525`s with the drive pkg. I just described will cost approx. $40,000 US each for complete pkg. and includes CMI headers.
I guess what you have to decide is your budget, and to answer your question, the 496 pkg. is the newest pkg. out. the 502`s are in the past for current production, except for race division. Good luck 7XCHAMP

scrich, if you think you may want to go 525s, there is someone on the boards selling a used pair right now.

Thank's 7xchamp and stormrider for the answers,i 've got a magnum 27 and put on it more than about 450 hp it would be dangerous, because run over 80 mph it would be really fantastic but with a 27 feet...i fly!!!... (also because i run in the Mediterrean sea,not on lakes, and it isn't very calm)!!!so i woud put a max between 420/470 hp for engines for arriving about 80mph(now with 2x330 i've touched 64mph in the best condition)...and i want a big big sound,like a THUNDER!!!!!!!!!
So i think that i'll oriented for 496ho with CMI exhaust.....
For bigger engines.... in future if i'll buy a bigger boat!!
bye,federico

80+ mph is no problem with handling. My father had a 27' Sport with Big Blocks, that ran a consistent 84 mph (sometimes 86 mph) - he owned it for 19 years, so there was alot of seat-time. You will love the boat.

FYI http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o18780-en.html

and you sure you'll be running 80+ w/ 496s w/ cmi's?
525s might be $ well spent.

Thank's Smarty...do you know what model of big bloch were they?and have you some photos?federico

i've seen those engines but for me it's too much....

scrich, where do you plan on buying, over there?

If thats the case then go North Europe and youŽll find lots of parts and engines...