I don't think that was an example of bashing, I think what Derek was saying is the return on investment is not there. Why spend the extra money if it nets near zero gains? He is already looking at $3000+ to rebuild with new pistons, cam, valve train. Now he is talking hotter cam, new exhaust, new intake, new carb. Why have a $7000+ engine in a bottom that is not optimal? He will never get the money back, he may cause more problems with his driveline. The numbers above are not even factoring the other hidden costs that arise when repowering an older vessel.

I agree with above, I would not go outside of stock without an exhaust upgrade. Even more so your exhaust may be bad at the wet joint now, and may have been the cause of your engine being "Stuck"

I think all of us can look back at a bad investment, very very few of us would say "I would do it again" Take the advise here seriously. Shop around for what is on the market that may be a ore attractive project that you can someday get a return on. Being emotional attached, but financially dumb about a toy never ends up well.

I'm just saying lets by all means be honest about expectations but realize he probably likes this design. I agree that in some cases when dealing with a slower hull especially, it's better to have a close to stock, reliable engine and if you want to go fast, safely, buy a capable hull. I think this is likely what you were trying to convey.

I'd do a stock rebuild, a slight cam upgrade since yours is rusted anyhow, and add some roller rockers. I'd leave the stock intakes and carb. They will support a little extra power. You can essentially duplicate the old 400HP 454 Cyclone engine, by swapping the cam and rockers. Other than that, I wouldnt invest a ton of money in the setup you have. The 400HP merc was a nice running engine.

buddy ,,here is a cam i use on the gen v motors,,its a isky cam,,real snotty sounds good and works well on a gen v flat tappet cam engine..isky 396271/281-14.....you want to usr crower cam saver lifters..this cam will work with stock merc manifolds and sounds good,it has a good thump to it and is really responsive..

oh this is the lifter you want,,you want the ''r'' series,,they have a full snap ring instead of a wire ring to hold the plunger in..
http://www.jegs.com/i/Crower/258/660...ductId=1145259

I have the same 188 heads on my engine with Scorpion Racing roller rockers and the Isky 270/280 mega cam http://www.flatlanderracing.com/iskycamsmarine.html engine made 407HP on dyno. And I also ran my stock exhuast the first two years with no reversion problems.

thx guys for pos post, as far as ones bashing, it might not be no 30ft fountain or anything, but good looking boat, im not made of money like other people. the one talking thousands for a rebuild must have more money then brains, as far as price, 500.00 to clean, bore .030 over, new plugs and pins pressed in pistons. around grand for rebuild kit, maybe little more for some extra stuff, heres where having little bit of brains come into play, I can do the rebuild, and only 500.00 for the boat, transom and lower unit great condition, and dual axle trailer, pistons were stuck due to previous owner taking off heads, ill show u don't need to be rich to have fun on the water, the cam I have now is 3963544, the lower unit will still b worth more than I will have invested,

Oh Geez. Another new member with a couple posts, telling us how he can build an engine for pennies. Nobody here suggested spending money foolishly. Most will tell you, to do a proper rebuild even on a basic 454 engine, cant be done for 1500 dollars, based on experiance. Why is it, people come on here for help and suggestions, on HOW to upgrade their 454 engine, but yet have the engine building/machining part down path? If you've successfully built engines in the past, then you should know how to upgrade a simple 1980's 454.



The 3963544 cam, is a 454 truck cam. It was never used in a marine merc engine. Even the 330hp 454 used a much larger cam than that 3963544. That cam should have a sweet redline of about 3900RPM with its 192/203 duration and 398 lift.

its and was a stock 454 tthat was cam in it and it is a 330hp merc, juust don't know much about marine difference, rebuilt motors b4, the combination of everything involved, just saying my searay, I redid motor, threw bigger lower unit, 23p prop, rpm can go as hi as7500, but if I put clever on it, it don't wanna pick up, its the marine aspect im not getting, I can make a motor run like hell

just to clarify,did you say you rebuilt your 330 in your sea ray and you can rev it to 7500 rpm,or did i read it wrong?