i would add the stellings ext boxes and run then in the raised position, the extra length plus raising the drive will help speed and stability

You are going to need 5 or 6 blade props. My friends 32 would not come on plane with the -2 shorties and bravo one 4 blades no matter what he tried. He ended up putting the stock lowers back on because he did not want to test props.

I run hydromotive 4 blade cleavers and it comes out of the hole great.

Top End,
I think your approach to this is a good start. See how it handles and performs with your original props first. When we went to 600HP from 500HP's, we put back on our 28 Hydros for baseline testing. Handled well, but hit the rev. limiter fast.
Tom at Hydromotive was able to repitch our 28's to 29's. That may be all you will need as well after the shorties.
Carder

carder, did you change gear ratios in your outdrives? I'm going from 1.50 to 1.36. of course I'm going from 415hp to 600. I was on the hydromotive website and they have an exchange program also. That sounds like the way to go.

with the -2 lowers?

no. standard bravos. of course that was last summer when it was a stock 502 boat.

topend,
We kept gears at 1.5's. Because of that, we ultimately ended up with 31p 5 blades, which is equivalent to going up 4in in pitch. Our new peak HP ended up at 5600rpm, vs the old rev limiter that was at about 5150rpm.

Going down to 1.35's will help get your original props closer to your ultimate RPM goal once you determine your peak HP/ peak Torque ranges.

There's nothing better than dialing in new horsepower!!

Carder

did you recalibrate your ecu's?

switched to MSD's w/ carbs. Tyler Crockett dialed us in. If we would have had EFI's, he would have remapped the ECU for us.