|
resale value perception is something to consider also.
|
If you make a half dozen phone calls you can find someone to sell you a 496HO for 13/14k. Crusader, Marine Power, Kodiak, and others all use "GM Powertrain" engines as their base platforms. These are excellent long block foundations and even the cheapest 2bbl carbed 350 has a hydraulic roller and vortec heads. Some companies do a better job of marinizing then others, and most have decent flowing cast aluminum exh manifolds. There is no issue regarding durability in a performance application, but unless you have a donor engine the same as the one you are upgrading to then you are out of luck for a lot of applications and have to buy all the stuff to adapt it from merc. None of those companies make drives, so they don't offer compatable bellhousings, no power steering on some, shift actuators, some wiring harnesses are pinned differently, etc... These are not difficult to adapt but will bring you right up to the cost of the merc, which you can bolt right in. If you need a drive it becomes even worse because merc stings ya if you buy things seperately rather then in a package and it will end up costing almost twice as much to mix and match. Finally on a service level every marina in america has a shop that will honor a merc warranty. But if ya want a turn key 425hp 496 I can sell ya one for $10,200, 6.0 with variable valve timing 375hp $9000, Or supercharged and intercooled 545hp 14k... All with the standard GM powertrain warranty.. whatever that's worth.
:food-smiley-007: |
Why not electronic ignitions and EFI fuel systems? Quite simply because of cost and reliability. Crusader has strictly avoided electronic systems, and rightly so because let's face it, these engines get wet. |
Originally Posted by HaxbySpeed
(Post 2756846)
If you make a half dozen phone calls you can find someone to sell you a 496HO for 13/14k. Crusader, Marine Power, Kodiak, and others all use "GM Powertrain" engines as their base platforms. These are excellent long block foundations and even the cheapest 2bbl carbed 350 has a hydraulic roller and vortec heads. Some companies do a better job of marinizing then others, and most have decent flowing cast aluminum exh manifolds. There is no issue regarding durability in a performance application, but unless you have a donor engine the same as the one you are upgrading to then you are out of luck for a lot of applications and have to buy all the stuff to adapt it from merc. None of those companies make drives, so they don't offer compatable bellhousings, no power steering on some, shift actuators, some wiring harnesses are pinned differently, etc... These are not difficult to adapt but will bring you right up to the cost of the merc, which you can bolt right in. If you need a drive it becomes even worse because merc stings ya if you buy things seperately rather then in a package and it will end up costing almost twice as much to mix and match. Finally on a service level every marina in america has a shop that will honor a merc warranty. But if ya want a turn key 496 HO I can sell ya one for $10,200, 6.0 with variable valve timing 375hp $9000, Or supercharged and intercooled 545hp 14k... All with the standard GM powertrain warranty.. whatever that's worth.
:food-smiley-007: DO YOU OWN A MARINE SHOP ? IF SO WHATS THE NAME ? THANK'S MIKE |
It is a great price but it's not Merc. So unless you have a donor you'll need power steering setup, engine mounts, drive coupling, bellhousing, shift actuator assembly... If you price all that out it adds up pretty quick. There's no free lunch.
Or if you want to build your own, with any options try these guys http://www.flagshipengine.com/ |
Originally Posted by HaxbySpeed
(Post 2756846)
If you make a half dozen phone calls you can find someone to sell you a 496HO for 13/14k. Crusader, Marine Power, Kodiak, and others all use "GM Powertrain" engines as their base platforms. These are excellent long block foundations and even the cheapest 2bbl carbed 350 has a hydraulic roller and vortec heads. Some companies do a better job of marinizing then others, and most have decent flowing cast aluminum exh manifolds. There is no issue regarding durability in a performance application, but unless you have a donor engine the same as the one you are upgrading to then you are out of luck for a lot of applications and have to buy all the stuff to adapt it from merc. None of those companies make drives, so they don't offer compatable bellhousings, no power steering on some, shift actuators, some wiring harnesses are pinned differently, etc... These are not difficult to adapt but will bring you right up to the cost of the merc, which you can bolt right in. If you need a drive it becomes even worse because merc stings ya if you buy things seperately rather then in a package and it will end up costing almost twice as much to mix and match. Finally on a service level every marina in america has a shop that will honor a merc warranty. But if ya want a turn key 425hp 496 I can sell ya one for $10,200, 6.0 with variable valve timing 375hp $9000, Or supercharged and intercooled 545hp 14k... All with the standard GM powertrain warranty.. whatever that's worth.
:food-smiley-007: |
Yes, Marine Power engines are very popular up here, especially in jet boats. I haven't tried any of the newer crusader stuff, but on their older stuff the exhaust manifolds were the biggest deterrent because they wouldn't line up with anything.. I have swapped and mixed a lot of different brands, and the only way it pays off is if you are working within the same engine family. Even then you'll sometimes run into clearance issues, like power steering pumps hitting exh manifolds etc.. :rolleyes:
|
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:25 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.