It will not add any value if anything it will hurt you in the long run. If you do it do it because you want it.

X2

Motors are worth more then what wraps around them in most cases. If you can afford it the best thing is like said, put the 496 on a pallet in the corner. After you drop the kind of money you are talking on a motor by building one from scratch you will want to keep it forever.

Personally, I would keep my eye on the classifieds for a used low hour engine. There have been some great deals.

I definately would not tear into your 496HO just to use the crank.

Or build your new engine, add gill exhaust, can of $30 Merc blue for the intake, Merc racing valve covers, and a Merc racing Spark arrestor. When you sell your value will be higher because it has a stock "Blue" carb 500HP motor in it :lolhit:

Had this happen to a friend, the only reason we knew was because it popped and tear down revealed a 454 mag engine with merlin heads and 500hp intake.

That is exactly what I do not want to do! :lolhit:

Thanks everyone for the info, help and ideas. :drink:

If the boat and motor has only 100 hours why do want to upgrade so soon?
There is no limit as to what you can spend. New Aluminum or stainless steel manifolds, Boring, pistons, camshafts, bigger heads to produce more power. Bigger intake more carb , now will the outdrive handle the additional torque. New prop.
Keep it stock use the boat as it is. There will always be somebody faster than you out there based one thier pocketbook.
Post what you decide to do.
Best of luck which ever way you decide to go.
Some people Gearheads just like to screw around with big ponies, if so just go for it but you will probably not see the money back. Especially when fuel is going up and up and up!

:D BTW I agree about putting the engine in the corner, documenting hours, and putting it back when you are done.

Every toy I upgrade but keep the stock parts, when done the stock parts go back on the the mods go up for sale. Recently with a snowmobile the aftermarket parts pulled more than the 3 year old sled did. The parts netted me about 95 percent return of cost on ebay.