Anybody running 496HOs with regular bravo drives?
most 496s are hooked up to bravo x but most of the 502s are hooked up to regular bravos and there's only a 10hp difference,

anyone with real life experience?

Boatnt,

We're pushing 4800# (dry) with a 496HO/M1 Prochager/Whipple Stage 2 through a stock B1. Approaching 200hrs on the meter without an issue. Full disclosure.... We bought the boat with 143hrs, and I cannot speak for the care of the boat prior, but it is told that it was taken care of like a first child. We do NOT punish the boat in any way, but I have been known to regularly put the funstick on the firewall.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

I run standard B1's behind twin HP500EFI boat that is in the 7200-7500 LB range. Been pretty good, did have one failure and like a fool had it rebuilt. That lasted 20 hours. No one will say I take it easy, fly the boat a lot.

Lesson learned, you blown a upper on a Bravo, throw the case away.

+1

Yeah, thats the way I feel too. They are never the same again.

Wildman, Keith,

Curious.....

Is this result after having any damage to the case repaired, or assuming no damage was done, and only parts replaced?

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

The case gets tweeked and the upper and lower do not line up. If you have someone like the Bravo shop or AM that align bores the upper and lower then installed steel towers they may be ok. Of course there is the issue if the case has a small crack, I do not know if you can do something like Magnaflux a aluminum case.

thanks for the input guys,

I replaced a 454Mag MPI with a 496HO. The regular bravo had a around 500 hours on it. I sold the boat but the bravo lived for another 300 hours or so with the 496.

so this boat had 575s and I am switching it over to 496HOs, how did everything line up when you make the switch? engine harness, mounts, fuel lines, did the exhaust tips line up? i thing the 496 is a little wider, Thanks

Bravos seem to live behind 500-550 hp. When you start exceeding that or add whipples…all bets are off.

other than hp I think the other big factors are weight and driver.