502 mag or 496 HO
 

I didn't get many responses in the tech section so Ill try here. Looking at buying a new boat witch way should I go? I will probably upgrade the motors in the future Procharger or Whipple. The 502 is a non current model what ever that means, I guess its been sitting around a while.


:confused:

New boat, go with the 496's...............

496 way to go , stick a puffer on top and you are rockin':D :D

I agree, I like the closed cooling of the 496.

A guy that used to modify a lot of boat engines told me to make sure I stick with the 496 since it can be modified much easier.

I don't know the details but he is a boat dealer and I felt comfortable with his answer.

I remember when the 496 came out, people held back a little saying that it was not a proven product, how aftermarket performance parts were not yet widely available, how the engine had some glitches due to the fact that it was a new product... But that's past now. The engine "tuners" did their job and performance parts are now widely available. The engine proved itself as well. Its electronic management system is much more advanced and it will in many cases actually save the engine if something goes wrong. It proved reliable and a good choice for recreational boating. I feel it's a step up and simply more advanced than the latest 502. So my choice, especially on a new boat would be the 496.

Dose the 496 HO have Forged crank and pistons or not?

IMHO, if you are planning to supercharge DO NOT buy the 496. The pistons are 9:1 cast hypereutectic and will not take the boost. I have heard this directly from Vortech and from Bob Teague. Look at the Procharger kit for this engine; only 3.5 psi, the Whipple kit only 4 psi. Even at this low boost I would question the reliability. Why spend the money for a supercharger kit that can deliver 7-8 psi psi and only be able to use half that? To me that doesn't make sense.

This is a shame since everything else about the new engine is great, but supercharging them is not a bolt-on. Actually, to have such a good engine and then curse it with cast pistons is what doesn't make sense.

If you buy the 502 engines you have lower compression, forged pistons and proven supercharger kits that can make 700-800 HP. Or you can buy the 496, run it until out of warranty, then have Arizona Speed and Marine build it into a naturally aspirated 600 HP with their new package (including forged pistons).

I agree with tomcat. If you are not going to super charge by all means the 496HO is a great motor. If you are going to add a blower, the 502 is better equipt for that application.

ttt

5 PSI (Procharger also offers a 5psi kit for the 496) runs good ,2002 Fastech.
I think the 502 you guys are refering to is the HP 500 which costs more

I'd choose the 496 HO! It's a more modern and technological engine!

Dixie Doug is correct,
Procharger has a 5 psi kit.
That boat is a 2002 353 fastech. The reason I went with the 496 HO was the price they wanted for HP 500's and XR drives. Figure around $15,000 more per engine. $30,000 more for twins when this boat was ordered. I can buy quite a few Bravo Drives for the price of one XR.
Concidering the HP difference is 45 per engine, it was not worth it to me. I gambled on the idea, that upgrades of some sort would be available to get more HP.
Last winter we installed the 5psi Procharger kits. So far it is working as advertised. No engine or drive problems, after running hard all summer.
The boat originally ran low to mid 70's, and now it is in the mid to high 80's.

Whipple 496
 

I have the first Whipple 496 MAG HO.....

The motor now has 136 Whippled hours on it and still runs great.

The only correct way to supercharge the 496 is to re-program the ECM.........ProCharger can't do that......

Regards,

CJG

I was told that the main differences in the 496 and the 496 HO were that the HO has forged pistons & crank and a different cam and ECM?

Is this true??

I ran my "incorrect way";) procharged 502 engines about 200 hours boosting 6-7psi with no trouble. Then new rings and bearings and another 100 hrs. They are still going strong.