Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

Just looking into other performance option and wonder if anyone has put a whipple on 496HO and even better a 288 sunsation and how does it fit under the hatch, seat ect:
Were than any issues to be aware of?

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

My simple advice! Do not put any supercharger or turbocharger on a stock 496 marine motor and expect any longevity out of the motor-Period!

Ray @ Raylar

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

boom ?

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

You're funny Ray...

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

there was a 288 sunsation with wipple for sale in the boat trader NC i think. here i found it.

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/6/3/79804763.htm

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

I helped a friend put one on his 25ft Eliminator XP 3 yaers ago and he hasn't had any problems with it. It probably has 100-150 hrs on it. We couldn't find anyone that had tried it on a 496 at the time, so we just went for it. As far as seat room we had to move his back seat forward 2 inches. From looking at the boat for sale, it looks like there is room.

Ray, I'm wondering what problems you see with the 496. I was worried about head gaskets, because I blew my 502 gaskets, but we didn't change them and there have been no problems. Crank, Rods, heads?

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

I think Ray might be referring to the top ring lan area. The OEM's to help pass emmissions have begun to move the top ring location up. This elimnates more of the area between the cylinder wall and the piston where unburnt gas is trapped and not burnt during the combustion cycle. By reducing this area the positive is that it reduces the amount of unburnt gases released into the exhaust stroke and out the tailpipe. The negative is that the crown area of the piston ring lan is very thin and can easily be destroyed in cases of detonation or extreme combustion pressure and temps. So when adding boost or NOS to these lastest generation engines you better have everything correct because just one small hick-up and your mill will be toast.

Chris

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

GM prematurely said before the 496's were launched to expect 500 HP and they would be direct replacements for the 502's. Stronger too.

Well they are very nice 375 HP and 425 HP engines...but they sure are not 502 replacements.

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

Thanks for the clarification Chris.
I haven't seen one of them apart, so it's nice to hear some good technical info about the engine. Ray I just hit your web site and see you sell replacement parts to rectify this problem, so when my buddies 496 go boom, I know where to get the parts from.

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

I'd take a 496 MAG HO over a 502 MAG any day of the week and twice on Sunday...if you are leaving them naturally aspirated. On the other hand, I'd take a 454 MAG MPI over a 496 MAG. Can't compare the 496's to the blue Merc motors as it wouldn't be apples to apples IMO.

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

I have one on my Sonic & have about 40 trouble free hours since. Get in & turn the key & go.

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

What if GM now offered a 502 EFI....still gonna take the 496HO?

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

At least the 502 can take a Blower and stay together.

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

I also have 354 hrs. on stock 496 s love them feel free to call 4127810881 Robert. Im now dailing in Whipple 496 s making 760 -825 hp

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

If you can make 800 HP on a stock 496 and beat on it all summer in poker runs, then you have made a case for reliability under boost. Let us know how you make out. This is a stock HP500EFI with our supercharger system @ 7 psi and ECM programming by Precision Marine.

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

Chris's post on the piston is exactly correct. The problems are not with the superchargers. The units on the markets are excellent pieces and systems, with the right pistons the 496 can use supercharging for big power as good as any big block. The truth is though that if you put 3.5 lbs of boost, run only 91 octane or better and have the program in the ECM set just right in the right weight boat under cool condtions you may be able to keep it together for a year or so. Have a little detonation on top of the piston and you will join the 75% of 496 supercharged owners who did not have the same luck. I get two to three calls a week and pistons orders every week for those who did not make it! As for the 502, if it had the same non-supercharger friendly pistons, it would suffer the same fate! I am never happy to hear a 496 has lost a piston under supercharging, even though we sell our pistons, I would rather hear that the boater is still runnin, enjoying his boating season. We don't need blown motors to sell our fine equipment. The 496 engine is well established in the marine industry. When we release our new 600 cubic inch (725-750HP) EFI NA drop into a 496HO location engine in December I am sure it will be even more established.

Ray @ Raylar

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

What a tease, it sounds nice. Will it be 496 based?

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

BOOM! :eek:

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

ouch!

Thanks for the replies, I think I will probably modify it naturally

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

Those little pieces in the pan are all thats left of a 496 hypereutectic piston when subjected to detonation under boost in a 496 stock block. Yes I am a tease, I can't help it ,its so much fun building 496 stuff! Yes our 600 cu.incher is a 496 based engine and yes it will idle at 600-700 rpms and run on 89 octane on a Merc ECM. see what a tease I am! Like our logo says"Where innovations fuel applications"

Ray @ Raylar

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

Depends on the internals and what Merc did to marinize it. How many 502 MAG's made their advertised HP? This was one of Merc's weakest offerings in their black motor lineup. Of the half dozen 496 MAG HO powered boats I've been in, all have ran very strong. Toss in the closed cooling and easy winterizing and it is a more than worthy replacement to the 502 MAG. I have a 496 MAG in my current boat and find it a little short-winded compared to the 454 MAG. The 454 MAG MPI was one of if not the best offering in Merc's black motor lineup. It will be interesting to see if Merc ever adopts the 496 block into their blue motor lineup.

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

Re-read my original post..."if you are leaving them naturally aspirated".

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

sad thing about that pic is that it did not have whipple or procharger on it ,completly stock 496ho! :eek:

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

DOH!! Did a valve kiss the piston or did it just commit suicide on its own?

Re: Anyone Whipple a 496HO
 

I put a hole in my piston with a Procharger 3lbs boost. Take it from me, if you add any kind of boost you must upgrade at least the pistons. When i rebuilt my motor i put the best of everything. Its some what of an insurance policy. Don't forget about the cost of upgrading your outdrive,steering etc. Good luck in you adventure!