was talking to my my ex other half today,(when I was at American performance )


he put a procharger on a 496 lasted 30 min then blew head gaskets

Steve is one of the best engine builders I know (Used to work at brothers machine shop)

said be sure to replace head gaskets because the factory's wont stand up

he doesn't make a stand on any thing that isn't a BIG issue so if he thinks its so I listen

its better then a merc bulletin


just a heads up...no pun intended

its not always about making money it should be about getting it right, after all thats what its about.


cudos to Steve Tolson at American performance


great people there

What did he do about the computer/ecm????

What boost was he running.??. I know those engines typically need attention after going beyond the low boost kit .. Jamie

This is my boat. We have completely rebuilt the engine, Forged Raylar Rods, Pistons, Head Stud Kit, Cometic Gaskets Roller Rockers, Etc... It has a 5lb procharger kit with all of the fuel upgrades ex. larger injectors. Steve and I took it out today and it ran ok. The problem is that after reading the plugs we found that it runs lean while in boost. We are trying to correct this. Can use any help out there.

If your 496 is a 2004-1/2 or later and has the new Mercruiser all in one cool fuel pump, this system is not capable of flowing enough volume of fuel to feed your motor under full boost. Even with the older cool fuel and a supercharger it is imperative that the fuel delivery is increased via modified ECM programming or substaintial increases in fuel delivery to keep from burning the motor "down". No pistons made forged or otherwise including ours can go without damage or failure from lean burn under boost. ProCharger owners should require ProCharger to come up with solutions to prevent this for their customers, or quit selling their superchargers for 496Mag or 496HO motors!

Ray @ Raylar

FYI.. Procharger doesn't market the kits for the newer 496 engines (2004 & up). Mainly for the reasons you stated. I know this because I am a distributor. I & many of my clients have 496's 2004 & newer.

So far the only thing I am aware of for these engines that is a safer alternative is your products (Raylar).. As well as some other mfgrs exhaust systems.. We have talked in the past a few times when we were getting set up with you guys. It looks like we may have a few potential upgrades that will use your kits as soon as the merc warranty is over..

Jamie / Lakeside

Steve has the boat together again. After 3 sets of injectors and upgrading the fuel system we have it tuned properly. We are sending the ECM to Whipple for some minor adjustments. Procharger does not think this is needed but after some good advice from Raylar we are doing it anyway. Thanks to Steve at APM in Maryland and Raylar I should have a good year on the water. Procharger needs to give customers better information on installing the system as this upgrade took more than what they said. By the way, if you think the cast pistons or the stock fuel system in the 496 will hold up to a supercharger with 5lb boost, think again.