Yeah, I agree. I'm sure you can do great things with a 496, but for how long?
500efis will be better right out of the shoot, and will be a stronger base to build on in the future.

Thats the thinking I'm on...

Back to the question...
If you are removing 496s and installing the 500EFI's (or any other Mk-IV, V or Gen 6 block) then your motor mounts will not be an issue if you use the stock (496/454/502) thru bolted stringer mounts.
We have done three of these in the past two years and with the adjustable mounts you just drop the 3/4 adjusting nut ~1/4" and it works perfect. You can swap to the solid pedastals from CP or Dana for added insurance if you desire. (You may consider going to the full offshore mounts if you run in the real rough; then you actually would be dropping your mounts)
The cannon plug should work fine and the rest is really pretty easy.
Good move

Dave

Thanks very much for clearing this up for me...

I'll tell you that after installing the Raylar 103 with stock exhaust my boat really rocks. I have run a 272 Baja with the 500 HP EFI with tube headers and had a solid 2 mph speed advantage on him.....and we ran for almost 5 miles!
I also ran a Campion Chase 900 with the Volvo 500 version with full tube headers and absolutely drove by him...and I had 2 additional adults in the boat.......so does a Raylar kit work...you bet!!!!

I'm not doubting the Raylar kit one bit I think they have a solid kit for the 496. I was looking at it from a different view though. I switched to 500efi's for less than one Raylar kit costs and will have similar power with forged internals. For me this was a no brainer.

If you switched to a 500efi for less than a Raylar 496 kit, then you stole the 500efi and thats great it will make a good engine package for you. For those who boat in fresh water this is a good engine, if you boat in saltwater, the 496 will last eons longer with its closed cooling so it has its pluses.
As for the 496 being gone-Forget IT! There are only about 30,000 out there in the marine world so they will be around for their continued use for a long time. Yes ,that,s about 10 times or more 496's alone more than all the 500 EFI's ever built.
As for the future of those paltry number of 496's out there, Raylar has also developed a new block for the 496 engines and our wonderful parts capable of up to over 600 cubic inches and with supercharging probably around 1000-1200HP so all of those
FEW HA! 496's out there can be assured of a nice powerful and long future for those performance boaters who own them and the 500 or so 496's still in the warehouses and pipelines.
Raylar is very pleased with our future with the 496 and our other new soon to be offered packages. We know the upgrade and replacement market for performance boat engines over the next few years will be much larger than the new boat engine market and we're not complaining!
If you own a performnce boat with a Merc 496, Volvo 8.1L or Crusader, etc., consider your self lucky and when the time comes to pull the trigger on improvements and MORE POWER, Raylar will be there!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

I run that volvo 500 version with stainless marines and Im getting 72gps with 2 adults and half tank I love having a good forged parts
looks like a black 500efi