Originally Posted by zimm17 (Post 2780445)

Well my dad is looking at re-powering my 22 Donzi classic while it's sitting in his backyard for the next 3 years while I'm in stationed in Hawaii. Trying to keep costs as reasonable as possible.

My whipple charged Gen VI 454 is complete junk. Hole in block, valve stem broken through valve guide, etc. I do have a good whipple blower and dana marine exhaust. I don't want to re-use the accessories, they are from 1996 and looking pretty tired.

He just wants a motor to run and get out on the water. I eventually want to be able to go 80mph when I get back. I was running 86mph + with the whippled 454, but that was a little fast for this boat. So 500hp might be just right.

I don't mind chipping in some money too to get the right motor off the bat so I'm not swapping it out in 3 years. Plus it'll be a hard sell with the wife to swap out a running engine.

I'm thinking about some options:

-Find a later model 502EFI takeout and run it with my exhaust. Then I can add my blower in 3 years.

-Used 500EFI, hook up my closed loop cooling, and sell my whipple blower to make up for the price increase.

-Have a shop build up a new 502- but then I'm stuck with my old 1996 era accessories and v-belts.

-496HO takeout- but not a good engine to upgrade. Worried about wire harness compatabilites too.


Any other ideas?

Originally Posted by JIMG (Post 2781750)

how about a 496 HO complete (engine only, no drive), for $9848.00 comes with a mercruiser 1year warranty.
$1000.00 for an additional 2 years warranty through merc. turn key and have fun.