Whipple vs. Magnacharger
08-23-2009 | 02:12 PM
#31
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Ray will the dana's work with stock silent choice? I now know why cmi hides the dyno results on the 496 headers, I'm not dropping $3500 for 20-25horse. I also looked at the lightning headers, I'd have to get rid of the silent choice but supposedly they're 50-60hp on a 496 so they claim
Conman:
Their are a few good exhaust headers for the 496 Merc engines on the market and Dana, and CMI both make good systems. The reason I like the Dana header manifold kits for single applications is that the Dana Flo-torque header manifolds are real headers with equal length internal tubes and a real merge collector in the riser that makes real horsepower and torque on the 496's , about 40hp more than stock 496 manifolds and they come in a complete turnkey kit (we helped design and test) and the whole kit package for these strong beautiful polished or custom color powder coated header manifolds is only about $2500 and the kit is easy to install and they are structurally strong.
When you take a CMI Sportube kit for the 496's which in kit form polished will also make about 40HP+ on a stock 496 the kit costs about $4500-$5000 per engine if installed without Captains Call. If you have or want to keep Captains Call or Silent Choice or Corsa Quick & Quiet and use the CMI Sporttube headers you have to loose the old switchable system and buy a CMI addtional kit for about another $1200.
This is why CMI has now come out with the CMI E-top package for 496's that will work with Captains Call, etc and these headers sell for between $3000 and $3500 depending on satin finish or polished. The problem here is that this header style will only make about 20-25HP more at best on a stock 496 not the 40HP+ the Dana's and CMI Sporttubes will make. The one disadvantage to the Dana header manifolds is that they are about 1" wider per side than Merc stock 496 exhaust or CMI headers ,so on a twin installation in some boats the Dana's may not fit with limited narrow distances between the two engines on some boats. I hope this helps clarify why Raylar and I feel that the Dana header manifold kits are still the best "BANG for the Buck" when it comes to Merc 496 exhaust packages so far in the industry.
496 Merc header class 1A is now dismissed!
Hope this info helps all looking at merc 496 header kit systems.
Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
Their are a few good exhaust headers for the 496 Merc engines on the market and Dana, and CMI both make good systems. The reason I like the Dana header manifold kits for single applications is that the Dana Flo-torque header manifolds are real headers with equal length internal tubes and a real merge collector in the riser that makes real horsepower and torque on the 496's , about 40hp more than stock 496 manifolds and they come in a complete turnkey kit (we helped design and test) and the whole kit package for these strong beautiful polished or custom color powder coated header manifolds is only about $2500 and the kit is easy to install and they are structurally strong.
When you take a CMI Sportube kit for the 496's which in kit form polished will also make about 40HP+ on a stock 496 the kit costs about $4500-$5000 per engine if installed without Captains Call. If you have or want to keep Captains Call or Silent Choice or Corsa Quick & Quiet and use the CMI Sporttube headers you have to loose the old switchable system and buy a CMI addtional kit for about another $1200.
This is why CMI has now come out with the CMI E-top package for 496's that will work with Captains Call, etc and these headers sell for between $3000 and $3500 depending on satin finish or polished. The problem here is that this header style will only make about 20-25HP more at best on a stock 496 not the 40HP+ the Dana's and CMI Sporttubes will make. The one disadvantage to the Dana header manifolds is that they are about 1" wider per side than Merc stock 496 exhaust or CMI headers ,so on a twin installation in some boats the Dana's may not fit with limited narrow distances between the two engines on some boats. I hope this helps clarify why Raylar and I feel that the Dana header manifold kits are still the best "BANG for the Buck" when it comes to Merc 496 exhaust packages so far in the industry.
496 Merc header class 1A is now dismissed!
Hope this info helps all looking at merc 496 header kit systems.
Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
08-24-2009 | 06:16 PM
#32
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,777
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From: San Diego, California
The standard Dana Flo-torque exhaust header manifolds and risers will work with stock silent choice, captains call, etc. Just dont run the engine above 1500 rpms with the switchable system closed to thru the prop.
Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
08-24-2009 | 06:29 PM
#33
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Thanks Ray, I'm trying to decide to do some minor mods on the 496 or pull the motor and go to a 540. I have an 04 Velocity 290sc, it's going 70 with the stock 496 and labbed Bravo 4 blade 28 pitch prop. I'd like to see 80plus but probably would be happy with 75. I think I need 14hp per 1 mile per hour.
08-25-2009 | 10:29 AM
#35
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Posts: 2,777
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From: San Diego, California
Conman:
Depending on which version 496 is pushing your Velocity 70ish now it should not be difficult to get a 496 like yours equipped with Raylar bolt on upgrades and some exhaust and get you up in that 80ish range with the engine and setup you have, it just takes some of your hard earned dollars. Let me know if we can help.
Best Regards
Depending on which version 496 is pushing your Velocity 70ish now it should not be difficult to get a 496 like yours equipped with Raylar bolt on upgrades and some exhaust and get you up in that 80ish range with the engine and setup you have, it just takes some of your hard earned dollars. Let me know if we can help.
Best Regards
Last edited by Raylar; 08-26-2009 at 02:12 AM.
08-25-2009 | 06:48 PM
#36
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Mine's the 496mag Ho, I've had my eye on the 496 raylar upgrade kits since the May 2006 powerboat magazine featured all of the upgrade kits including yours, the price has gone up over 1k since then, however our paychecks are not. It might be something to consider in the future, I just like the 540 idea, it's a good motor for a single screw boat, simple and straight forward. I just haven't made up my mind yet.
08-26-2009 | 02:17 AM
#37
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,777
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From: San Diego, California
Don't Progress Backwards!
Conman, not sure what year and model your boat is, but if its late model, equipped with 496 new, don't degrade the value of the boat and future resale value by installing an older technology carb 540 engine in a newer boat that already has a closed cooling efi present day technology engine. You will ruin the retained value of your boat unless its an older model boat. Just save your dollars and make the 496 upgrades in the future as you can. That merc 496 will live many hours into the future when you can make upgrades!
Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar
