That engine already has a good set of roller lifters in it.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't upgrade. The problem is: you're asking "what to do" but you want to do it with little to no money.

Ain't gonna work man. And don't fall for spending 50 bucks on a K&N filter while thinking you'll go faster.

If you've got a payment along with a storage fee and no extra money, somebody out there will tell you that an ecm flash will make you go faster but it won't.

The guy who told you to re-prop the boat is on to the best idea. It's not only the cheapest way of doing it, but also an "effective" way of doing it.

So figure somewhere around $700 give or take will net you a small amount of speed if you wanna spend the time and work at it...

Roughly $300 + or - for a used prop.
Roughly $300 - $500 for a good lab job depending on how many times you send it back..

You'll also need a digital tach or computer to know exactly what you're getting for RPM's.

New cam = new lifters Just cause :drink:

Well I did the K&N on my boat can't say it made a difference, but looks nicer then the stock one. Well the shop I take my boat to told me the cheapest MPH you will ever get is a labbed prop (2-3MPH). He said other then that it roughly about $1000 per MPH. Looks like a have some money to send to get were I wanna be:)

Your Velocity should be running close to 70 as it is....... For a 24' boat with stock power that is pretty fast. I have the same boat/power and have just decided to leave well enough alone......

The K&N will actually rob it of airflow mainly because the stock flame arrestor is just a screen and has no real restriction where the K&N is cotton material. Nobody has seen improvements from a K&N like myself most have lost speed and just wasted they're money.

CMI's are almost 5,000 now and don't net the advertised gains originally promoted. I'd say 10-20hp gains from the headers. The next simplest upgrade would be the cam and ECU reflash, but your only looking at 50hp not really worth the money. To get a 496 to make HP you'll be spending 10,000 to see any gains. Then they are BIG gains.

My shop told me around $12000 for all forged parts then I would be able to add a whipple to it without damaging the motor. Then I would need to buy a new drive. I was wondering if it would be better to pickup a 502 that already has forged parts in it. I just don't know if the 502 would still work with the smart craft I have. Someday I will get this figured out and get some more HP out of my boat:)

Had a 496 ho on a 26 ft. boat. Added stainless marine exhaust and picked up 3 mph. Went from a 24 to 26 bravo 1 and turned them the same rpms. Spent 2400 on exhaust. I thought that was a decent gain.

What brand of exhaust did you go with?? Did you pick up any MPH with the prop change??

The only good exhaust choice for a 496 is Dana or maybe CMI. The Dana's add true power.

Raylar, SD Fever and Rage are all really knowledgeable guys on the 496 platform. I have been doing 496 stuff for 3-4 years and they all know the 496 very well.