Goto 540 or Tweek out the 489
#1
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Millstadt, IL
Ok, I am just speculating here but what would you do? I have no budget for this, its the speed bug talking.
I have a 489 stoker with about 500HP.
Large oval ported heads with bigger valves.
Forged internals
RMbuilder Cam, Isky springs, Moral lifters, you get the idea.
Holley MPI, 1000cfm TB, 42lb injectors, wideband 02, ram air
EMI exhaust with long risers
Flat top pistons, -3cc, 110 chambers, with 8.9 compresion
Proposal #1
Bore out to 496 with dome pistons, aluminum large oval heads (edelbrock E bare heads with a little work), raise compresion to 9.5 or better.
Proposal #2
Swap out most of the parts to a 502 and make a 540. Use GM Rec heads with a little port work. Raise compresion a little and have RMbuilder grind a new cam.
Damn speed bug, my wifes not going to like this either way !!!!
I have a 489 stoker with about 500HP.
Large oval ported heads with bigger valves.
Forged internals
RMbuilder Cam, Isky springs, Moral lifters, you get the idea.
Holley MPI, 1000cfm TB, 42lb injectors, wideband 02, ram air
EMI exhaust with long risers
Flat top pistons, -3cc, 110 chambers, with 8.9 compresion
Proposal #1
Bore out to 496 with dome pistons, aluminum large oval heads (edelbrock E bare heads with a little work), raise compresion to 9.5 or better.
Proposal #2
Swap out most of the parts to a 502 and make a 540. Use GM Rec heads with a little port work. Raise compresion a little and have RMbuilder grind a new cam.
Damn speed bug, my wifes not going to like this either way !!!!
#2
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 184
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From: Madison, Wisconsin
Nice build. Sounds like you could get a cheap 100 hp with forced induction.
Don't forget the whipple option. Pistons gaskets and 5k?
B&M 250, faster than a compete rebuild. You should be able to pop near 700 hp if you invest in what you have. I guess you have to decide if you want to run the canned gas at $7 a gallon with the high compression though. I have heard that some drives can be tweeked depending on what you have for 5 - 10 mph. Look at the whole boat when you are at the point of speed withdrawls.
First I would look into square port heads 990's or 780's are redily available andd cheap.
Lay out the details of you current set up and we will gladly spend your $.
Don't forget the whipple option. Pistons gaskets and 5k?
B&M 250, faster than a compete rebuild. You should be able to pop near 700 hp if you invest in what you have. I guess you have to decide if you want to run the canned gas at $7 a gallon with the high compression though. I have heard that some drives can be tweeked depending on what you have for 5 - 10 mph. Look at the whole boat when you are at the point of speed withdrawls.
First I would look into square port heads 990's or 780's are redily available andd cheap.
Lay out the details of you current set up and we will gladly spend your $.
Last edited by kneeslider74; 07-31-2011 at 07:52 PM. Reason: additional thoughts
#3
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Millstadt, IL
Nice build. Sounds like you could get a cheap 100 hp with forced induction.
Don't forget the whipple option. Pistons gaskets and 5k?
B&M 250, faster than a compete rebuild. You should be able to pop near 700 hp if you invest in what you have. I guess you have to decide if you want to run the canned gas at $7 a gallon with the high compression though. I have heard that some drives can be tweeked depending on what you have for 5 - 10 mph. Look at the whole boat when you are at the point of speed withdrawls.
First I would look into square port heads 990's or 780's are redily available andd cheap.
Lay out the details of you current set up and we will gladly spend your $.
Don't forget the whipple option. Pistons gaskets and 5k?
B&M 250, faster than a compete rebuild. You should be able to pop near 700 hp if you invest in what you have. I guess you have to decide if you want to run the canned gas at $7 a gallon with the high compression though. I have heard that some drives can be tweeked depending on what you have for 5 - 10 mph. Look at the whole boat when you are at the point of speed withdrawls.
First I would look into square port heads 990's or 780's are redily available andd cheap.
Lay out the details of you current set up and we will gladly spend your $.
#4
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,709
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From: Cedar Rapids Iowa, LOTO, Cape Coral Fl.
Maybe sell it and buy a boat with a faster hull? Many times folks regret to spending all of the time and money to not gain much. It may be pretty hard on drives also. The wife REALLY won't like that! Do some shopping before you sink a bunch into this one. You may still make the decision to build a motor, but then again you may not. Just the right newer boat could make both of you happy.
#5
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From: Millstadt, IL
Maybe sell it and buy a boat with a faster hull? Many times folks regret to spending all of the time and money to not gain much. It may be pretty hard on drives also. The wife REALLY won't like that! Do some shopping before you sink a bunch into this one. You may still make the decision to build a motor, but then again you may not. Just the right newer boat could make both of you happy.
#6
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Millstadt, IL
I talked to RMbuilder a few days ago. He seemed to think I could get 620HP out of my engine. I would need AFR heads, new cam and bump up comp. I could do this project in two steps, the heads one year, then the new pistons and cam the next. That may be the best option unless I find a smokin hot deal on a 502 block and rec port heads.
#7
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From: sint maarten
I talked to RMbuilder a few days ago. He seemed to think I could get 620HP out of my engine. I would need AFR heads, new cam and bump up comp. I could do this project in two steps, the heads one year, then the new pistons and cam the next. That may be the best option unless I find a smokin hot deal on a 502 block and rec port heads.
#8
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From: Millstadt, IL
Yea, I am already at 520HP, I would like to gain 100HP. A 540 setup would be a great, I could reuse most of the parts out of the 489. Should be able to get 600+ HP pretty easy.
#9
For reference I got 695hp out of my pump gas 489" pretty easily.
Brodix supercat heads tweaked by my head guy is where most the power came from. No need to go to 540" for 600hp.
Procharger would get you there and then some pretty easily too.
Brodix supercat heads tweaked by my head guy is where most the power came from. No need to go to 540" for 600hp.
Procharger would get you there and then some pretty easily too.
#10
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From: sint maarten
yes it would as would any number of other combinations but the 540 is understressed at that, lower revving and without any of the complications of these procharger deals. 540 stuff is cheap off the shelf and well proven. i would suggest that the dollars per HP ratio for a 540 would be half of what a procharged deal would be and last twice as long... money and time that can be spent on far more important things like alchohol and women.



