There are plenty of performance parts available for the 496 and I have upgraded a couple of them, but it is expensive. If you start with a 502, you can add performance parts and/or blower and it will survive upto a certain point, but the 496 won't with it's stock cast internal parts. Far better off starting with a stock 502 if you want to up the power.

Thanks for all the info. .. Ya in just curious. My buddy has a 502 in his boat and I was just curious to wonder how the 496 holds up against the 502. And what the pros and cons are to each. But again thanks for all the hope. I'd like to get my boat around the 70 75 mph range.

I answered this question before and started a huge pissing match BUT I will say it again, the 502 is more overbuilt to take bolt ons then a 496, and supposedly the boats with the hot 496's are faster stock for stock, fwiw