It was 2-3 years ago but I talked to Dustin. Yes, they have enough programs to give you some options and then some. If you deck you blocks and go with the thin head gaskets you migh have to run 91 - theres only one way to find out. Again, there are work arounds. I think thats why I ran a cooler thermostat with my tune.

Well, there are some 8.1L resources here. I know BobL did good amt of Raylar (and whipple SC) upgrades.

Sutphen30 is on MA southshore and done some 8.1L upgrades. Ported heads, SC's, and etc...plus he programs (MEFI / Big Stuff/ etc) the FI on many of the motors he and the shop he works / worked for had put together.

If live programming is a possibility maybe he's for hire if you travel down to that area ?

Just throwing stuff out there.

I am running the .040" Cometic head gaskets. I have no interests in getting aggressive with the tune at all, I know the pistons will bite me if I do.

Problem is that nobody can tune the 555 ECM except for Whipple. About the only adjustment I can make is fuel pressure.

Ah fawk - forgot it's the 666ECM....I mean the 555ECM....No, in reality it really is a 666 ECM. LOL.

Mark Boos can help you out on a tune. Pretty sure he is 555 capable. .

I had the same experience dealing with them on my Stage 2 tune. Dustin was unavailable to talk, and all you get from Dennis is canned answers that you can read off their website. All of my questions were answered by bobl of former FTM. He answered all my questions on his own time. Great guy!
Whipple's stage 2 tune was designed around the stock 496, though it will work on the Raylar 525 package. More timing, more spark and tuned AF/R. 12.5-1 AFR @ WOT, 14-1 at part throttle, I've logged 32-34* timing thru the midrange and 30-32* at WOT. Stock was 24*.

Whipple can supply a custom tune for your setup, you must supply the RPM, MAP, AF/R at 500 rpm increments. I know Dustin has made tunes for former 525 packages, hopefully one of those will be what you need.

I'm going to buy a used set of 496 risers and weld 02 bungs in. After I install the heads and intake, I'm going to have Whipple tweak my Stage 2 for the upgrades.

Yeah, Dennis is who I talked to. He couldn't have seemed more disinterested in the conversation. It was eerily similar to the last time I talked to Comp Cams, minus the middle east accent.

I am not looking for something extremely out of the ordinary, I just don't want to be chained to 91 octane as it is hard to come by on my lake and I don't want to have to pull the boat out of the water every time I need fuel. Maybe I will try PM'ing Dustin to see if he can help me out. I know BobL is pretty much done with performance boats, I don't want to bother him about this if I don't have to.

Ahhh, ok, so you are running stock bottom ends till next year.

You know Diamond makes forged pistons that will go on the stock rods. If you get more power you will want to "enjoy" it. For the slight upcharge, it may be worth it rather than sending a rod thru the block.

This pile of aluminum was a piston

You scare the chit out of me with those pictures every time you post them. I think I read from one of your posts that mess was caused by a dropped valve, correct? I am waiting to do a whole bottom end next season. I want to put the stroker rotating assembly in it and go with the stronger crank, rods, and pistons.

The rest of the parts came in this morning. I put the cam in and checked it with the degree wheel. It is off by about 1-1.5 degrees using the stock chain and gears. There is a little slop in there, not a whole lot but enough that it is probably throwing things off a bit. New chains will be going in when I do the bottom end.