350 MAG MPI swap to 383 Stroker Help
03-25-2016, 10:33 AM
#11
Registered
Thats good news. I found a shop in upstate NY that specializes in rebuilt marine engines. I just spoke with them. They suggested a rebuilt 454 that is built on the 502 platform. He said they make around 510 ft lbs of torque and 430 HP and would be a drastic improvement over what I currently have. He also said my Bravo III would work just fine with this new motor. He has it in a carb ($6500) or MPI ($8000) option. Of course I would need it installed which from what I am seeing would cost around $1200-$1500 plus the shipping of the engine. Then hopefully I can sell my 350 MAG MPI for a couple grand to help my upfront costs a bit.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Also...a 502 will be a better choice because of the new technology associated with it. There are still older 2 bolt main, small port head 454's in circulation that may disappoint you in the long run.A Gen VI 454 is a viable option, just make sure it is in fact a GEn VI and get Dyno Sheets to confirm output. Check references.
Last edited by sprink58; 03-25-2016 at 10:37 AM.
03-25-2016, 10:41 AM
#12
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damn $6500 sounded really nice. lol We are trying to balance cost vs resale of the boat so this is especially tough. We just don't want to dig ourselves in a whole that we can't get out of when it comes time to sell.
03-25-2016, 11:26 AM
#13
Registered
The boat is now running. You take out a live engine and replace it, you are not appreciably increasing resale. This is not a performance boat. Most likeley buyer won't know or care the diff between engines. Either sell it like it is, or upgrade it for yourself. BTW, an early design 2-bolt peanut head 454 will still be WAY ahead of a 383 small block pushing that large resin bucket around...
03-25-2016, 11:26 AM
#14
Registered
Yea...that's where my thinking was with my first reply.
03-25-2016, 12:06 PM
#15
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
03-25-2016, 12:08 PM
#16
Let me add a few thoughts....
For your size boat I would advocate a big block.
For resale concerns a Merc drop in engine is going to look more favorable than some modified motor to the average consumer. Get a turnkey 502 and plug it in. Fitting was addressed in other posts.
I would make sure you have an EFI motor.
The increase weight due to a big block is insignificant in the overall performance. It might weigh 180 ish pounds more. That's like one person or half a tank of fuel. That should be the least of your concerns unless you were installing the motor in a 15 foot aluminum Jon boat.
Best of luck
For your size boat I would advocate a big block.
For resale concerns a Merc drop in engine is going to look more favorable than some modified motor to the average consumer. Get a turnkey 502 and plug it in. Fitting was addressed in other posts.
I would make sure you have an EFI motor.
The increase weight due to a big block is insignificant in the overall performance. It might weigh 180 ish pounds more. That's like one person or half a tank of fuel. That should be the least of your concerns unless you were installing the motor in a 15 foot aluminum Jon boat.
Best of luck
03-25-2016, 07:09 PM
#19
Registered
That may or may not be ...depending on programming. I would suspect that if you get a Merc MPI your gauges would be compatible. Some guys on this forum can chime in but seems to me that a certified Mercruiser guy can tell you what you need to do. You're not the first one to do this and you won't be thew last LOL !!
