Dan,

Not in my wheelhouse. I know what you’re saying, but the builder didn’t specify. He said, “No valve seals”.



Thanks. Brad.

There's a few types of valve seals. I've used the hat style on the exhaust vs a fixed on the guide boss positive seal.

The hats seem to allow lube but also reduce it from a full exposure.

Exh guides don't have the vacuum draw through energy like the intakes do.

Brad, what is the amperage of your alternator?

A 10ga wire will support 30amps 100% duty. Length of wire also plays a factor.

It's bizarre that he has not seen that on a performance marine engine. Sometimes you will see a puff of smoke on start up dependent on oil viscosity and duration between usage. I've run with no seals before. I currently do not know how my heads are setup, I believe like Dans.

Tartilla,

OEM Merc alternator, rated at 70A. I had it checked a week or so ago. It was putting out 87A. Initially, I assumed that was a good thing, and the tech at the shop, who do nothing but starters and alternators, didn't indicate a problem, but is that a sign that something is amiss? A faulty regulator or something? Again.... Not my wheelhouse. The only alternators I've ever replaced have been automotive, and when the bearings scattered and the alternator had seized up. I'd much rather address any potential issue while the work is easy.

Thanks. Brad.

Rookie,

Marine engines are about all he does, and mine is very likely the most vanilla engine he's ever done. He didn't specify if it was just intake valve seals he was expecting to see and didn't, or all of them. I do know I don't recall seeing any smoke or smelling burning oil at start up or any other time. We did have some oil loss, as I've mentioned, but minimal, and, after learning about the PCV situation with the 496, I attributed it to a boost issue forcing oil up the dipstick tube.

I have total confidence in the builder, as he comes very well recommended. I'm sure the heads will be set up properly for our application, including valve springs.

Thanks. Brad.

Who is the builder is he local to you?

Wildman,

I don't think he wants his name dropped. He doesn't build engines for a living. He's a service manager at a local car dealership, and does engines on the side because he enjoys it, but doesn't want his phone ringing off the hook. I've looked for him online and all I can come up with are his connections to the dealership. He's been building and wrenching on engines for 50yrs. His personal ride is a 26' HTM with a, 8-71 540 (I think) that will bury the GPS at 120. I've seen several of the other engines he's done, and... WOW. Particularly the 14-71 588 and the twin turbo 540, both in mid-20'ish tunnel death traps. The hardest part of dealing with him is keeping him on a leash. He likes to throw recommendations at me, and I keep having to remind him that we still have the stock Bravo One drive.

I was originally going to go with a guy that goes by "Skinny" in Somerset, KY (RPM Motorsports), a 3hr drive away, but an OSO member turned me onto this local-to-me builder that is more into high performance marine engines, rather than just marine repair. The local part also had some considerable appeal, as I can take a 20min drive and gawk at our progress whenever I want, which he welcomes.

Thanks. Brad.

The 496s came from the factory with valve stem seals (16). Your builder has built several 496s up with superchargers etc so he knows what a factory untouched stock 496 should have. Very strange indeed.

That's kind of a soft spring, but I don't recall cam specs. I think OEM cam is very mild and easy on valvetrain components.