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Old 04-02-2025 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by KAAMA
Griff, would you happen to know/recall what RPM the 500 HP peeked out at with that 731 cam in it?
Thanks
I put one in my 525SC (pictured above) but only did the top end and never dyno'd it. I gained about 150-200 rpms over the stock flat tappet and would touch the 5400rpm rev limiter with light fuel.
The 731 is nearly identical to a 500EFI cam, so I'd guess peak hp around 5300-5400.
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Old 04-05-2025 | 07:48 AM
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Thanks Griff... With my pair of baby 482cid sized engines both making exactly 510hp each on the dyno at only 5000rpm, then I can only conclude that it's probably because of the Merc Thunderbolt distributors and the Rev Limiter chip it has in it. 🧐
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Old 04-06-2025 | 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Rookie
I installed 500 EFI cams in my Merc Gen V 454's a few years ago. I don't regret it. Didn't gain much performance, but the roller piece of mind was worth it.

don’t know how much similarity there is to the 500 to 525 cams but I have been happy with performance on mine all the way around
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Old 04-07-2025 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by KAAMA
Thanks Griff... With my pair of baby 482cid sized engines both making exactly 510hp each on the dyno at only 5000rpm, then I can only conclude that it's probably because of the Merc Thunderbolt distributors and the Rev Limiter chip it has in it. 🧐
What Thunderbolts??? TB IV's don't have rev limiters, but TB V's do and are built into the module.
You would know if its hitting a rev limiter. RPM's would bounce 200 rpms or so back and forth at WOT.
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Old 04-07-2025 | 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by TomZ
I thought the 731-ish cam that Merc used caused some reversion issues. Maybe I got that one a little wrong?

Had to dig around for the HP 500 specs... courtesy of RMBuilder a way's back:

284*/292* @ .004"
222*/230* @ .050"
.576"/.598" valve
110* LSA
105* ICL
115* ECL

That 110* LSA probably didn't help much with the Gils that they originally came with.
The Hp500 cam is the ‘721 cam. Merc never used the 731. The 500efi cam is not same as 731.
i have listings here, old speedwake, bf’s, and others ??? With all the crane marine hr’s cams. If one can’t find i’ try.
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Old 04-07-2025 | 06:34 AM
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Heres is 1 of’m

Originally Posted by SB
Merc 500hp is the crane 721 which has 222/230 at .050" with 110lsa

Crane 731 is 226/234 at .050" 112lsa

Merc 500 EFI is Crane 230/236 at .050 " with 114LSA

Crane 741 is 236/244 at .050" with 112lsa

Merc 525EFI is Crane 236/244 at .050" with 114LSA
​​​​​​​
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Old 04-07-2025 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Griff
What Thunderbolts??? TB IV's don't have rev limiters, but TB V's do and are built into the module.
You would know if its hitting a rev limiter. RPM's would bounce 200 rpms or so back and forth at WOT.
Thanks Griff, I am NOT exactly sure which of the Merc Thunderbolt distributor setups that are on my 482's, but they have that flat looking module with ID numbers on it and I will definitely take a look at it when I get my boat out of Winter storage.
My 482's were built and dyno tested back in 2008 and have not been run since that time until last Fall. I will have to try to find the dyno sheets but I specifically remember them both being Dyno'd @ EXACTLY 5000rpm each... but I don't recall how the RPM's reacted etc after 5000rpm on the dyno sheets.
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