Just bought a '88 Donzi 22 Classic with a '98 454 Mag/Bravo 1 drive. Owner just rebuilt the engine with new rods/pistons/heads/manifolds. Says it dyno's 396 with an upgraded cam, all the rest is stock.

I know speed costs money- is there anything I can do that's worthwhile to gain some power for under $1000?

What's the 454 Mag respond best to? Carb upgrade? Exhaust? I have no idea.

Thanks.

Headers seemed to be the only thing that worked for me when my motor was stock. You can get some decent sets for under 2000 or a little over. Under 1000? Maybe you can find a good used set.

Better flowing aluminuim intake and carb upgrade will help plus take about 60 lbs off the motor(cast iron intake)

That motor puts out 385 HP stock. With all those upgraded parts only 10 more HP? Without modifying the ECM I don't think you can get great results from a MPI motor.

exhaust or a labbed prop...

454 Mag's were rated at 365 hp

I had a 95 454 Mag that I put exhaust on and it made no difference at all. I would agree on the carb/manifold upgrade.

Save your money until you can afford a supercharger or something like that. Then it will really fly.

older carbed 454 mags were 365hp

newer mpi 454 mags like the 1998 in question were indeed 385 hp

Ursus

If you read the post closer he does state that he was considering a carb upgrade. To me that says he has a carb motor. Not all 454 Mags in 97 were MPI"S

Smitty

If you read the post closer.... He says it's a '98. There were NO carbed big blocks in '98 (except HP series).

I assume he means ditch the MPI and go to a carb. If you ask me, that is not an upgrade. That boat must run close to 75 MPH as-is. I would just run it and enjoy. My .02

I found out it is a '97 motor so it has the stock carb and intake. Unlike the above post- there no "upgraded parts" other than the engine shop going "one hotter on the cam".

So will headers make a big difference on a 454 mag? Or should I go with an Edelbrock intake and big holley carb? What is the stock carb?