hey guys looking to do some power upgrading this off season and was wanting some opinions of what you'd do. i currently have a 32 baja with 454 mag efi's and was trying to decide with way to go with it. sell current motors and upgrade to a nice set of used 500's or other power options, or maybe procharge or whipple current motors? also whats the real power/reliablity difference between the 500 efi's vs carbed? and are the 500's better than 525 sc's? would my current motors "charged" make tons more power than a set of 500's? my motors now run great but are getting up there in hrs at around 500 even though no problems and perfect oil pressure, comp readings, ect if any upgrades are going to be done to current motors might as well figure a complete go thru. just trying like everyone else to get the most bang for the buck. thanks in advance.

I would leave them alone and just run the boat. Maybe add new exhaust and lab the props. Save the 20k you'll end up investing for your next boat. Also, you need to think of future resale. How much of it will you get back and will it make the boat harder to sell.

A nice set of used 500's have no guarantee. You've got something reliable now. The 500's might add 5-7mph to your top end. You'll most likely have to get new props. If you don't have it, you should get hydraulic steering.

If you sc your current engines, they will need full rebuilds first plus the cost of the sc system. Still looking at 15-20k. If you bump them up to around 600hp, you will probably gain 8-12mph. You will for sure need hydraulic steering if you don't have it and new props.

Then realize that you may have drive issues with the added hp, especially if they have 500hrs also.

Griff pretty much nailed it, right there. If you're gonna hop it up, I'd say do the rebuilds with Whipples. Should be 550-600 HP, depending on cam and exhaust.

These are all the same base package. Different cams and such, but reliabllity of the main parts is idential.


Depends on how much boost. Say ~ 150-200 more horsepower than the stock 385. 10-15 mph gain, depending on the hull etc. I'm not that familiar with the 32 foot Baja.

500 hours is great on these motors. But its time for them to be freshened up. First thing you need to do is at the very least a complete top end rebuild. (heads/valve train) New rings/bearings would also be a really good idea. In other words, a total rebuild. After that you will probably notice a gain in power just because even though they are running great, the internal parts are worn and giving up horsepower.

What you do to go faster depends on what you want to spend. with twins, everything is times 2. So blowers are $5K x 2 etc. Then drive upgrades and so forth. Are you gonna keep the boat? Do you like it enough to put $20K in it? You have a really good base to work with in the 454 mags. There is a lot you can do with them. Just jumping to the 500 HP's is not going to gain you enough, in my opinion to make the change.(5 mph "maybe") If you do choose to make upgrades to power, use what you have.

I believe the 32 Baja is pretty hull limited after about 70-75 MPH. As in, to achieve speeds above that would required much more power.

I would ask in the Baja forum. I'm sure lots of people have repowered that very popular hull

What does it run now? Around 60 mph?

hey guys thanks for all the great input. as for whipple's i was considering them because someone had a nice set with 10 hrs in the class on here complete for 6k, but i just looked and there sold so having to buy new kinda makes it impractical for my boat . i've owned several boats thru the yrs and am very aware you don't buy a boat for an investment but having to buy new chargers adds alot to upgrade which might actually hurts in resale value as if the market isn't bad enough now. thats why i thought maybe the 500's might be better considering resale. since there basically stock power. as for just leave well enough alone griff i do understand that my last boat was a single heavily moded and was always wrenching on it and the stock mags have only needed oil changes in 3 seasons which has been really nice. i'd upgrade to another boat in a heartbeat if i was sitting here without a boat, man its definitely a buyers market some great deals out there but taking a huge hit on your current boat to get a great deal on another one kinda is a wash. guess i'll just keep an eye out for some deals and see where it takes me. hydro steering goes on next mth, already was planning on labbing props this winter after i decide if upgrading or staying the course, outdrives were replaced and upgraded to new bravo x's memorial day this season thanks to a nice telephone pole floating 6 inches under the water so you couldn't see it, hell it didn't even touch the boat just the drives. my boat is the 322 hull which i hear is a little faster than the 32 caliber/outlaw but you give up a little on the ride. i bought the current motors from a marina in missouri and don't know if anything was done to them but i can run 65 on gps anytime and the best is 71 on fumes with 2 people all gps. when putting the boat together i assumed like you that it wouldn't have been a 60 mph boat was a nice little surprise thats why i've been semi happy with it until now but after a few poker runs i'm ready for more. which unfort means lots more $$$$$ how much $$$$ you have is how fast your going to go. man why can't a boat be more like a car!