Hi Guys

I have a 1988 242 SS with 1997 454 330 hp bravo 1. The engine is out of the boat beeing rebuild.

I have been offered a brand new 496 HO to a very interresting price

What will I gain (exept of course a brand new and bigger engine). Top speed? Accleration? Crusingspeed? Fuel consume? Durabiltiy? Are some of the questiones I would like to have some feedback on.

Do anyone have an 242 SS or LS with a 496 Ho???
Is it a good package?

What do you think about buying a brand new engine, and install it in a old boat like mine? Will I ever get some of the investment back??

Regards
From Oslo Norway

Did you say return on your investment??? I didnt think you could use that term in the boating world.. i have just come to the fact that the money we spend boating is just money we wanted to spend on a cool place to drink beer???

Hi there

I agrea with you, We have a very short boating season in Norway,
from may to end august . And the fact that a bottle og beer cost 4 usd, and the gas price are 8usd/gallon. You have to be more or less insane to own one of those cool places to drink beer.

I thought one of the reason to buy a Formula was to get at least some money back ,when you sell it to another guy, who want to have a cool place to drink beer

WOW $4.00 for a beer & $8.00 for a gallon of fuel?? Hell at thet price i could'nt imagine paying that for either...

I guess on a serious note your upgrade would greatly depend on the total cost of it... It will definatelly increase the value of the boat , but like anything else with age, it is only worth so much no matter what you do to upgrade it. Ultimatelly i guess it would depend on what you alreday have in the boat...to what they are actually selling for.

I would say faster then you are now. If the price is right I would go for it.

I went from a 330 to a 425 motor and gained about 5 mph but that was also cuz I was able to go up a size in prop too

Hi

Thank you for the reply, only 5 mph its 100 hp more

I would have expected 9-10 mph increase, maybe I am totaly wrong?????

I would think you would gain 4-6mph. I put a 177 weiand at 5psi on my 365HP mag. I gained 5.5 mph on GPS.

dont forget the 496 is one inch wider,,and one inch longer,,than the 454,,,

I replace my 454 card with a 496 HO. I gained about 9 mph. I really liked the EFI. Starting was a breeze. Unfortunately the 496 is now discontinued since GM stopped making the blocks. Make sure you check the antifz temp and ensure it is good for -34 degrees. Mine wasn't and cracked the block during the winter.