525 merc refresh 350 hours
#3
Lifters, pushrods, springs, AND rockers at 350 hours? How realistic is that? You are talking about 2-3000 dollars worth of maintenance every 350 hours, that seems nuts to me. I could see springs being a wear item at 350 hours but the rest of the valvetrain seems like it should be more stout than that. What are these things going for in the real world before failures are seen?
#4
Registered

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 11,332
Likes: 73
From: chicago
Lifters, pushrods, springs, AND rockers at 350 hours? How realistic is that? You are talking about 2-3000 dollars worth of maintenance every 350 hours, that seems nuts to me. I could see springs being a wear item at 350 hours but the rest of the valvetrain seems like it should be more stout than that. What are these things going for in the real world before failures are seen?
The 525 has a fairly agressive cam. Not radical by any means, but, its a far cry from a little 224/224 480 lift 502 mag cam. I am not sure what lifters merc used in them. Im sure by 350 hours, the rockers may show signs of fatigue (aluminum), valve seats needing a regrind, etc.
Might be nice time to get those edelbrock heads cleaned up a bit too. Like a little chamber porting to help low lift airflow, a good back cut on the valves if they arent already, and some cleanup in the bowl area, and a little milling to keep compression up after the chamber work.
Has anyone ever done anything like that during a 525 overhaul? The edelbrock heads are not known to flow all that great out of the box. I'd imagine with a little work, maybe pick up 25-40hp?
#7
I really just want to fresh them up but i have read the rocker merc is using are junk so i have read T&D and crower work well . Which ones or is this bad info. I really dont want to reflash ecm unless I really going to spend some loot,
#9
Lifters, pushrods, springs, AND rockers at 350 hours? How realistic is that? You are talking about 2-3000 dollars worth of maintenance every 350 hours, that seems nuts to me. I could see springs being a wear item at 350 hours but the rest of the valvetrain seems like it should be more stout than that. What are these things going for in the real world before failures are seen?




