Is there any way to test if you are getting enough air through your flame arrestor? I have twins 496 Mag HO's, they are so tight in the engine compartment I wonder if they get enough air.
The back seat is 1/2 inch in front or the flame arrestor. And the hatch is practically down on top of the plastic engine cover. Which also seems to restict air to the flame arrestor. I was thinking installing a K&N filter ( do these meet Coast Guard requirements ) And removing the plastic engine cover.
Has any one installed a K&N on a 496 Mag HO? If so what were the results.

Thanks Kirk

Im not sure on the new 496 but on the 454 and 502 EFI Mags the K&N filter provided little gains. I put one on my boat and saw no real gain. Not enough to see on the speedo on a V bottom. One area people have seen gains with is more air into the engine compartment. Several people have said that raising their engine hatch 1 inch when at WOT would give them another 100 rpm and a coouple of mph. I think the gains come from lowering the intake air temp.

What kind of boat do you have? Some boats engine compartments breathe better than others.

Ron

Ron I have a Sunsation, I actually was going to try to run it with the engine hatch open a little to see what happens. The back seat is part of the hatch, so I don't know how much air will get in their. But it will be worth a try, as long as no one is stting in the back

Kirk

I know somebody that put in the K&N in his single 496HO and saw no gains. It got rid of the whining noise though and he thinks it sounds a little throatier.

Here's a picture of the seat and rear hatch.

Installed EMI's on 454mags, no noticeable gain. There is a difference between auto and marine. Make sure you get the USCG certified version, it's usually stamped into the rubber and costs a bit more.

Got a K&N on my '99 502 mag. No noticable gain but it looks Cool!!!

Hey KN,
I have twin 496HO's & fitted the K&Ns, a bit less soot, sounds heaps better, no real power gains, just try running with the hatch jammed open a bit & see what happens, more air can't hurt !!!