of course it could be done. is it worth doing? would that intake work on large oval heads? looks like individual coils on valve cover distributorless ignition. what ecm could tie this together? or should i sell the top end and put a carb and distrib on it?

apparently not an upgradable motor. nobody but Raylar makes heads-intakes for this beast. gen 7 block. from what i hear the 4.37 stroke crank will fit earlier blocks. (1-piece). but then rod length and comp height need to be figured out...since i already own a gen 4 454 looks like i am better off with a 489-496 the aftermarket way.

Dart makes heads for the 8.1L GM engine

It could be done if you are talking about using on 496 motor. the intake will not fit the older gen motors. The ports in a 8100/496 take after the LS series and are cathedral in shape which match nothing in older gen motors. As far as the difference between 8100 truck intake and 496 marine intake, they are identical except marine uses larger "3 hole" injectors and has an EGR block off plate. I have both intakes for my truck. As far as the PCM's, the stock GM one can be used in speed density mode for marine use with the right tuning software versus spending the coin to obtain a merc/delphi 555 pcm that you can't make changes to or any one of the plug and play aftermarket controllers would work. The electronics are pretty much LS-series stuff. The cam and most of the valvetrain is interchangeable wit the gen 6 big blocks but the 496 motor is set up with very tight piston to valve clearances and the 496 ho cam is about as big as you can go without changing the pistons to ones with deeper valve relief cuts.

Yes Dart does make decent cast iron heads, blocks, and intakes for this motor now. It really was a great motor. I wish GM would have finished building a LS big block as the stock offerings were very anemic for 496 inches horsepower wise. The 8100/496 was about 50% conversion with LS knowledge but the powerful LS motors basically could produce as much power and made them obsolete so GM dropped the program.

You cannot use ANY automotive or truck engine parts ie alternators,carbs, distributors etc in a marine application. If you have a onboard fire your marine insurance is void.

Car and truck fuel injection and ignition systems NOT marine certified.

Well crap! Does that mean I need to go find a "marine application" supercharger? I have been running the ones I have for two seasons now.

Supercharger would not melt or burn in a fire. What they look for in the fire test is how well it holds up. After a 15 min burn test in a confined box they start the engine
and look for fuel leaks and oil leaks. Marine starters have a internal plate to keep sparks internal.Alternators have a internal screen to have any sparks go to ground.Carbs have vent tubes that keep fuel confined to the venturi. Distributors are vented so no gas fumes get trapped in the cap and ignite.OEM uses alot of plastic including fuel
lines and we know what happens to plastic in a fire.

This one started decent and went down the tubes quick .where did these iboats guys come from .hopefully we are all past blowing ourselves up with autozone starters and putting astrovan engines cam and all in glastrons ect

I was enjoying the info on the 8.1, thanks for derailing it Captain Obvious.