dennis moore
i read your book on marine bbc's, however it did not go into 540's. i would like to build two 540 motors that make around 600 hp each. i am capable of assembling these however advice on cam, pistons, heads that would allow me reach these goals would be appreciated

You can easyly get 600 HP out of a 502 and still be turn key with 0 maintainance more than a stock engine.

does it not cost very little more to build 540? i want it fat and lazy, no problems, i run this boat alot on long trips and want total reliability. plus the ability to make more power later

I think that you are asking the wrong guy! Building a 540 should be done with a complete kit purchased from one of the big boys like Crower or Lunati. You need to buy the Crank, Rods, Pistons Bearings, Balancer and Flywheel as a matched set. I would even buy the camshaft from them as well. It is really important that someone with a lot of experience assemble the parts and build the motor. Good Luck, I wish I could afford to build a 540!
Sincerely
Dennis Moore

i'm sure dennis will have more to add to your questions, but personaly if i wanted to have complete reliabilty, i would stick to the one horse to one cubic inch theroy. 600 hp out of a 502 is very possible, but i wonder about the reliabilty after a couple a hundred hours.
dave

doctor dave
i want a 540 not a 502 for this reason

Saber,
you need to talk to Kaama he has 540's in his thunder and has done tons of reserch about what combo's are reliable....his motors made 699hp at 5700 if my memory serves me right. SuperV and I are running 454's that make 505 at 5500 very reliable nothing radical (89 octain) if you want to do the 540's someone posted that Cheif has shortblocks under 3k a good set of heads from Jim Valeko and your on your way!!!!

Saber I just looked at Cheifs website and the rotating assembly is $2850 if you have a 502 your golden!

I'm toying with the idea of building a pair of 572's here in the near future. That would mean that my 540's might be for sale. Blocks, pistons, cranks, rods, hyd. roller cams, heads w/valves, springs, retainers, pushrods, intake manifolds (only)---or keep them for spares.

600 HP is preatty mild for a 502. You can do this with off the shelf parts and it will be turn key if the right person puts it togeather. The same thing goes for a 540. The problem with the 540 is that as in any boater he will soon want more and then he will be in the same park as with the 600 hp 502. I am thinking seriously about going to 540's for my boat this winter. And as in any motor the right parts have to be put togeather. If you get them wrong then you will have problems. Useing the right machine shop is even more important if you are doing the assembly yourself ( as I do and always have)