Im in the middle of building a 540 for my Powerquest over the winter. In the fall I planned on just rebuild the 502 and maybe doing like a 509, but my father in law talked me into a 540.... But i bought a set of factory 496 aluminum exhaust manifolds with stainless risers for the upgrade. Just wondering if these will flow enough for the displacement of 540 or if I should upgrade to some sort of headers. Hoping for about 600hp or so..... just trying to build something reliable

Gt Jose are good to about 500 hp tops, and you will be really restricting if you use them.

That was what I was thinking.....any suggestions to either manifolds or headers?

Headers if money is there, I am looking to upgrade to headers because I am maxing out my stainless marine now, buy headers if buying new...

Prolly gonna go pre owned something......Motor is sucking up alot of money haha

Be thankful you only have one ^^^^^^^

The exhaust is the one thing which can destroy your motor fast. Keep the build a bit mild and go with stainless or EMI with tall and long tails.

Let's not talk about that lol

Why not skip the cost to purchase cranks, rods, and pistons to turn it into a 540, and put that money towards a set of these

http://www.diamondperformanceparts.c...cat=282&page=1

If I were a betting man, a 540ci with those 496 manifolds, will not outrun, a 502/509ci, with the above exhaust, if the power making parts are comparable (heads, cam, induction, etc)

600hp from a 502, is not that difficult, using the right parts.

I've got an mk cam that will make 600 hp in a 502, makes less tq than a hp 500 but makes 600hp lol