Has anyone installed a mild cam or even a slightly upgraded cam in one of these engines. Im doing a budget build (stock minus cam) and Im not replacing exhaust at $2600 heads for another $2000 plug $1500 for cam and lifters. I staying with a hydraulic flat tappet cam on this Gen V 454 BUT I want something with a little pep and sound. My stock cam looks to be fairly used so while Im replacing it I want ECM upgrade and maybe 50 hp...I looking for something that is not big enough to cause reversion issues but sounds good and provides some better performance.

I called Tyler Crockett but was unable to get much help from them. Apparently they dont do much with these engines anymore. One phone call Im told a custom ground cam will add 50 hp and i could stay flat tappet with no problems. The next call it cant be done without $2600 worth of exhaust, springs and headwork and Im sure it was the same guy. After I told them a custom ground cam will be ok I know its gonna be close to stock the guy didnt want to seem to put in the leg work to give me cam specs so I could see the difference of the stock vs custom ground cam from them. Im looking for a cam, lifters and ECM upgrade without having to replace the heads and put on new exhaust. Surely this engine isnt maxed out from the factory and 20 to 50 hp shouldn't cause a reversion issue.

Are there any other choices out there for these motors. Id like to have someone build the cam and program the ECM and that knows what they are doing. Comp Cams isnt the same company anymore and they cant tell you what kind of performance difference there will be with their cam and they dont program the ECM.

Please! Im only interested in hearing from people that have tried lightly modding this engine. Im not building a massive offshore rig or performance monster for racing. I am simply trying to build something with a little more hp yet keep the reliability and some fuel economy. Surely Im not the only one thats tried this. Shes a fun boat and I want something a little bigger for fun hell I dont care if it just sounds better. If I need to install bigger spring for 30 hp so be it i dont want to replace the heads or exhaust at those prices. That cost more then this boat is worth.

Isn't this a 454 MAG MPI in a '96 boat? What is the engine serial number? That should be a Gen VI roller motor.

Its a 96 motor but its a gen V hydraulic flat tappet. only two years....engine serial 0F764338

Then why do you say you want to stay with a flat tappet cam?

Im sorry I mean Yes its a flat tappet cam not a roller.

Call Tyler crockett!!

Hahahah sorry someone had to do it....

Seriously tho...have you tried calling eddie young? I had much better luck getting ahold of him than tyler

Good luck!!

That would have been a carb engine then. Did someone add the MPI after the fact?

No they made Gen v flat tappet for 2 years simultaneously while also putting out a carbed version and a mpi version. Look up the serial its for a gen 5 mag mpi motor.

As was posted above.....Contact Eddie Young. He will tell straight what will work and what will not.

Padraig