I am in the process of doing a repower in a 3600 pound 22 foot v hull. Wondering if an X or XR will support 650 lb ft of torque from a 540. Mainly looking for reliability / longevity. Easy out of the hole and careful in the rough stuff.

That is a light hull and don't see the need for XR, the X would be good.

we run a 25 foot active thunder with a 540 with a good dose of power and we run it hard up to 6800 this year , go with the XR you will never regret it

I am in the process of doing a re power and haven’t started the engine work just yet. One thought is a 509 and around 600 lb ft and vertically raising the transom assembly 2 inches which may net the same speed as the higher horse engine turning the Xr with a buried drive height. Probably same dollars in the end , food for thought. I do need to pick up my trans assy this week but could change to an x