I am looking at an engine put together by a local engine shop (they do a ton of local circle track stuff as well as some boat engines)

Not sure of ALL of the components but here is what I know now...

454 4 bolt main, line honed, bored 30 over, balanced, decked and has an "Eagle" kit (not sure what that is but it consisted of pistons, aftermarket rods, etc). File fit rings, roller cam (not sure which), roller lifters...All good stuff.

Not been on a dyno but a rough guestamate is 475 to 500hp. Only issue is it is most likely high compression (at least 10:1). Aluminum 8 quart oil pan.
More details to come...Never been cranked (built 2 years ago and buyer skipped town).

Less carburetor, he is asking 5650.00...

Any thoughts or things I should look for/ask about? I thought a set of Stainless or Gill exhaust and I am in business! High compression scares me though...

get the specs on the cam, to see if the cam is even close to the rpm range for the boat.. I have run 10:1 comp ratio on the last 461 we had in the boat, ran 93 octane with no problems..

Find cam specs and whats been done to the heads. Its easy to over port them for marine use and alot of torque could be lost at the lower rpms a boat uses.

I am going to stop by the engine shop tomorrow and get the spec sheet on the engine. I appreciate the help!
I will post as soon as I get it.

If the motor was built 2 years ago, I would find out how it was stored. Rust can form in the cylinders, no telling what else can happen internally. BEWARE!!!

That compression ratio sounds aful high. I've also been repeatedly told that you can not get 500hp from a N/A 454. For exhaust, I suspect that you are going to need a true header for scavenging.

Cord;

You are wrong about your horsepower numbers.

two years??????? I would wonder! I had 454 mag rebuilt,If I had it to do all over from the get go I thing I would buy more hp in the crate,somewhat worry free for sometime to come.just my .01 cent don't have .02

And thats a lot of money unless it has lots of top line stuff in it. You can get a crate 502 for that money cant you?

Also make sure the centerline of that cam is good for marine use!!! You dont want to be getting reversion into a motor you just bought!!