My cam is shot. 454 BBC with a 270/276-218/224-.510/.510-112 cam. I am running dry headers with aftermarket heads so thinking of running either:

284/290-.547/.547-110 or
296/302-.566/.566-110

Any opinions? TIA

Whats your compression? Cam choice has to matched to compression and everything else. Of course running dry exhaust means you wont have to worry about reversion but a big stick without enough compression is worse than too small.

Hydraulic or solid, what heads, how big of a boat?

10-1 comp. Hydrolic roller cam. roller lifters and roller rockers

Throw the boots to it. Crane 741?

Springs on the heads only good to a .600 lift. Just looking for a little more over the cam I'm running

Depends on how fast you want to spin up the motor & how you are propped. One has to ask himself what is the real operating rpm range? Not dyno want to be. I would run the smaller of the 2 . 284/290 is a good choice. Bigger is not always better. Your outdrive will thank you. Unless you have a jet then that is another story.

I liked the cam you had in it (218*/224*) before. I agree with "daboatman1" would stick with the smaller cam profile---even something like a 224*/230" would be good for a 454cid marine application. Heck, I am running a 284*/290* (232*/238* @.050") hyd roller cam with 112* lobes in my 565cid marine engines with AFR cnc ported heads! I know it sounds crazy to go with a smaller cam, but that's what a marine engine likes and you'll have a runner if you do!

I to am looking for a cam upgrade. My 496 stroker has 9.3:1 comp. I have my eye on a comp cam hyd roller 230/236 @ .050 .547 lift. Rpm range of 2200-5800. Also it is not a valve spring killer.

I ran a .530 lift 231, 239@ .050 hydraulic flat tappet cam in a 454, slight lump to the idel, shifted fine, ran right up to 5200 rpms. Had it in a 22 donzi, cruised nice
pulled skiers, ran 68 on gps. I would look at a 238/ 248 for a 496. I like the 110 lobe seperation,more bottom and midrange. Just an opinion.