Difference between 496 and 496 HO

[SickSation]

Are the heads or intake different between the 2 or is it just the cam?

[Trim'd Up]

Cam and ECU that's it. Oh and a couple stickers. ;)

[OldSchool]

I think that it's 50 HP

[SickSation]

Can the ecu be reprogrammed or do you have to buy an HO ecu?

[macjazzy]

Raylar can reprogram the ECU's. I asked them about this a few years ago. Decided not to do it because of limited Prop selection ( duoprops ) anyway, They told me a cam swap and ECU reprogram would turn my MAG's into HO's . I think it was 700 bucks per ECU. Not sure what the cam cost is.

[DAREDEVIL]

I think the heads are ported more also ,,,,bigger runners ????

thats why they call it HO = HIGH OUTPUT !!!!!!!!!!

[Trim'd Up]

I think the heads are ported more also ,,,,bigger runners ????

thats why they call it HO = HIGH OUTPUT !!!!!!!!!!

Nope, Same heads.

[DAREDEVIL]

Nope, Same heads.

mmmhhhhhh,,,then why spend the money on a HO ????:confused:

[SickSation]

496 is 13,999.99 and Ho is 15,299.99 on ebay from the same company. That works out to be about right. My marina told me an HO ECU is 1200.00 and cam is about 300.00. Sounds about right.

[DAREDEVIL]

496 is 13,999.99 and Ho is 15,299.99 on ebay from the same company. That works out to be about right. My marina told me an HO ECU is 1200.00 and cam is about 300.00. Sounds about right.

Yeah,,but if u can get the ECU remapped,,and change the cam your looking at +500 ??!! i guess, plus u can sell the standard cam . NO ??:confused:


The cam ,,,300 ,,no matter which one ??!! so thats a no brainer ,,,toooooooooo much money for the HO ,,same with the ECU,,its on the standard one aswell ??!!

[Trim'd Up]

mmmhhhhhh,,,then why spend the money on a HO ????:confused:

Warranty? Typical merc, just another way to increase profits.

[cigdaze]

mmmhhhhhh,,,then why spend the money on a HO ????:confused:

Come on man, you get 50 more horsepower! Surely that's got to be worth more. :rolleyes:

[MattBMiller]

You can send you computer to Whipple and get their stage 2 ecu programming for around the same price and have a little more hp than the HO programming.

[Raylar]

Contrary to some beliefs, reprogramming a stock 496 other than raising the rpm rev-limiter will not have any noticible (speed of boat) change in power for the engine. If you are changing the valve train stability and quality of the 496 such as with our new aluminum heads you can safely raise the rev-limit of the engine to about 5400 rpms and gain boat speed with proper propping if your hull will use the increased efficiencies.
The only things that really raise power in a stock 496 are upgrades to the engine such as our kits or exhaust header or header manifold kits and supercharging which Raylar does not recommend on stock block 496's.

How do we know this, our years of dyno testing and in boat testing prove it over and over. Take my advise and save your hard earned dollars until you can make effective upgrades!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

[SickSation]

Contrary to some beliefs, reprogramming a stock 496 other than raising the rpm rev-limiter will not have any noticible (speed of boat) change in power for the engine. If you are changing the valve train stability and quality of the 496 such as with our new aluminum heads you can safely raise the rev-limit of the engine to about 5400 rpms and gain boat speed with proper propping if your hull will use the increased efficiencies.
The only things that really raise power in a stock 496 are upgrades to the engine such as our kits or exhaust header or header manifold kits and supercharging which Raylar does not recommend on stock block 496's.

How do we know this, our years of dyno testing and in boat testing prove it over and over. Take my advise and save your hard earned dollars until you can make effective upgrades!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Ive got a gen VI 454 right now in a 25ft sunsation, but lookin to upgrade. 496Ho or 502? Granted Id love an HP500EFi, but finding a used one seems to be a bit of a task.

[cigdaze]

502 all the way. It's only 10 horse less in stock trim, but you're getting all forged internals and endless upgrade possibilities. This marks the last year of 496 production/availability, so I wouldn't invest in anything 496-related right now. Next will we will see the return of a new Merc 502 variant so that's where I'd be leaning.

[DAREDEVIL]

502 all the way. It's only 10 horse less in stock trim, but you're getting all forged internals and endless upgrade possibilities. This marks the last year of 496 production/availability, so i wouldn't invest in anything 496-related right now. Next will we will see the return of a new merc 502 variant so that's where i'd be leaning.

+1:usa:

[imco offshore]

+1:usa:

maybe you could call inovation marine the vortek we used in the svl class is a 496 and turned 5600 and had about 550 hp , they maybe could help u or call steve mikaos he did the ecm,s with a man ,, mark stripek from gm ,

[DAREDEVIL]

maybe you could call inovation marine the vortek we used in the svl class is a 496 and turned 5600 and had about 550 hp , they maybe could help u or call steve mikaos he did the ecm,s with a man ,, mark stripek from gm ,

Why quote me ??? I am not in need of either . I have a 509 CI making 800ish.LOL

:sifone:

[PARADOX]

Contrary to some beliefs, reprogramming a stock 496 other than raising the rpm rev-limiter will not have any noticible (speed of boat) change in power for the engine. If you are changing the valve train stability and quality of the 496 such as with our new aluminum heads you can safely raise the rev-limit of the engine to about 5400 rpms and gain boat speed with proper propping if your hull will use the increased efficiencies.
The only things that really raise power in a stock 496 are upgrades to the engine such as our kits or exhaust header or header manifold kits and supercharging which Raylar does not recommend on stock block 496's.

How do we know this, our years of dyno testing and in boat testing prove it over and over. Take my advise and save your hard earned dollars until you can make effective upgrades!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Off the subject a bit, but can anything be done to 525's to increase HP with reasonable $'?

[SickSation]

My local marina buddy thinks i should go with a 496Ho... Newer technology, closed cooling, ect.... ?? :willy_nilly:

[Trim'd Up]

My local marina buddy thinks i should go with a 496Ho... Newer technology, closed cooling, ect.... ?? :willy_nilly:

I agree if your going to leave it stock, but you won't. ;) The 502 is a better foundation to build on.

[HaxbySpeed]

five oh two! :biggrinjester:

[imco offshore]

sorry scott i hit the wrong button ,,,peter leave it alone,, these things run perfect and most importent it,s dependable, i wouldn,t touch it ,,,,,do some prop work , bottom work,,,x dim,, if you want more speed ,,, everybody goes stright to MORE POWER, the first thing you loose is depedabilty, and then you will need more props anyway, call if you need any help

[PARADOX]

sorry scott i hit the wrong button ,,,peter leave it alone,, these things run perfect and most importent it,s dependable, i wouldn,t touch it ,,,,,do some prop work , bottom work,,,x dim,, if you want more speed ,,, everybody goes stright to MORE POWER, the first thing you loose is depedabilty, and then you will need more props anyway, call if you need any help

I'm pretty well "proped out". Had 4 sets for a while,, just sold 2 sets.
Mid 80's is pretty good.. Just feel like hitting that 90 mark somehow. But your'r right. It's probobly not worth it.
I would like to try a set of 5 blades one of these days.

[imco offshore]

I'm pretty well "proped out". Had 4 sets for a while,, just sold 2 sets.
Mid 80's is pretty good.. Just feel like hitting that 90 mark somehow. But your'r right. It's probobly not worth it.
I would like to try a set of 5 blades one of these days.

what size i have 5 and 6 bl

[DAREDEVIL]

sorry scott i hit the wrong button ,,,peter leave it alone,, these things run perfect and most importent it,s dependable, i wouldn,t touch it ,,,,,do some prop work , bottom work,,,x dim,, if you want more speed ,,, everybody goes stright to MORE POWER, the first thing you loose is depedabilty, and then you will need more props anyway, call if you need any help

LOL,,,all good.

[SickSation]

What kind of MPH could i expect from a stock 502 or 496ho? Im at 68-70 right now with a 454mpi. Turn key reliability is very important to me. I dont wanna wrench on the water this year. Did that all last year with a cheap old boat. Im assuming heads intake, cand cam wouldnt take away reliability... Or would it? Sorry for my lack of knowlege...Thanks for the input guys.

[Trim'd Up]

What kind of MPH could i expect from a stock 502 or 496ho? Im at 68-70 right now with a 454mpi. Turn key reliability is very important to me. I dont wanna wrench on the water this year. Did that all last year with a cheap old boat. Im assuming heads intake, cand cam wouldnt take away reliability... Or would it? Sorry for my lack of knowlege...Thanks for the input guys.

Probably 70, for real. That boat won't run 68-70 with a stock 7.4. On GPS your probably more in the 60-63mph range. The 7.4 is not a good platform to build on. Sell it and start over. The only thing worth using in a performance build from you engine is the block.
I'll sell ya my 548, it should put you into the mid 90's GPS and it's reliable.:driving: Probably even work a partial trade on your 7.4.

[PARADOX]

I dont wanna wrench on the water this year. Did that all last year with a cheap old boat.

:03:
Get out of boating. I been wrenching on old boats, new boats, outboards, I/O's, sailboats,... anything that floats.
Wrenching will stop when I have nothing that floats.:willy_nilly:

[MattBMiller]

What kind of MPH could i expect from a stock 502 or 496ho? Im at 68-70 right now with a 454mpi. Turn key reliability is very important to me. I dont wanna wrench on the water this year. Did that all last year with a cheap old boat. Im assuming heads intake, cand cam wouldnt take away reliability... Or would it? Sorry for my lack of knowlege...Thanks for the input guys.

A stock 502 should put you arount 76-77 mph.

[PARADOX]

what size i have 5 and 6 bl


Thanks George..
One of these days I would like to try a 5 Bl.. 30" pitch.. or similar.

[MikeyFIN]

:03:
Get out of boating. I been wrenching on old boats, new boats, outboards, I/O's, sailboats,... anything that floats.
Wrenching will stop when I have nothing that floats.:willy_nilly:


wishful thinking, bud...

[PARADOX]

wishful thinking, bud...

No kidding. Can't wait for my "boater" best day when I sell my two older boats.
You should take this to Finland, now with one new motor.

43824

43825

43826

[dba900]

Ok...how much? Any more photos? Details?

[SickSation]

Probably 70, for real. That boat won't run 68-70 with a stock 7.4. On GPS your probably more in the 60-63mph range. The 7.4 is not a good platform to build on. Sell it and start over. The only thing worth using in a performance build from you engine is the block.
I'll sell ya my 548, it should put you into the mid 90's GPS and it's reliable.:driving: Probably even work a partial trade on your 7.4.

How much are you wanting? Hp hrs ect.

[SickSation]

:03:
Get out of boating. I been wrenching on old boats, new boats, outboards, I/O's, sailboats,... anything that floats.
Wrenching will stop when I have nothing that floats.:willy_nilly:

Thats what i hear... Lets say the least amount of wrenching possible then. :biggrinjester:

[PARADOX]

Thats what i hear... Lets say the least amount of wrenching possible then. :biggrinjester:

I know the feeling. Ever thought about tussing your tool box overboard instead of the anchor? On my 40'th BD. I was planning to take the boat out.
Feeling to fraking old at the time, I just wanted to be 10 miles offshore with good tunes and cold brew. At the ramp, I worked 7 hours trying to get the boat to run. Changed starters, batteries.. cleand everything that could be removed. Nasty way to spend my 40th. Weeks later turned out to be a bad $40 coil. I felt like tussing tool box, boat, car AND the anchor in the water.

[PARADOX]

Ok...how much? Any more photos? Details?
Here yaa go.

http://www.seriousoffshore.com/classifieds/index.php?page=out&id=52

[Trim'd Up]

How much are you wanting? Hp hrs ect.

I was kinda kidding, but there is another project I would like to pick up. It is about 700hp and I think 30 hours. PM sent.