SEASTHEDAY
New Member
- Mar 23, 2008
- 16
- Boat Info
- 270 Sundancer 1998
- Engines
- 496 Mercruiser w/Bravo III Drive
Good Day Team:
I'm considering re-powering my 1998 Mercruiser 454 MPI Gen VI to a Mercruiser 496 375 HP. Need some pointers... I'm not interested in the new 8.2, just the 8.1.
I just learned within the last week... (Defender sale) ...about a guy who did a rebuild on his two 454s last year, finished the season fine. Two weeks ago, one engine blew with the infamous water ingestion issue. His was a Gen V. I've heard of 3 others stores....I'm sure there are more... same outcome. My engine was fine at end the last season. This year I started to change my manifolds....didn't like what I was seeing... and need to do something.... then the conversation began... will it be okay this season? do I dig into it? maybe rebuild it? ... it's a 12 year old raw water cooled engine.....how many thousands will this cost me.... It could be a rebuild effort; I don't have the time.....need reliability... blah blah blah .. yada yada yada.... So now, I'm thinking about a 496 ... there is a lot more in there... I'm just cutting to the chase.... ;-)
Any concerns or issues (or other things to consider) that I need to be aware of? I'm only hearing good things so far...
I know my setup is 9 pin, they are coming 14 pin... so I'll need a pig-tail converter... I'm also hearing there may be an option between the Gen II cooling system and a Gen III cooling system... not sure what the difference is ....
How about past models; I've seen a 2002, 2005, and a 2007 online....thinking about making an offer on one...
Also thinking about a new one... Anyone have a sense where I might find the best deal? I'm looking at CPOs engines and checking ebay, and I'm also talking to some local dealers. Best deal I've seen so far was for $11,700 (I'm thinking 2009) CPO plus shipping, 1 year warranty. They say....they would take my engine in trade to knock the price down a bit ... or I can sell it myself or part it out... more drama....
At any rate, I'm just starting my search.... Any insight and/or points in the right direction would be very much appreciated. ;-)
Thanks!
Mark
I'm considering re-powering my 1998 Mercruiser 454 MPI Gen VI to a Mercruiser 496 375 HP. Need some pointers... I'm not interested in the new 8.2, just the 8.1.
I just learned within the last week... (Defender sale) ...about a guy who did a rebuild on his two 454s last year, finished the season fine. Two weeks ago, one engine blew with the infamous water ingestion issue. His was a Gen V. I've heard of 3 others stores....I'm sure there are more... same outcome. My engine was fine at end the last season. This year I started to change my manifolds....didn't like what I was seeing... and need to do something.... then the conversation began... will it be okay this season? do I dig into it? maybe rebuild it? ... it's a 12 year old raw water cooled engine.....how many thousands will this cost me.... It could be a rebuild effort; I don't have the time.....need reliability... blah blah blah .. yada yada yada.... So now, I'm thinking about a 496 ... there is a lot more in there... I'm just cutting to the chase.... ;-)
Any concerns or issues (or other things to consider) that I need to be aware of? I'm only hearing good things so far...
I know my setup is 9 pin, they are coming 14 pin... so I'll need a pig-tail converter... I'm also hearing there may be an option between the Gen II cooling system and a Gen III cooling system... not sure what the difference is ....
How about past models; I've seen a 2002, 2005, and a 2007 online....thinking about making an offer on one...
Also thinking about a new one... Anyone have a sense where I might find the best deal? I'm looking at CPOs engines and checking ebay, and I'm also talking to some local dealers. Best deal I've seen so far was for $11,700 (I'm thinking 2009) CPO plus shipping, 1 year warranty. They say....they would take my engine in trade to knock the price down a bit ... or I can sell it myself or part it out... more drama....
At any rate, I'm just starting my search.... Any insight and/or points in the right direction would be very much appreciated. ;-)
Thanks!
Mark
