'96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark

[akorcovelos]

Man, miss a day, miss a lot.....

Crusty fuel pump for sure. Glad you saw the cheaper one.

Honestly, I was doing the genuine Merc thing for my first boat. Just to find all the parts are outsourced anyways. So it's just a waste of $$ if you ask me. Coolant hose was stamped China. Idler pulley and bearings for it marked China. Bought the same fuel pump you're looking at from Merc and it was made in Korea.

Surprised your sea water pump didn't have the replaceable SS wear plate. That sucks you need a whole new housing.

Good find on the GIL's. I hear they're a PITA to change spark plugs with, so maybe swap yours out now if they're old.

It had the serviceable wear plate. The damage was in the bearings and on the shaft because the fuel pump flooded the water pump housing and washed out all the oil.

Yeah I can definitely see how the water rail will make getting at the plugs a good time. I’ll change the plugs now, and before I need to do them again I’ll get the conversion kit to eliminate the water rail. That is if this deal goes through.

[akorcovelos]

Well the Gil manifolds didn’t work out, but it was a blessing in disguise.

Just picked up these late style 496 HO manifolds! They should be here Wednesday.

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[xlint89]

Nice find. I forgot those were supposed to be a good replacement as well.

[akorcovelos]

Nice find. I forgot those were supposed to be a good replacement as well.

Yup, and they’re the updated single inlet so I can access the plugs & wires, and winterizing will be the same as the stock manifolds. Now let’s just pray the old manifolds come off without a fight.

[xlint89]

You know the trick for exh manifold installation, right?

Cut the head off 2 longer bolts that fit, or use studs. Slide the gasket on and then the manifold. The studs will hold the gaskets and manifolds for you until you get a couple bolts installed. Then remove them and install the bolts.

[akorcovelos]

You know the trick for exh manifold installation, right?

Cut the head off 2 longer bolts that fit, or use studs. Slide the gasket on and then the manifold. The studs will hold the gaskets and manifolds for you until you get a couple bolts installed. Then remove them and install the bolts.

yep, done that several times. Not sure if the old studs I have will work since those came off a small block, but if I can find a complete R&R kit for the 496 manifolds/risers I'll cut the heads off a couple of the old manifold bolts.

Having a hard time finding a complete kit for the 496 manifolds though...

[akorcovelos]

Anyone know the length of the 496 manifold bolts?

[Big Block Power]

Anyone know the length of the 496 manifold bolts?

About that long. I'll have to measure mine. Lol
Man that is just disc I don't keep memorized. Lol
Sorry I'm no help. Lol

[cmattj]

Anyone know the length of the 496 manifold bolts?

About that long. I'll have to measure mine. Lol
Man that is just disc I don't keep memorized. Lol
Sorry I'm no help. Lol

Here you go pal.
It apears there is 2 different lengths .
.
https://www.marineengine.com/parts/merc ... -and-riser
.

[Big Block Power]

Anyone know the length of the 496 manifold bolts?

About that long. I'll have to measure mine. Lol
Man that is just disc I don't keep memorized. Lol
Sorry I'm no help. Lol

Here you go pal.
It apears there is 2 different lengths .
.
https://www.marineengine.com/parts/merc ... -and-riser
.

Well that was alot more help than I gave. Good job Matt!!

[akorcovelos]

Anyone know the length of the 496 manifold bolts?

About that long. I'll have to measure mine. Lol
Man that is just disc I don't keep memorized. Lol
Sorry I'm no help. Lol

Here you go pal.
It apears there is 2 different lengths .
.
https://www.marineengine.com/parts/merc ... -and-riser
.

Thanks Matt! Odd, it shows two lengths, but 8 of each? Must be either or? There’s only 8 bolts that hold the manifold on, wonder what the different lengths were for?

[akorcovelos]

Progress!

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[Big Block Power]

About that long. I'll have to measure mine. Lol
Man that is just disc I don't keep memorized. Lol
Sorry I'm no help. Lol

Here you go pal.
It apears there is 2 different lengths .
.
https://www.marineengine.com/parts/merc ... -and-riser
.

Thanks Matt! Odd, it shows two lengths, but 8 of each? Must be either or? There’s only 8 bolts that hold the manifold on, wonder what the different lengths were for?

If they are too long just cut them shorter.

[Big Block Power]

You know the trick for exh manifold installation, right?

Cut the head off 2 longer bolts that fit, or use studs. Slide the gasket on and then the manifold. The studs will hold the gaskets and manifolds for you until you get a couple bolts installed. Then remove them and install the bolts.

yep, done that several times. Not sure if the old studs I have will work since those came off a small block, but if I can find a complete R&R kit for the 496 manifolds/risers I'll cut the heads off a couple of the old manifold bolts.

Having a hard time finding a complete kit for the 496 manifolds though...

So seeing that this was brought up. I thought it was kind of common sense. But most exhaust manifolds gaskets are made like this or you can Make them like this. You put the exhaust manifold on with the 2 end bolts without the gasket then you slip the gasket down between the head and the manifold. That's why the end bolt holes are cut out like that on the gasket.

[akorcovelos]

You know the trick for exh manifold installation, right?

Cut the head off 2 longer bolts that fit, or use studs. Slide the gasket on and then the manifold. The studs will hold the gaskets and manifolds for you until you get a couple bolts installed. Then remove them and install the bolts.

yep, done that several times. Not sure if the old studs I have will work since those came off a small block, but if I can find a complete R&R kit for the 496 manifolds/risers I'll cut the heads off a couple of the old manifold bolts.

Having a hard time finding a complete kit for the 496 manifolds though...

So seeing that this was brought up. I thought it was kind of common sense. But most exhaust manifolds gaskets are made like this or you can Make them like this. You put the exhaust manifold on with the 2 end bolts without the gasket then you slip the gasket down between the head and the manifold. That's why the end bolt holes are cut out like that on the gasket.

In some applications I’ve seen that, but in this case
I believe all the bolts go through holes.

As for length, I’ll just wait until the manifolds show up and measure the length of bolt that protrudes from the mating surface of the old manifolds, then buy the right bolt to match that dimension on the 496 manifolds. The seller said I may need a longer water line on the port side to reach the water elbow.