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'96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
- akorcovelos
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
1996 252 Whipple tuned 454 Magnum MPI, 496 exhaust, Corsa Captains Call, B3 w/Simrek drive shower.
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Suspense is killing me. Any word on when she'll be in the water?
- akorcovelos
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
We had it out last weekend, but the lakes were absolutely insane, so couldn’t really push the boat without pummeling my family.
I did get it up to 60 gps on a short hit, it had more but I ran out of clean water. Not bad considering my previous best was 60 on fumes with no gear, and this time it easily pulled to 60 with 73 gallons of fuel, both built in coolers full, and all the junk we drag along, like 3 big bags. I think it will hit 62-63 empty in good conditions.
I still haven’t checked timing yet either, and it feels like it needs another degree or two of base timing.
Honestly the best thing about all that work is how easy this thing fires up now. I literally tap the key without touching the throttle and it jumps into a nice steady idle, and I can hold any rpm without surging. Runs like a new boat, and those manifolds make the swim deck a nice foot massager, lol. Much deeper rumble you can feel in your chest.
I had the sea pump belt start slipping towards the end of the weekend, I didn’t put enough tension on the belt. I have all new v-belts coming Saturday. Still need to install the new exhaust flappers too.
I did get it up to 60 gps on a short hit, it had more but I ran out of clean water. Not bad considering my previous best was 60 on fumes with no gear, and this time it easily pulled to 60 with 73 gallons of fuel, both built in coolers full, and all the junk we drag along, like 3 big bags. I think it will hit 62-63 empty in good conditions.
I still haven’t checked timing yet either, and it feels like it needs another degree or two of base timing.
Honestly the best thing about all that work is how easy this thing fires up now. I literally tap the key without touching the throttle and it jumps into a nice steady idle, and I can hold any rpm without surging. Runs like a new boat, and those manifolds make the swim deck a nice foot massager, lol. Much deeper rumble you can feel in your chest.
I had the sea pump belt start slipping towards the end of the weekend, I didn’t put enough tension on the belt. I have all new v-belts coming Saturday. Still need to install the new exhaust flappers too.
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1996 252 Whipple tuned 454 Magnum MPI, 496 exhaust, Corsa Captains Call, B3 w/Simrek drive shower.
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Big Block Power
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Very cool. But really running out of clean water? You weren't on lake Michigan. You boat on a sewer like I do there is no clean water 


03Cobalt220 8.1gxi DP
"Kids in Tow2"
"Pot The Jus" Originator :-)
Neenah Wi
#ItsBu'sfault
#FARCON Marine CC Core!
"Kids in Tow2"
"Pot The Jus" Originator :-)
Neenah Wi
#ItsBu'sfault
#FARCON Marine CC Core!
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Haaa. Yes we look at the term clean water as not dodging clumps of muckBig Block Power wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:21 am Very cool. But really running out of clean water? You weren't on lake Michigan. You boat on a sewer like I do there is no clean water![]()
That is so awesome AK. That a real world test right there!! Awesome job pal
2008 272 , 496 HO fo SHO
California Delta
Table Rock Lake
#FARCON
California Delta
Table Rock Lake
#FARCON
- akorcovelos
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Haha, yeah different kind of clean, as in this only brown:



1996 252 Whipple tuned 454 Magnum MPI, 496 exhaust, Corsa Captains Call, B3 w/Simrek drive shower.
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
- AsLan7
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
.
Yes,great job akor.
. Your hard work is paying off buddy.
.
Yes,great job akor.
.
2002 Cobalt 262
&
2005 Cobalt 263
496 MagHO
(sold )
Erie, PA
Currently boatless (for now)
will fly for food
(CChat moderator)
&
2005 Cobalt 263
496 MagHO
(sold )
Erie, PA
Currently boatless (for now)
will fly for food
(CChat moderator)
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Nice. Thanks for the follow up. Can't wait to here the new top speed.
- akorcovelos
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Well, PSA for today is don’t reuse those old rubber exhaust couplers...
Couple hard pulls and smelled burning rubber. Checked the bilge and saw water coming in from the exhaust somewhere. Tore it down today and found that.
I should have replaced all the rubber exhaust hose when I swapped manifolds. I have 4’ of 4” Shields wet exhaust hose to replace everything but the transom couplers which are in great shape.
Couple hard pulls and smelled burning rubber. Checked the bilge and saw water coming in from the exhaust somewhere. Tore it down today and found that.
I should have replaced all the rubber exhaust hose when I swapped manifolds. I have 4’ of 4” Shields wet exhaust hose to replace everything but the transom couplers which are in great shape.
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1996 252 Whipple tuned 454 Magnum MPI, 496 exhaust, Corsa Captains Call, B3 w/Simrek drive shower.
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Interesting. I wonder why you're getting so much heat concentrated in one spot?
- akorcovelos
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
When I looked close it seems the angle of the exhaust hose was making the hose contact the flair at the end of the exhaust trumpet. That’s also right where the upper water exit is , so I’m guessing it was restricting water flow at the top and the exhaust gas was un-cooled at the upper trumpet exit. I’m going to cut an inch off the end removing that flair, should do the trick. Also going to the heavier steel wound reinforced rubber exhaust hose will help as it has a higher temp rating. I should point out the risers themselves never got hot. Even after extended WOT runs I can comfortably rest my hands on both risers.xlint89 wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 10:25 pm Interesting. I wonder why you're getting so much heat concentrated in one spot?
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1996 252 Whipple tuned 454 Magnum MPI, 496 exhaust, Corsa Captains Call, B3 w/Simrek drive shower.
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
- Big Block Power
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
akorcovelos wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:45 amWhen I looked close it seems the angle of the exhaust hose was making the hose contact the flair at the end of the exhaust trumpet. That’s also right where the upper water exit is , so I’m guessing it was restricting water flow at the top and the exhaust gas was un-cooled at the upper trumpet exit. I’m going to cut an inch off the end removing that flair, should do the trick. Also going to the heavier steel wound reinforced rubber exhaust hose will help as it has a higher temp rating. I should point out the risers themselves never got hot. Even after extended WOT runs I can comfortably rest my hands on both risers.xlint89 wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 10:25 pm Interesting. I wonder why you're getting so much heat concentrated in one spot?
F478E94D-2A71-4DF0-9220-2389573CEFAF.jpeg
01386C56-7497-4DDD-916D-2CA08D0226FD.jpeg
Buy the looks of that you are going to have bigger problems.
Why did you cut the manifolds in half? Now your going to have water and exhaust fumes all over the place. Buy some JB Weld quick
03Cobalt220 8.1gxi DP
"Kids in Tow2"
"Pot The Jus" Originator :-)
Neenah Wi
#ItsBu'sfault
#FARCON Marine CC Core!
"Kids in Tow2"
"Pot The Jus" Originator :-)
Neenah Wi
#ItsBu'sfault
#FARCON Marine CC Core!
- akorcovelos
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- Posts: 2981
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Big Block Power wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 8:21 amakorcovelos wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:45 amWhen I looked close it seems the angle of the exhaust hose was making the hose contact the flair at the end of the exhaust trumpet. That’s also right where the upper water exit is , so I’m guessing it was restricting water flow at the top and the exhaust gas was un-cooled at the upper trumpet exit. I’m going to cut an inch off the end removing that flair, should do the trick. Also going to the heavier steel wound reinforced rubber exhaust hose will help as it has a higher temp rating. I should point out the risers themselves never got hot. Even after extended WOT runs I can comfortably rest my hands on both risers.xlint89 wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 10:25 pm Interesting. I wonder why you're getting so much heat concentrated in one spot?
F478E94D-2A71-4DF0-9220-2389573CEFAF.jpeg
01386C56-7497-4DDD-916D-2CA08D0226FD.jpeg
Buy the looks of that you are going to have bigger problems.
Why did you cut the manifolds in half? Now your going to have water and exhaust fumes all over the place. Buy some JB Weld quick![]()
Light weight though!
1996 252 Whipple tuned 454 Magnum MPI, 496 exhaust, Corsa Captains Call, B3 w/Simrek drive shower.
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
‘Direct Deposit Too’
Antioch, IL
Fox Chain O' Lakes
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Hi Akor
Impressive numbers on the boat
One lesson I learned from my local speed shop is to put an oil temp gage on these motors when you modify them
Once the oil gets over a certain temp it fails even though the motor temp is within specs
I would hate to see it scatter over oil failures
Impressive numbers on the boat
One lesson I learned from my local speed shop is to put an oil temp gage on these motors when you modify them
Once the oil gets over a certain temp it fails even though the motor temp is within specs
I would hate to see it scatter over oil failures
- Big Block Power
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Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Another reason I use BGMOA additive.Bleil05 wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:03 pm Hi Akor
Impressive numbers on the boat
One lesson I learned from my local speed shop is to put an oil temp gage on these motors when you modify them
Once the oil gets over a certain temp it fails even though the motor temp is within specs
I would hate to see it scatter over oil failures
03Cobalt220 8.1gxi DP
"Kids in Tow2"
"Pot The Jus" Originator :-)
Neenah Wi
#ItsBu'sfault
#FARCON Marine CC Core!
"Kids in Tow2"
"Pot The Jus" Originator :-)
Neenah Wi
#ItsBu'sfault
#FARCON Marine CC Core!
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