1995 Sea Ray 7.4 repower questions

[RDP3430]

Hi,

My 7.4 carb Bravo 1 died. Need to repower. the block cast number is 297 (Gen VI engine; Think it should have had a 182 Gen V block) and the heads are (156 Gen V heads; Think it was repowered in the past: I'm guessing a short block since 297 Gen VI came out in 1996)

Be curious if anyone can confirm....I know truck 454's Gen V's were 182 blocks/156 heads and Gen VI were 297 blocks/279 heads. Not sure about the marine setup.

Looking to get the most horsepower out of the new setup and looking for suggestions on what to install (Another 7.4 or bigger) that would bolt up to the existing outdrive, etc.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1995 Sea Ray 7.4 repower questions

Ayuh,....

Welcome Aboard Rdp....

Can't give you many Answers,.... I agree your boats been Repowered,.. No Surprise there....

There's some Hot Rod forums that'll probably be able to help you out with the Casting # questions...
And,...
There's Hot Boat forums that'll have some good ideas for building some Real Horsepower....

Generally Speaking,...
Here at iboats most of the Posters are just trying to keep their Stock motors,+ drives running,...
Not too many BBCs either,... Mostly the 3.0l, 4.3l, 5.0l,+ the 350s....
Around here,... Hot Rodding is dropping a 5.7l where a 4.3l, or even a 3.0l used to live...
More likely is Swapping out a Dead OMC for a Mercruiser, or possibly Volvo power...

About the only Real Info I can offer is,... About 400hp is the Limit for a Stock Bravo 1....
A mild 7.4l of Any vintage can Easily pull that off with a pretty mild Cam, Hi-rise Manifold,+ a decent 4bbl. Carb....

Good Luck.....