Frequently asked questions about the BIGPOWER cylinder head

1. Why would I replace my stock iron cylinder heads with the BIGPOWER aluminum head?

Answer:The factory iron heads were designed and built with cost being the number one consideration. The factory head uses heavy steel valves and components that are not designed to extract good power levels from this 8.1 engine. Iron heads would have detonation problems if they had higher than the 9.0 to 1 compression. The port and combustion chambers are not flow optimized and cannot be properly enlarged or reshaped to provide better performance. If you need or want the power and efficient performance of this engine for your truck, boat or RV then the lightweight BIGPOWER head is the answer.

2. Will the Bigpower heads install on my engine regardless of which vehicle or marine engine package I have?

Answer: The BIGPOWER head is designed and built to install on any vehicle or engine package that came with the factory stock heads, which by the way is the only way they come. All stock exhaust, aftermarket headers, marine manifolds, brackets, cooling systems, sensors and hardware will install right back where it was mounted on the stock iron head.

3. Are special head gaskets required to install the BIGPOWER heads?

Answer: No, however Cometic Gasket company of Ohio is making a premium MLS stainless gasket that we recommend for a better fit around our combustion chamber. Besides being stainless for marine applications these gaskets are also less expensive than the stock GM gaskets.

4. Will I have to buy a lot of pieces to make these heads adapt to my engine?

Answer: No, not unless you wish to upgrade your rocker arm systems. The Bigpower head was designed to use all of the push rods, rocker arms and hardware from your stock heads. Your coil on plug valve covers and all other exterior cooling fittings and manifolds will install on the BIGPOWER heads with no modifications or additional parts. The factory head bolts are a torque to yield style bolt designed for machine assembly and should not be reused! Rather than buy new expensive, difficult to torque by hand head bolts we offer high strength easy to torque reusable ARP head bolts at a lower cost to you than the factory head bolts!

5. If I make Raylar parts additions to my Mercury or Volvo engine will I need have my ECM reprogrammed?

Answer: NO! Our dyno testing has shown that these engines when equipped with our "BIGPOWER" cylinder heads, intake manifolds and cams do not require reprogramming to make the horsepower increases. The speed density  controlled systems as equipped on these engines require only a simple fuel pressure setting increase to provide new power levels!

6. Can I keep my stock 425 HP cam and still get to 500+HP  from my 496 engine with just BigPower aluminum heads and the new "CoolGap" intake manifold?

Answer: Yes, our dyno testing showed that a stock block 496HO engine with just a rocker arm change to our 1.8 ratio stainless roller rockers on our new "BIGPOWER heads and intake manifold will make about 510HP without a cam change and still did not require ECM
reprogramming. Just bolt on and Go!

7. Will all my stock engine sensors, wiring, fittings, exhaust system and covers reinstall in the same locations without modifications and will the new heads and intake manifold  fit in the same space as the stock pieces?

Answer: Yes, our "keep it simple engineering" was used in all of our new products designs. These new parts were specifically engineered to bolt back in place of stock components without requiring modifications to engine exhaust, wiring harnesses, plugs, sensors, brackets or mountings.
Again, just bolt and go!

8. Will Raylar kits install on my boat or truck without major rework of existing systems and components?

Answer: Yes, Raylar's philosophy of "keep it simple" engineering has been used to engineer kits and components that are designed to go right in place of stock components with simple "Plug and Play" type install. Things such as electronic wiring, ECM's brackets and fit are reused in ways designed to make the installation of Raylar kit's components simple and easy. The space and fit of our new Raylar components are designed to allow you to install them with a minimum of labor and difficulty. The installation of Raylar components will not require our users to fabricate or modify basic engine configurations.

9. Can I install a Raylar BigPower engine kit myself, or can a regular mechanic complete such an installation?

Answer: If you have good engine overhaul or service experience on similar engines and have access to good tools and equipment, then you or any qualified mechanic should be able to install a Raylar engine kit or component by just following the detailed instructions that are shipped with every kit.

10. Will installing the Raylar kit shorten the life or reliability of my existing power plant?

Answer: Raylar's components and systems are direct replacements for the components of your engine. They have been engineered, designed and tested to insure that they give a service life and quality of construction that are equal to or better than the life of the original components on your engine. Today's finest materials and technologies were used in the manufacture of our products as well as those manufacturer's products we incorporate into our kits. if your kit is properly installed on your engine and your engine is serviced according to the manufacturer's recommended service requirements and the engine is not abused or used in a racing or competition use then engine life will be equal to or greater than if it were still in a stock configuration.

11. Will installing Raylar kits or components void my manufacturers warranty?

Answer: Raylar wants to be careful in informing its customers and users that any modification to their engines will most likely be a reason for their original manufacturer to void a warranty if a mechanical engine failure or damage has occurred after installing Raylar components. This is not because the Raylar components cause failure, but because of the conditions of their warranty. We at Raylar warranty our components for one year as our parts warranty and we will carefully investigate the "What and the Why" of any failures, and we will also inform our customers as to what our determination for any failure that occurred. You the customer will have to decide whether you wish to install Raylar components on your engine prior to the end of a warranty period. We ask that customers also make necessary checks to their engine prior to installation of a Raylar kit. This is also an opportunity for the customer to make a valid warranty claim with their manufacturer for the engine if defects have shown up.

12. If I install a Raylar BCK101 thru BCK103 kit will I have to use a different type of fuel or octane level of fuel?

Answer: Raylar BCK101 thru BCK103 kits are designed and tested to use the same level of fuel or octane that was required by the original equipment manufacturer. The more efficient combustion and efficiency of Raylar kits does not require additional engine timing advance or octane requirements to prevent engine knock or detonation. Therefore you can keep using the same type of fuel you have elected to use in your motor as long as it meets the engine manufacturer's minimum requirements.

13. Will the installation of a Raylar BCK101 thru BCK103 kit make my engine have a rough idle, un-smooth acceleration or drivabiltity issues and increased noise levels?

Answer: No, the Raylar BCK101 thru BCK103 kits are designed with components and settings that allow a stock idle rpm level that is smooth and quiet. The acceleration and power of your motor will increase but normal driving conditions will appear as before, except you will be able to feel the increased power and torque levels during acceleration and wide open throttle uses. You will also notice that the increased power levels will allow you to cruise at normal speeds in a boat at less RPM's due to the efficiency increases developed by the Raylar kit. In trucks and vehicles you will notice increased acceleration and in most cases you will have less pedal to apply to achieve the similar cruise speeds you are used to driving at. In both cases this should result in better fuel efficiency when operating at all but heavy throttle use.

14. Does the Raylar kit come with all the parts needed for my installation?

Answer: In most applications, the Raylar kit or the components on your existing engine contain most all the parts and hardware needed to do a complete installation. Raylar kits are assembled with the additional components that are not being re-used from you original engine. Most of the gaskets on the 496-8.1L engine are designed to be re-used depending on their age and condition. If these components and gaskets are carefully removed and cleaned for proper re-installation the Raylar kit will require that only a tube of GM gasket sealer and possibly coolant is required to complete the installation.

15. What are the real weak links in my 8.1L-496 engine?

Answer: The GM 8.1L-496 engine is an amazingly strong, reliable when it is in good operating condition and operating within the designed RPM limits and horsepower limits. These engines have been tested extensively by GM, Mercury Marine, Raylar and others and have shown tremendous durability and reliability. When these engines have been used in normally aspirated versions of up to nearly 600HP they exhibit excellent engine life and rebuild ability. In some uses such as supercharging with the factory recommended fuel octane levels, some engines have experienced detonation problems which usually show up with piston failure. This engine was not designed and built with components necessary for supercharger use and if you intend to run one of the industry's superchargers we would strongly advise you to refit your engine with components such as our supercharger pistons and rod sets to increase the engine's reliability with supercharging.

These are just a few of the questions that we have received, if you have additional concerns or questions please e-mail us and you will receive quick personal responses from us.