Whipple ECM Mercury 8.2 380HP

[jack14r]

I am curious if anyone has actually done the Whipple ECM upgrade to a Mercury 8.2,I have a Cobalt A25 that is almost out of warranty it has the 8.2 with 380 horse power and I would like to change from a 24 pitch to a 22.5 pitch on the bravo 3 for more bottom end and would like the higher rev limit to not loose top speed.If anyone did this did you get rid of the catalyst also?

 

[BHC Vic]

http://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/showthread.php?124770-8-2l-mag-PCM&p=1923691#post1923691

 

[BHC Vic]

Only reason I would do it is to get rid of the cats

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

to much power to a B-3 and you will be buying a new B-3

 

[BHC Vic]

Just looked up the a25 pretty nice [emoji106] I

 

[jack14r]

to much power to a B-3 and you will be buying a new B-3

I have the X Bravo 3 which is the same as Mercury uses behind the 8.2HO which is 430HP,do you think that the Whipple will kill the drive?

 

[BHC Vic]

I want to say my 8.2 mag came w a bravo 1?

 

[RiverDave]

I have the X Bravo 3 which is the same as Mercury uses behind the 8.2HO which is 430HP,do you think that the Whipple will kill the drive?

No chance.. It will be fine.

 

[CoolCruzin]

Whipple ECM upgrade is just a bit more HP, will do nothing to your drive.

 

[jack14r]

Cobalt does do some things right,every A25 that I have looked at had the X Bravo 3 drive installed if it had the 8.2 mag or HO,I do not know how much better it is than the regular Bravo 3 but I assume it must be somewhat stronger.

 

[BHC Vic]

If u do decide to pull the trigger keep us updated!!!!

 

[CampbellCarl]

I want to say my 8.2 mag came w a bravo 1?

How many propellers? If 1 its a Bravo 1....if two props (counter-rotating) its a Bravo 3.

 

[BHC Vic]

How many propellers? If 1 its a Bravo 1....if two props (counter-rotating) its a Bravo 3.

I prop and I want to say I've seen an x on it somewhere while cleaning [emoji4]

 

[jack14r]

Yes the 8.2 could have either drive a b1 or b3

 

[jack14r]

Has anyone actually installed this ECM upgrade?

 

[BHC Vic]

I've searched all over every board and have yet to find anyone. Someone on pb made a thread has and done and no updates that was a few years ago though

 

[Racey]

to much power to a B-3 and you will be buying a new B-3

An ECM/retune won't change the power enough to kill a drive. It's about driveability and transitional mapping.

 

[Sbarry]

Whipple Stage 2 kit adds 55+HP and extends rev limiter to 5400RPM.... All for under $1,000! Pretty impressive :thumbup: Applies to HO version only...

8.2 Mag Stage 2 = 85+HP and 5400RPM limiter... Now you're equal to power range of the HO!!

 

[jack14r]

I guess if I decide to Bo this upgrade I am sort of like Mikey who will try anything.

 

[BHC Vic]

I guess if I decide to Bo this upgrade I am sort of like Mikey who will try anything.

So when are you planning on doing it [emoji4]

 

[CoolCruzin]

Should be a good upgrade. Teague had told told me all about this in the pass.. Whipple dose the upgrade .
Teague has the headers and installs - two big names .

 

[jack14r]

I removed the ECM today will ship it to Teague on Monday

 

[BHC Vic]

View attachment 388379
I removed the ECM today will ship it to Teague on Monday

Are you also pulling the cats?

 

[jack14r]

I am not pulling the cats,Whipple states that their upgrade works with the cats so I will try it that way.

 

[CoolCruzin]

Keep us updated !

 

[Shortdeck]

View attachment 388379
I removed the ECM today will ship it to Teague on Monday

Very cool. Mine is still under warranty. Updates please

 

[BHC Vic]

I am not pulling the cats,Whipple states that their upgrade works with the cats so I will try it that way.

Sweet can't wait to hear your results

 

[jack14r]

I have decided to pull the cats and machined the restrictor today.

 

[CoolCruzin]

Is it easy to pull the cat ? . What's involved. Did you take any pictures ? Sure like to see them.
Where is that restrictor from ?

 

[TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE]

We like HP gains lets get to work!!

 

[jack14r]

The restrictor is between the flame arrestor and the throttle body,I think that the restrictor is only on the manual and not the digital motors,it was posted that the digital mag motors only allow the throttle body to open 66% which will do the same as the restrictor.I will post pictures of the cat removal later,but there are 3 per side and they almost fall out of the cast iron exhaust riser after it is removed,there are only about 8 bolts to remove ,one sensor to unplug and 5 hose clamps.If Whipple can do the re-programming with the correct sensors deleted,not throwing codes,and added fuel and timing for power,this will be a good value.

 

[jack14r]

 

[CoolCruzin]

Not a lot of water jackets that I see to keep the outside cool .but it works.
I have the newer style with one cat on each side.

 

[BHC Vic]

I want to say mine has one cat as well?

 

[TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE]

Not a lot of water jackets that I see to keep the outside cool .but it works.
I have the newer style with one cat on each side.

Correct the DTS motors have one big cat per bank mounted horizontally. The first generation of cat motors with cable throttle and the restrictor in the non-HO (that's a $5k piece of stamped stainless.) have three vertical cats per bank...

JT

 

[TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE]

Not a lot of water jackets that I see to keep the outside cool .but it works.
I have the newer style with one cat on each side.

Be careful removing your manifolds. They are HEAVY, maybe 75-100 lbs each. Plenty enough to break a finger if you drop one into something...

 

[BajaMike]

I have the X Bravo 3 which is the same as Mercury uses behind the 8.2HO which is 430HP,do you think that the Whipple will kill the drive?

Why ruin a good engine and outdrive??

for 5 mph??

 

[CoolCruzin]

Be careful removing your manifolds. They are HEAVY, maybe 75-100 lbs each. Plenty enough to break a finger if you drop one into something...

WOW! Heavy manifolds

 

[jack14r]

Why ruin a good engine and outdrive??

for 5 mph??

It is not a question of speed but when the kids load the boat up and want to ski and board they want more hole shot,the boat weighs 5200 LBS. and with people,coolers,fuel etc probabally add 1700-2000 LBS.so the total would be around 7000LBS.which creates a need for more power.With the increase from 4800 to 5400 RPM with the Whipple ECU re-program,I think that I can decrease the pitch from 24 to 22 and increase the hole shot and not loose any top speed and might actually increase it.I spoke with JJ Gibbs and he stated that he has done a lot of Bravo 3 props and he can help the hole shot with the current props and I would not actually purchase another set.

 

[TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE]

It is not a question of speed but when the kids load the boat up and want to ski and board they want more hole shot,the boat weighs 5200 LBS. and with people,coolers,fuel etc probabally add 1700-2000 LBS.so the total would be around 7000LBS.which creates a need for more power.With the increase from 4800 to 5400 RPM with the Whipple ECU re-program,I think that I can decrease the pitch from 24 to 22 and increase the hole shot and not loose any top speed and might actually increase it.I spoke with JJ Gibbs and he stated that he has done a lot of Bravo 3 props and he can help the hole shot with the current props and I would not actually purchase another set.

If you have a non HO, reflash is a no brainer....

The bravo 3x will still work great for what you are doing and like Gibbs said, he can work with your existing props to utilize the greater rpm range for excellent holeshot...

 

[TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE]

Why ruin a good engine and outdrive??

for 5 mph??

Allowing an engine to have full throttle blade opening instead of 66% as well as giving it more optimum spark timing and fuel trimming for performance applications is tuning an engine to its potential. Charging people more to have full throttle on a new engine package in a new boat is just wrong.

Also, 500 hp and below is well within a bravo 1x or 3x's duty rating and ability.

 

[Sbarry]

Jack14r..... Did you have any issues with your exhaust getting extremely hot?

And when is the first trip out planned with the ECM flash? Very cool thread.. Thanks for posting!

 

[BHC Vic]

Allowing an engine to have full throttle blade opening instead of 66% as well as giving it more optimum spark timing and fuel trimming for performance applications is tuning an engine to its potential. Charging people more to have full throttle on a new engine package in a new boat is just wrong.

Also, 500 hp and below is well within a bravo 1x or 3x's duty rating and ability.

Would mind popping into my ECM thread and give your thoughts?

 

[TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE]

Would mind popping into my ECM thread and give your thoughts?

I read the whole thread... Call me at the shop

JT

 

[Sbarry]

I read the whole thread... Call me at the shop

JT

Ah crap! [emoji22] lol

 

[CoolCruzin]

I hate endings like this. lol

 

[TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE]

I hate endings like this. lol

Lol it's really not that complicated. I just wanted to talk directly with Victor and give him some advice

 

[jack14r]

I got the ECM back this week,Whipple did the stage 2 upgrade and the weather finally got above 45 degrees here.The difference is fantastic,with out any propeller change it now turned 5100 RPM up from 4700 RPM,the new rev limiter is 5400 RPM.The greatest increase in acceleration seems to be from 30 MPH to 50 MPH it actually feels like it is twice as fast(I know that is not reality).The hole shot is somewhat better,but not dramatic,I will now try a set of 22.5 props to replace the 24s,with the increased rev limiter top speed should not be reduced with the 22.5 props,I will have JJ Gibbs do his stuff to them.Here are the actual numbers,before on a cold day with 1 aboard and almost empty fuel tank it ran on gps 56.3,today with 2 aboard and full fuel it ran 57.9,I know it only looks like 1.5 MPH but with the same weight I think that it would be 2.5-3 MPH,I was not really interested in top speed but really wanted better hole shot when loaded in the summer,I am sure that with the 22.5 Bravo 3 props that my goal will be accomplished.This ECM upgrade is a great value especially for the 8.2 MAG because you get even more power than the HO produces for a fraction of the cost of that package.

 

[Shortdeck]

I got the ECM back this week,Whipple did the stage 2 upgrade and the weather finally got above 45 degrees here.The difference is fantastic,with out any propeller change it now turned 5100 RPM up from 4700 RPM,the new rev limiter is 5400 RPM.The greatest increase in acceleration seems to be from 30 MPH to 50 MPH it actually feels like it is twice as fast(I know that is not reality).The hole shot is somewhat better,but not dramatic,I will now try a set of 22.5 props to replace the 24s,with the increased rev limiter top speed should not be reduced with the 22.5 props,I will have JJ Gibbs do his stuff to them.Here are the actual numbers,before on a cold day with 1 aboard and almost empty fuel tank it ran on gps 56.3,today with 2 aboard and full fuel it ran 57.9,I know it only looks like 1.5 MPH but with the same weight I think that it would be 2.5-3 MPH,I was not really interested in top speed but really wanted better hole shot when loaded in the summer,I am sure that with the 22.5 Bravo 3 props that my goal will be accomplished.This ECM upgrade is a great value especially for the 8.2 MAG because you get even more power than the HO produces for a fraction of the cost of that package.

Thanks for the update. Do you still have all the 02 sensors plugged in?

 

[jack14r]

Yes all sensors are plugged in but I think that Whipple deleted them in the ECM,catalyst was eliminated and there were not any codes in the 40 minutes that I ran the boat.