motors age

beradtke · #1 08-04-2008, 09:29 PM

ok merc gods out there i have a question how do you tell the age of a mercury motor? I was told the motor is a 85. The starter says it is a 79 and the cowling on the motor is different colors for other 1985s i have seen. any help?

Fr. Frank · #2 08-05-2008, 10:01 PM

You find the year by the serial number using This Chart

Bigshrimpin · #3 08-05-2008, 10:39 PM

Here's a few non-serial number tips that might help you date the motor.

1983 and later have the top hat style heads.

If it's 1982 and earlier . . . the heads have a diamond shaped pattern.

(These cannot be swapped b/c the bolt pattern is different) 82 and earlier had bolts on the outside of the cylinder walls . . . and 83 and later the head bolts were moved to the outside of the water jacket.

84 and earlier had no oil injection . . . There won't be a hole on the front half of the block for the oiler and shaft.

1980 - 1983 had the earlier style enrichener with the manual override

79 and earlier have the flapper style choke setup.

Lower Unit on the pre-load style lowers (82 and earlier) have plastic louvered pickup and after 83 the pickup was cast into the housing.

Bigshrimpin · #4 08-05-2008, 10:50 PM

You won't find the serial number on the block of the 82 and earlier motors. Later on there was a freeze plug with the serial stamped into it. After 92 the serial was also stamped into the side of the block and the front half of the motor.

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Lots of parts are interchangeable. I run a 1979 mercury V200 powerhead with the updated enrichener, on a 1986 150 XR2 mid section (3 ram trim and tilt) with a 1991 Lower Unit, and a 1992 175 XRI cowling.

The heads are the dead give away that powerhead is a pre - 83 motor.

strick · #5 08-06-2008, 01:54 AM

Quote:

I run a 1979 mercury V200 powerhead with the updated enrichener, on a 1986 150 XR2 mid section (3 ram trim and tilt) with a 1991 Lower Unit, and a 1992 175 XRI cowling.

Are you sure you are not related to spidercrab? or Johnny cash?..

strick

Bigshrimpin · #6 08-06-2008, 08:45 AM

85 would already have the 3 wire - 3 ram integrated trim and tilt. If it has external trim and tilt pump with one giant hydraulic ram or two smaller hydraulic rams (v200 - 1978, 1979, 1980) . . . then it's an 1984 or older.

Racing motors and even the 300 pro xs still have the external trim and tilt with one giant hydraulic ram.

beradtke · #7 08-06-2008, 08:09 PM

Ok the s/n is 5489350 which makes it between a 80-81 according to that chart.

The trim and tilt is the one big cylinder with remote pump. the polt pattern on the heads looks like yours bigshrimpin.

Cthe motor possibally be a late 79 since the date on the starter is 4 12 1979?

Are there any pros or cons to these age motors? Any lil tricks i can do to make them better. make it last longer? I have found the article about removing the idle spark module. will be doing that directly