Merc 2.5L on Seafari?

[McGillicuddy]

Wow, Bigshrimpin, that's thrill seeking! Maybe I'll stick with a little less power and more hull in the water, even 50mph is a little spooky What kind of economy are you getting w/ the 2.4L? 2.5L?

I came across a '94 2.5L for $1500. Seller claims excellent compression and overall near perfect. Certainly looks clean. Price seems really good, no?

-McGill

[Bigshrimpin]

1979 2.4L 200 vertical reed with the WH-11 carbs (small venturi) . . . I get better than 3.5mpg at cruise up to 35mph. After that economy falls off real fast. 2.4L motors with the small venturi carbs like the mid 80's 2.4L 175's and the early 2.4L 200's get great economy. The larger venturi carbs on 2.4L 200's and old 225 (wh-22's, wh-28's, wh-31's, wh - 15's, wh-20's) will feed the motor more fuel, but still will be better than 3mpg at 4000rpm pushing a 20. 2.5L motors are a different story . . . even 2.5L 150 EFI will burn more than a 200hp 2.4L Carb motor.

I think 2.5 - 2.75mpg would be ball park for a 2.5L on a 20, NoBones has one on his 20 . . . he could probably give you exact numbers. fgbiv had a 2.5L Mariner Magnum III on his seafari.



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Honestly I think a 2.0L 150 is a fantastic match of economy and power on the 20's. The 2.0L's will get you to 40mph and cruise at a nice west coast 25mph . . . I had one on the MA when I sold it. 25mph was 4mpg cruise.

[McGillicuddy]

Thanks Bigshrimpin,
You've opened up the proverbial box so here are a few more questions.

Can I assume an '88 175hp would be a chrome bored 2.4L and be of reasonable weight? And is the chromed bore an advantage or disadvantage.

Also what is the 2.0L designation, is that the standard black max 150 or the inline 6 variety, or something else and how do I tell them apart? And what's the weight of the 2.0L.?

What should I expect/be willing to pay for these older motors?

-McGill

[Bigshrimpin]

Here's a good link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil

Most 2.4L 175 and all 200hp 2.4L 200 were chrome bore motors. There were a few steel sleeve 2.4L like the 150 XR4 and a 175 Ski special. I've seen many 2.4L rebuilt with 1 or 2 sleeves that run fine. These 2.4L engines are tough motors.

Chrome and Nikasil offers several advantages over steel which is why you find them in most race motors and airplane engines. Some of the advantages are

Better heat transfer.
Better lubricating surface.
Tighter tolerances.
Chrome is much harder than steel resulting in less wear to the cylinder walls.


Depending on the year the 2.0L blocks are the same as 2.4L or 2.5L blocks. They are just sleeved down to 2.0L with a thick thick steel sleeve . . . which is why they weigh more (20lbs or so) than the 2.4L or 2.5L motors. 2.0L are also pretty tough if you lose a piston, then they can be bored over easily.

Both motors can be bought for $1500 or so. 2.4L motors need to have at least 120psi when you test compression.


if you get one of these motors you must remove the oil injection and spark advance/idle stabilizer module if you want it to live.

If you can find a clean freshwater 25" motor . . . buy it!!

[Blue197320]

ive got no oil injection or any of that other stuff on my engine and it runs great. another member was running oil injection on his 89 merc 150 and he heard the alarm go off one day at WOT and now has 1 low cylinder. now he pre-mixes.

[McGillicuddy]

Thanks Bigshrimpin,
Here's what the owner wrote me:

"The engine was rebuilt by Ron's Marine in Yucaipa in June of 1998. I bought it blown up, it was worse then I thought..... The complete rotating assembly was replaced. One of the power packs went out 3 years ago when I was in Lake Havasu so I had Barnicle Bills replace both of them ($800.00). It is oil injected and has been run on Mercury Quicksilver oil ONLY! The engine is a 1988, I believe 2.0L. There is nothing wrong with it, it starts, idles, and runs perfect. I am having Jack at Marine Performance Design install a Jet and heavily built 460 Ford in the boat. That's the only reason I'm selling it. Here's a link to a youtube video of the engine running on my boat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HklVSSs74yo Bad quality though, it was taken with a phone camera. The $1200.00 price is firm. This is not a junk engine. 20" shaft. If you need a 25" shaft I have an equally nice 235 Johnson I'd sell for $1000.00. The boat is in an enclosed storage unit so pictures are a bit of a hassle, but it looks like every other V6 Mercury, no cracks on the cowl or anything."

Any more thoughts on this. Or what else I should ask him? -McGill

[Bigshrimpin]

eehhhh . . . I don't know. It's impossible to tell without looking at it. The only 2.0L 175's were made in 1976 - 1980 or 1981. He doesn't even know what he's selling . . . so that's kind of weird. I would probably pass and find a virgin 2.4L or low hour freshwater 2.0L.

[McGillicuddy]

Roger that,
I too, was thinking 2.4L based on the hp and year so he kind of caught me off guard with the 2.0L bit. I haven't talked to him yet - just swapped a couple of e-mails, trying to learn what I could. Anyway, thanks. And have a merry Christmas up there in the great white north. Saw Rhody's pictures and they reminded me why I moved to SD...

[Bigshrimpin]

Here's a little inspiration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71pUVGYxNkk

I started to make a very disorganized image dump of 2.0L, 2.4L and 2.5L merc powerhead shots, so you can see some of the differences between the blocks and parts.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/Mercury_Internals

[seafari25]

Very cool BigS,

That brings back memories of running around in my dads 21 tunnel w\twin 175s on a plate(pic in seafari25 pics). It was said by the original owner to go faster than 80 mph but I could only get her up to 77mph at 36 gph...ouch. I guess thats why pops sold it...he figured he had about 12000.00 into fuel in 2 years.

Lotsa fun