Merc V6 History

[Skeet 2]

I have a Question on the 1750xs heads I have a new set never used early V6 heads casting number is 77798 was told they were 1750xs heads cannot find this casting number anywhere Can any one help me Identify them.

[GENE LANHAM]

I read an interesting story about a small but well financed group of German gear heads who in the late 60's built some very good v6 loopers. I believe no more than a few. These engines were boxed up and sent to Oshkosh WI during that time. I think they went over big but Mr.K was very happy with the L6 and the program was mothballed for later consideration.

---And Mr. Kiekhaefer was gone after Thanksgiving, 1969---

[stan merck]

Rckid74, Thank you sir for posting all this, great read. While the performance merc cowls are cool I have to agree the original clamshell cowls look the best. I love the slim look and to me it is the best looking outboard ever produced!

[jackiewilson]

Anyone out there got an original clamshell and front cover ? We are still looking.

[Capt.Insane-o]

They were the same until 79 or 80 I think. Then a texture was added to the sides? I have a front cover and I'm sure the rear cowl mount with bracket you guys can have. The decals are available repop.

[jackiewilson]

They were the same until 79 or 80 I think. Then a texture was added to the sides? I have a front cover and I'm sure the rear cowl mount with bracket you guys can have. The decals are available repop.

Thanks a million Cap. We would like to take you up on that!
Motor is mounted in a nice environment with an overall cover------won't take long to do once a start is made------conundrum we have is-------do we keep it totally original, as is, are go the whole nine yards and make it a superstar?
Even in the family , there are two different schools of thought.
Just like you to know, "old blue" is in safe hands and will come out right!

[Capt.Insane-o]

Welp, an old guy back in my youth told me "It ain't worth a f*ck to nobody unless it runs". And it obviously ran for Jerry. So it has to run first for us, first and foremost. Now, it's on a inline hoof so the clam shell gig isn't going to work. As much if that beautiful Mercury exhaust divider that Jerry worked on is still with her there is no denying that.

So, if between all of us on Scream and Fly ol' blue can make some smoke again I'll not be shamed to say it'll bring a tear to my eyes.

I have a lot of the first gen v6 stuff parked away, including a very early serial number complete power head, several of the through transom hollow bolts, the big exhaust dump plates, rods, etc.

You and Mark are welcome to any of it.

Somewhere there has to be a picture of her when she went to Lake X with a 1974 Tupperware cowl.

[rckid74]

The serial number of old blue is 6720824 I think it was a date code, if it is then it was built in 1967

I’ve been trying to figure out the meaning of the serial number [6720824] stamped on the block/crankcase of “Old Blue” ever since JFL mentioned it some time ago. I knew it indicated the first build date. Then it came to me awhile back that the first number stands for the plant number at which it was built, the rest being the date. So this would indicate it was built at plant #6 on Aug. 24, 1972 ?? I put the question marks there because I just couldn’t believe it took us 2 years and 8 months to get that first engine built. I even had Mark Wilson (presently restoring her) double check the date stamping and he said it was correct.


I’ve been considering sending him my V6 folder I kept when retiring from Mercury just so everything would be in one place so I got it out the other day and went through all of it. I found a report I wrote titled M-951 PERFORMANCE DATA which I copy here. 951 was the project number given to the V6. As you can see this boat test was done March 5, 1972!!! Now we couldn’t have very well run a boat test 6 months before it was first built up. In fact, I’m sure we had been running it for quite awhile before we considered putting it on a boat and then it would have taken a number of months to get the adapter plates designed - drawings made - patterns made - castings - machining - etc. to put it on the I6 driveshaft housing. Therefore I believe that the 2 after the 7 should be a 1. Even Aug. 24, 1971 is a little later than I would have thought but is probably correct.
I also can’t believe that my tech assembling the engine messed up when he stamped those numbers on. So I ask Mark to take a really close look with magnification to double check those numbers again, please.
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[rckid74]

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[powerabout]

oil injection...

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

...Thank-You Jerry Hale!...

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]