1966 0r 67 Mercury 1100SS advice

[benski]

Hi sports fans...does anyone out there have any input on these engines? Were they typically pretty stout or are they something to avoid like the plague? I have a line on one that runs, for "cheap" (no such word in boating) and want to put it on my 17' Dutchman. Thanks,
benski

[Mark75H]

1966's have point activated ignition, I think the switch to solid state was mid year 66 and 67's start out with point triggered electronic and mid year change to trigger wheel ... so "66 to 67 110" covers a wide range of equipment. "SS" should indicate it has solid state ignition, not that great on the point triggered type. About the only good thing is that for less than $200 you can graft in a later trigger wheel ignition distributor. If it runs it is a middle of the road mediocre old Merc. Would at least be a place to start until something else came along. I would not turn it down for cheap, but I'd want to see it actually start before I paid for it to determine its value; don't trust "it was running when we took it off the boat". If it has ignition trouble today and the lower unit has water in it, it is scrap metal. If it runs and you do buy it, it could donate a few parts to a later motor that breaks a lower unit, so don't throw out a runner.

[benski]

As always, kind sir, thanks for your advice. Apparently, this motor runs up to about 1/2 throttle, and then runs out of power. I'm thinking fuel delivery or an associated problem. More to divulge, as soon as I discover more. I haven't bought it yet. Just in the beginning stages. Comes with controls and whatever instrumentation available in '66-67. The later the better, if I read between the lines correctly?
Thanks,
benski

[Mark75H]

That problem could be just about anything on that motor. Could be a fuel issue, an adjustment issue, a boat issue, a prop issue or an ignition issue caused by several different parts of the ignition system. If it is a short shaft motor and any kind of a deal, you may want to buy it anyway, just to get the pre-1972 short shaft mid & lower unit. 72 and later have a different bolt pattern. If you buy this motor, you can then shop around for motors up to 1971 long shaft for good powerheads. If my memory is clear, the late 67's and up have the Thunderbolt trigger wheel distributor.

[benski]

This engine has "Thunderbolt ignition" decaled on the side of the case.. I'm hoping to sort it out by serial number. Indeed, there are lots of reasons why an engine won't come up to full power, I'll take all of yours under study if this purchase comes to fruition..
Thanks,
benski

[Mark75H]

Sounds like it has every reason to buy it and work out its problem

[CrayzKirk]

My experience with the 1100SS has been all good. I have a '66 that is all-original except for the water pump impeller. It has the hybrid ignition system that requires a special degree wheel to set. The points in this system are high-voltage, low-amperage so they tend to last a long time.

Check the compression and condition of the plugs.

New fuel pump diaphrams, carb kits and cleaning the filters in the caps of the carbs is the first place to start. Fuel lines and primer bulb also are suspects.

Some have called these the *red headed stepchildren* of the inlines; all I know is that I've run mine like a rented mule and it always came back for more.

Kirk S.

[MERC1000]

Back in the mid '70s to mid 80's we had one my Dad built that we ran for about 3000 hours, we lived right on Norris Lake. It did one time have a no start ignition problem that turned out to be the "box" that looks like a Ford Duraspark unit.

[benski]

Thanks all for the input. My line on this one ended up a dead end, so the search continues for a "tower of power" for my boat. All the help is appreciated.

[MERC1000]

It's funny, my brother and Dad are in "inline 6 heaven" right now. They have a nice one they just fired up on my brothers boat. Those are the best Mercury motors I think.

[benski]

To my ears, there is nothing that beats the howl of one of these engines when they are wound up. My search for a good engine continues.