What about this?

[hwyrnr]

I have chance to buy a lower unit off of a 1987 Merc 200 Black max for $400.00 with the guts included It has a nose cone and low water pick up. Is that a good deal? I plan on having it rebuilt if I get it.

I have a 1985 18' Astroglass fish and ski boat with a 1986 Merc 175 Black Max. Motor is mounted directly to the transom. And I have a 23 thru hub SS prop. I spin it at about 5700 rpm and speedo reads 65 "I Know it's probably not accurate but thats what I have to go by".

What I am thinking of doing is to get the lower unit from this guy and rebuild it. Get a manual jack plate which will have about a 5" offset and run a 26 Chopper.

What do you guys think of this and what kind of advice do you have for me?

I know its not the best boat to hop up but the boat has to much life left in it to get rid of and sides it's paid for.

[vector mike]

That sounds like a pretty good deal on the LU. I have a BOB's LU/lwp and I paid more than $400. just to have the work done. Your MERC could spin a little higher if you wanted . I turn mine to 6800 with no problems. Just remember that more RPM is better than not enough as long as it is kept at a reasonable amount.

[DaveR]

Unless the gears are shot or something the price is great. I don't know when they switched, but the pre-load pin type prop shafts aren't as strong as the later ones. Look for a pin sticking up from the top of the drive shaft. Even so, it's worth the $400.

[LakeRacer99]

If you have a 1986 175 and the case you are buying is off an 87 200, I would just put that money towards a LWPU nose cone kit. Unless you just want another gearcase. That price is a good, but there seem to be quite a few stock cases around for that.
I would rather have the heavy bearing carrier cases like the sportmaster and CLE, especially when you are surfacing a prop on a heavier boat. Have fun.
Jason

[patchesII]

the deal on the case is a great deal, but you may try to get ahold of a nose coned case to try on your boat first. some hulls lose speed when adding a nosecone. not trying to slow you down, just some food for thought. good luck, erik

[hwyrnr]

Lakeracer, Thats why I am wanting to do have my stock 175 that way if the one that has the nosecone doesn't do what I want or I break it I still have a spare.

Patches, I don't know of anyone around that has one and if $400.00 is a good deal and I don't like it I could always sell it.

Thanks for the input keep it comming, James "Kimo"

[CNT]

hi there
with what you are intending to do - it will not work. b/c the astroglass is a heavy boat, the low water pick up nose cone and the chopper prop will only work on light boats. the best thing to do is to find a normal standard big hub lower uint and utilize your thru hub prop. for extra speed use a jackplate and possibly have the prop refurbished and/or cupped - to achieve extra speed. now if you need a lower unit we may have one.

[hwyrnr]

Thanks for the replys, Does anyone else have any suggestions for me. Help me out. Thanks, Kimo