Mercury 135

[Glastron1987]

I notice the weights for the different year Mercury 135 V6's are as follows:


<colgroup><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>
1986-1987
135
V6 2.0L
375


1988
135
V6 2.0L
378


1989-1995
135
V6 2.0L
404


1996-1999
135
V6 2.0L
408


2000
135
V6 2.0L
417

</tbody>

Anybody know specifically what made them different?

Which ones ran the best?

Also, did they have the small or large lower units?

[scc82]

They are pretty much the motors. The different weights are from different size and style cowlings. The early ones were clamshell cowls and then the went to the three latch bucket styles and the latest had the two latch newest style cowling. Also they changed from wh style carbs to wmv and wmh carbs on the newer ones. They later year models were also fat blocks I believe in 91/92. They are all very solid motors.
Stan carson.

[MidnightCarving]

early ones are vertical reed... from my experience having both a vertical reed and horizontal reed 135 the vertical had a bit better low end, and the horizontal was better up top. They are great engines and i've found they're pretty much bulletproof. I think some of the weight difference comes from the extras as years went on.

the 92-up blocks are the fat block (2.5 block with 2.0 sleeves) i think that made a big difference in the weight.

either way i was running low-mid 70's on a vector with a bone stock 135 with the exception of a bobs nosecone and oil inj. removed. very solid engines.

[Motv18]

Should be merc midsize 70-140 and 40-60bf. The 4 1/4" with 14" max diameter 15 spline. The heavy one sounds efi heavy.

[MidnightCarving]

Should be merc midsize 70-140 and 40-60bf. The 4 1/4" with 14" max diameter 15 spline. The heavy one sounds efi heavy.

i second that on efi heavy. In fact i know they made an optimax 135, that would certainly explain the weight.

[wired247]

40 amp flywheel on the later 135's too. The fat block 135/150's were considerably heavier than like 2.5's.

[kingsbiship]

The early ones had the two piece heads also!

[tlwjkw]

The 4 1/4" with 14" max diameter 15 spline. The heavy one sounds efi heavy.

Only two motors had tha "little" gear case. Xr4 (2.4) all years and XR6 (2.5) first coupla years............

[Glastron1987]

Thanks all for the info. Best I can tell is the 135 never went to an EFI. So it looks like the carbed version maxed out at the 417lbs in 2000. Looks like the 135 Optimax started in 1998. Here are the weights:
1998 - 452
1999 - 440
2000 -443
2001 - 433
2002-2012 - 431
Then discontinued

Of the carbed versions, anyone know if the newer cowlings dampened any more sound than the older ones?

Also, aside from the better low end with the vertical reeds do any of the carb or reed configurations provide any better fuel efficiency?

[MidnightCarving]

Thanks all for the info. Best I can tell is the 135 never went to an EFI. So it looks like the carbed version maxed out at the 417lbs in 2000. Looks like the 135 Optimax started in 1998. Here are the weights:
1998 - 452
1999 - 440
2000 -443
2001 - 433
2002-2012 - 431
Then discontinued

Of the carbed versions, anyone know if the newer cowlings dampened any more sound than the older ones?

Also, aside from the better low end with the vertical reeds do any of the carb or reed configurations provide any better fuel efficiency?


not sure about fuel economy. i'd imagine the horizontal is better just by looking at airflow. also my experience says the later ones with the traditional cowling were better for sound deadening than the clamshell two piece cowls. This may also have to do with the can in the mid section. The later model v-6s in stock configuration are much quieter than the clamshell cowl predecessors.

[Glastron1987]

Great info; thanks Midnight:)

[Varmint]

I think alot of them ran the 200 case with 2:1 gears

[tlwjkw]

I think alot of them ran the 200 case with 2:1 gears

Yeah. Pretty much standard from day one on all tha 2.0's

[Glastron1987]

The 2:1 is the same physical size as the 1.87:1, so it is just a propping consideration, correct?

[tlwjkw]

Yeah......

[Motv18]

Ahh the 135 was the bastard child wasn't it. Got the 150+ 4 3/4" cool. Small is the 20-60 case. 3" something hub.
Like the 115 v6 optimax short run.
hummm been a while I might be thinking 4s 135
this EPA just had Mercury changing and dropping stuff while I was out of the business.

[Glastron1987]

Tried to summarize a lot of what everyone said plus my research. Comments/corrections welcome:


<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>
135
Carb
Reed
Cowl
Weight
LU
Comment


1986
WH-35/38/40 (2 bowl)
Vert
Clamshell
375
2:1
Louder;more Low-end


1987
WH-35/38/40 (2 bowl)
Vert
Clamshell
375
2:1
Louder;more Low-end


1988
WH-35/38/40 (2 bowl)
Vert
Clamshell
378
2:1
Louder;more Low-end


1989
WH-35/38/40 (2 bowl)
Vert
Top
404
2:1
Louder;more Low-end


1990
WMH-8/A (1 bowl)
Horiz
Top
404
2:1
Quieter;more High-end


1991
WMH-8/A (1 bowl)
Horiz
Top
404
2:1
Quieter;more High-end


1992
WMH-12 A/B &28 &30 (1 bowl)
Horiz
Top
404
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


1993
WMH-12 A/B &28 &30 (1 bowl)
Horiz
Top
404
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


1994
WMH-12 A/B &28 &30 (1 bowl)
Horiz
Top
404
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


1995
WMH-12 A/B &28 &30 (1 bowl)
Horiz
Top
404
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


1996
WMV-1 (1 bowl)
Horiz
Mod-Top
408
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


1997
WMV-1 (1 bowl)
Horiz
Mod-Top
408
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


1998
WMV-1 (1 bowl)
Horiz
Mod-Top
408
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


1999
WMV-1A (1 bowl)
Horiz
Mod-Top
408
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block


2000
WMV-15A (1 bowl)
Horiz
Mod-Top
408
2:1
Quieter;more High-end;fat block (EFI is 417)

</tbody>

[tlwjkw]

Now can ya do one just like that for tha 175/200's?


Naw, just jackin' with ya. Good job!!!

[Glastron1987]

Yeah, good one. Will do all 150 flavors too.:) Thanks.

[tlwjkw]

They will be tha same as tha 135 except for tha XR4, XR6 as for carb goes..