1978 mercury 200 offshore engines

[Bruce C]

I'd like to start a thread on these engines, my father had one and I want to buy it back and restore it although its been in pieces for close to 30 years. I know some members still have them, if so please post photos. If yours is original I'd love to see close ups of the power head, carbs, Cooling system, and all else associated with this motor.


I have posted the photo I found from Parker's photos showing the cowling new at the boat show in the late 70s

[Bruce C]

So far this is what I think I know of these engines:
-2.4L non finger port block from 225 old bolt pattern
-5 petal vertical front no oil injection boss
-9 ring non oil injection crank
-large 5250 rods
-WH3 or similar carbs with choke plate, round bowls and cork floats
-lightweight aluminum flywheel with fine splines on ring gear
-heads shaved 0.100
-old style electronics plate with no plug holding bracket
-orange coils and rectifier with yellow plug wires, white trigger
-unpainted divider cover
-2piece exhaust adaptor, ridgeback offshore mid with removable solid lower mounts (1st gen)
-1st gen swivel with old style bolt pattern
-1st gen preload gear case with small unswept skeg and 2:1 ratio

[Bruce C]

Questions I have:
-was block unpainted or black?
-what tuner and were the mounts solid?
-how was the cooling system routed? Fuel system routing? Holley pump or vacuum?
-hood pin on cowling
-gaskets for power head, were they the hi perf ones for either side of the cowling pan?

[Bruce C]

http://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?255899-My-quot-Mythical-quot-2-4-Merc/page2&highlight=1978+mercury+offshore+200

lots of good info here, were the reeds single stage?

any photos of surviving engines???

[buzmacdowell]

I have the pan & cowl molds for this style engine...the only thing you would have to do is lightly modify the raised very front section of the cowling that has been changed for a bigger intake port...I think you can get the repro decals @ ebay....

[transomstand]

Plastic single stage reeds, 1.87 gear was standard.

[mjpowersports]

I love those Cowlings, I want one SOOOOOO BAD!!

[mr fun]

are you sure 78 was a 2.4 liter? I have a 77 2.0 and it was the first year (I thought) of the V-6, I was a senior in high school and my dad bought it and raced it, I am thinking the 2.4 came out a few years later. fun out

[transomstand]

78 model year introduced the 2.4. January 1978 I was at the New York boat show trying to buy the display 2.4 Formula off the floor.

[Da Bull]

2.0L 175hp introduced in 1976 line up with huge (ugly) gearcase w/2.0-1 ratio.
The 2.4 200hp came around in the 1978 line up w/1.87-1 gear ratio. 2.0-1 was optional.

[Dave S]

have.... early 2.4.... finger block with old head pattern... seven reed front. OS.

[perftool]

I still have a 1978 formula 2.4 that I purchased new from dealer I worked for at the time. He told me it was the 8th one sold. I took it out of the box. The price in 1978 $ 3300.00
lite cowl and pan MERC logo. No top bolt
200 Block painted black.
Vertical plastic single stage reeds
stock chokes
no popet valve ,tel tale from popet cover.
No thermostats,covers pluged
stock heads cut .100
stock? 2pc adapter plate , has rubber seal for clam shell
ridge back mid
stock 1:87 lower unit
solid mounts top and bottom
aluminum flywheel. Shipped with stock,aluminum sent later.
stock electrics
Choice of clever S.S. Prop
Holley blue fuel pump with reg.
the owners manual had pages removed and hand written instructions.

[FUJIMO]

Yes, the first year offshores came with the standard red flywheel. If memory serves, the aluminum flex flywheels didn't come on the offshores until 1980-81.

[perftool]

Yes, the first year offshores came with the standard red flywheel. If memory serves, the aluminum flex flywheels didn't come on the offshores until 1980-81.

The Aluminum Flyheel was part of the package, just shipped later. I think less then a month.

[FUJIMO]

The Aluminum Flyheel was part of the package, just shipped later. I think less then a month.
Yes, Mercury retrofitted the Hi-Perf inline six aluminum flywheel & offered it at an additional charge as an option for any V-6 of that era. Of course, the output was less than the standard flywheel.

[perftool]

Yes, Mercury retrofitted the Hi-Perf inline six aluminum flywheel & offered it at an additional charge as an option for any V-6 of that era. Of course, the output was less than the standard flywheel.

The flywheel was included with the motor just shipped later.It looks the same as other v6 aluminum flywheels. I am using it on the 2.5 power head I have on the motor now.

[outasite]

I still have a 1978 formula 2.4 that I purchased new from dealer I worked for at the time. He told me it was the 8th one sold. I took it out of the box. The price in 1978 $ 3300.00
lite cowl and pan MERC logo. No top bolt
200 Block painted black.
Vertical plastic single stage reeds
stock chokes
no popet valve ,tel tale from popet cover.
No thermostats,covers pluged
stock heads cut .100
stock? 2pc adapter plate , has rubber seal for clam shell
ridge back mid
stock 1:87 lower unit
solid mounts top and bottom
aluminum flywheel. Shipped with stock,aluminum sent later.
stock electrics
Choice of clever S.S. Prop
Holley blue fuel pump with reg.
the owners manual had pages removed and hand written instructions.
This is correct.I took delivery of mine in August 78,and it came with the aluminum flywheel installed.Recomended fuel 100 av gas was hand written in the owners manual.We took the cleaver prop that was a 14"x28 low rake that was borrowed from the inlines.Its been through more than a few changes but I still have it.Original rear half!-------Just went and looked,still got the prop too.

[Da Bull]

Thats a cool looking engine. Is that a shortened offshore?

[PARKER RABE]

bull, aint that bad ass......give anything to have that bitch here in the living room, i wouldnt even let anybody near it

[PARKER RABE]

he runs that on a hydrostream with a speedmaster on it