Need help identifying a 2.5

[Lhliberator]

Recently got a 2.5 powerhead in a trade. Looks identical to several other Mercury racing 2.5 i have owned in the past. Cowling and intake horn. Trying to identify HP. Title lists as a 96 yr model but not HP. I know it had the top ball bearing on crank.I was told that only a few yrs had the top ball bearing on crank. What yrs was that? Also are the any numbers on the block that may list Hp rating? What should i look for?

[superboattwin250]

Looks like a 2.5 260 in the first pic. Cowl would match as well. The engine pic with the heads look like a 245 since it has bleed line fittings.

[patchesII]

It's not a 96 model but that's about all you can tell from that picture of the block lying there. It could be a 260, 280, or a Drag. You need to do two things. See if gasket heads fit it without modifications. Take a picture of the exhaust chest. Those two things will tell you what it is definitively

[bigbluechevy454]

Looks like the motor tgreen had forsure on fb. Was suspose to be a drag

[tlwjkw]

first one check alt. bracket for threads.. along with what eric said.. no threads probably drag.. threaded might be late 260? ('bout '98) or 280... second is 150 or 200 promax....

tha big bearin' came out in '96 i think but don't think tha 260 ever had tha alt. bracket stuff like came out on tha first 280 but thats with lotsa "coffee stained" brain cells, so........

[patchesII]

Many late 97 Drags had the alternator bosses tapped. Who knows why Mercury did it. 98 model 260's had the alternator bosses but retained the same exhaust chest as previous 260's. The exhaust chest picture will tell the difference between 260 or 280/Drag. Once you narrow that down the head bolt spacing tells the rest of the story