Mercury Midsection Selection

[Krazymaan]

I know i have a 20" mid.
I know i have a 2 piece exhaust plate.
I know I have solid mounts top and bottom.
I know my exhaust channels are rectangular instead of more square.
I know I have a single ram pump.
I know I do not have 5 holes drilled out on the bottom of each side.
So knowing there are a few variations of midsections, is this particular mid just a plain jane run of the mill older mid with no importance what so ever.
Can I figure out what exhaust timer is on this mid by looking down those two holes?
Do some mids have squarish exhaust channels to match the squarish exhaust ports on the bottom of some V6's?
I'm assuming its from the 80s.
I know its not an offshore. I hear words like bass, fishing, 1 piece, etc. So whats the difference?
Should something be opened up if i am going to run a Mod VP engine?
Its being hooked up to a Mod Vp engine. So i tend to worry about this gasket matching thing I hear about but don't really have experience with.
I would like to be schooled on mids so i can at least talk the talk.
Thanks.

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[Krazymaan]

Somebody must know something.

[tlwjkw]

looks ta be a plain 'ole 2 piece adapter plate, "production" mid.. probably '80 ta '83/'84. adapter plate looks ta be a 2.0 135/150 motor probably (rectangle ports).. 2.4 motors are smaller, almost square.. so yeah, adapter exhaust size match blocks when they leave production.. ya can try ta measure tha tuner thru adapter... way to many "mid combinations" that can be built ta get in to ona key board with a "non-typer" like me...

[outasite]

The important thing is to match your exhaust plate ports to your engine ports,using the proper power head plate gasket as a templet.Then measure the length of the tuner,down through the plate,you want to see around 6 to 7 inches.If it's a newer plate it will have a slight bell to it.If it's the older style the tuner will be cast as part of the plate and be rectangle the full length.Any of them that are to long can be cut down,not a big deal but remember one Side is longer than the other.

[Krazymaan]

The Oval Port motor I took off this mid section had the square exhaust ports. The new Oval Port motor I am putting on this mid section has rectangle ports, which seem to match the rectangle ports that are on the mid section.
I noticed the old engine has squarish ports
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The new motor has rectangle ports
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I guess I am lucky because my mid section has rectangle ports
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[tlwjkw]

best i remember tha big holes and metal coil retainers does make it an "early" motor.... but "memory sure "ain't" what it use ta be.... still, looks like ya good ta go unless it has tha 135/150 tuner.... even then won't matter much unless ya plan on turnin' tha wick way up.... jmo

[Krazymaan]

best i remember tha big holes and metal coil retainers does make it an "early" motor.... but "memory sure "ain't" what it use ta be.... still, looks like ya good ta go unless it has tha 135/150 tuner.... even then won't matter much unless ya plan on turnin' tha wick way up.... jmo

The wick will run 7000 plus. my mid isn't drilled out at the bottom either. This won't be a problem will it? I'm going to go measure the exhaust tuner.

[Krazymaan]

So can I put a 280 snout up offshore midsection on my 2.4 Mod Vp? What do i need to look for?

[outasite]

You could run an offshore can,But would be of no use other than to make noise,and get ya stopped by the law.Then if you were to ad the one piece plate and tuner with it,that would require a whole different style cooling system.Your best bet would be to make sure the tuner you have is around 6.5 inches long,and if you want a little sound drill the can like a factory bass.

[Go Time]

Whatever you decide to do with the midsection I highly recommend replacing the swivel pin for one of the late-model thicker stronger units

[Capt.Insane-o]

Whatever you decide to do with the midsection I highly recommend replacing the swivel pin for one of the late-model thicker stronger units

^^^^^^ What he said.

[Krazymaan]

How do I know if my Smoothback offshore has or doesn't have the thicker pin? It's from a 280. Pics would help

[Go Time]

If original, a 280 would have the heavy duty swivel pin.

[Krazymaan]

I would think its factory, don't really know what else it could be.