How to ID a Mercury 2.5?

[oceanstatetuning]

So I have wanted a Mercury 2.5 for some time now to play with, always keeping my eyes peeled. Anyway I have found a few and one I am interested in. The guy says he bought it brand new in 1997 but "custom built" whatever that means, he doesn't appear to know? And it came to me that I have no idea how to tell these motors appart. Is there any identifications on the blocks to see what they are or started out as, How do we tell a 245 from a 260 or 280? This 1997 I am looking at is supposedly 285hp EFI 20". I will post some pictures.

[Capt.Insane-o]

It's a 150-200 efi fishing motor with a CLE and Bridgeport cowl. If it is a 1991 200 by the date on the starter thats a great motor to build something on. But it's not what the says it is. This should be in the tech section btw.

08 06 of 1991 would probably make it a five petal motor though.

[FUJIMO]

powerhead & clamp bracket serial numbers?

[oceanstatetuning]

Wooops sorry I did not see the tech section, Figured this was the right place as it was for outboards. Thanks for pointing that out.

I will ask for serial numbers.

Do all the 260-280HP motors have the intake horn on the front?

[Da Bull]

Yes

[oceanstatetuning]

I asked the guy for proof of the build and pictures of the serial numbers and now he will not reply. I will give him another day or two.

But yeah with so many variations of these motors, Is there a website to help identify? Do all 280/260 efi motors have that large intake horn?

[oceanstatetuning]

So the seller stopped responding to me for a bit. Just started again, he sent me the bracket serial number and it comes back as a 1991 275hp. Does anyone know where the Serial number on the powerhead is?

[vnemous]

welch plug between heads possibly

[vnemous]

The 275 is a 3.4? I could be wrong, if not thats not a Cosworth.

[oceanstatetuning]

He's gonna check the welch plugs now. I have no clue, is there a website that goes over these 2.5's in detail? it is such a popular motor but I've done dozens of hours of research and really can not find any good info on ID'ing these motors or telling the differences. I cant imagine that with something so popular and desirable with so many variations there is not a site with all the info I need. I'll post the 275hp info he sent me shortly, He originally listed it as a 285hp, now listing it as 275hp with mods to make it closer to 285hp. Also it was supposedly "built" in 1997 for a spare motor for a "well known" racing boat that he had bought after that company stopped racing that boat and he put it on a bass boat as an upgrade to his 200hp it previously had. I'm ready to buy this thing but I just want to make sure I'm not buying a 200hp outboard. I'm assuming if this is a 275hp leg/bracket that it would be a great one to have?

[oceanstatetuning]

Here are the bracket pictures

[oceanstatetuning]

That is the info he sent me, I found the site and does list that BUT if I put it in on some other sites it shows anything from a 135-200 or XR-4? I'm missing something here on how to ID these motors and parts with them.

[oceanstatetuning]

Can anyone confirm the 275hp is the 3.4? Does the 2.5 fit on a 3.4 Lower? Does anyone know of a good website for information on these?

[vnemous]

0D057197 1200413LD 1991 MERCURY 200XRI ELPTO

THis is what the clamp bracket comes back to.

[oceanstatetuning]

0D057197 1200413LD 1991 MERCURY 200XRI ELPTO

THis is what the clamp bracket comes back to.


Thank you so much. I think this guy is just trying to pull a fast one on someone. But as soon as I get some more info on that powerhead I will let you guys know. Thank you.

[vnemous]

275 285 hp would take quite a bit of motor work and of course lots of compression and high octane fuel. JMO

[oceanstatetuning]

397142

[oceanstatetuning]

He says he can not find a freeze plug anywhere or between the heads?

[oceanstatetuning]

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[oceanstatetuning]

He also found this number on the bottom of the block. 884-9763-C

[oceanstatetuning]

Okay so googling those numbers, everything comes back to a 200hp motor. He's got this motor at a great price (for a high HP one) but way overpriced for a 200 IMO. I think I will probably pass on it though the motor appears in great condition in the pictures (would do compression test regardless). Any idea on value?

There is another 2.5 on a boat already 1000 miles from here that I may look into a bit more. Guy is suppose to be getting me pictures of the numbers, I will post them up if I can not find anything on my own.

I still am very interested in finding a website that helps identify these motors, I can't imagine there is not one dedicated to these 2.5's and I am just not meeting the search criteria? Anyone?

Thank you

[oceanstatetuning]

So here is the other one I am looking at, it is 1000 miles away instead of 250. Looking at the pictures it kinda looks like a carbed 245 maybe? Again another owner that says 280ish hp with no documentation to prove it, this one is a lot more money but does come with a free boat + trailer, here are the pics:

397166397167397168397169397170397171397172397173397174397175397176397177397178

Thoughts?

[oceanstatetuning]

Not getting much off these numbers he sent me, I think the carbs are from a 200hp if I am correct? And the head number seems to come up with that also? Unless they shared the same numbers as high HP motors? He was advertising this as a 280+hp efi motor (cowl says efi, but I see carbs) claims he has went 97 gps mph with this boat setup with more in it. Thoughts?

[rock]

That is a 2.4.

Rock

[oceanstatetuning]

So someone put a newer cowl on an old motor and is trying to sell it as something its not, I'd be better off with the first one then as a starting point huh?

[vnemous]

Ya know just the condition of the wiring and hoses is a tell tale to me of how someone treats their stuff. Very old fuel line from what I can see and battery cables that are probably green. But thats just me. Is that from this site? I cant believe you cant find a clean 200 here. Whats your price range?

This is a pretty informative site for Mercury v6
http://www.biggerhammer.net/mercury/

[oceanstatetuning]

Battery wiring looks like jumper cables to me. I'm not in desperate need for one but I have always loved the idea of these motors, I just want to get a complete unit that I can just drop on to start with. The first motor I posted the guy is willing to go down to 2900$ after telling him it is not the motor he thought. The second one, apparently a carbed 2.4 not the efi 2.5 he has been telling me it was comes with the boat and everything ready to go for $8900, a shame as I love the look of that motor compared to the Bridgeport cowl. Both prices would be GREAT if they were these 280hp 2.5's that they claim, or even 260 / 245 variants.

I don't have a budget as this is just a toy to play with and to learn about, just the right deal that comes my way I will jump on. I have always been a inboard guy, I have a Formula 271 with a 496 and a Maxum 3000SCR with twin 496's in it. Just trying to get into the performance outboard world to see if I like it better.

I'm not against a 200 or something but I know I would be buying a 280 drop on powerhead after going for a few blasts so just want to make sure I have a good solid starting point.

[oceanstatetuning]

Thank you for that site, will read up on it!

[rock]

When you see a 2.4 block with 2 piece heads stamped 3 3/8 dia carbs on an efi front etc. ya gotta know it is iffy. You are doing right by posting pics before buying. It's unfortunate a guy has to deal this way but today it's the only way. Good luck.

Rock

[vnemous]

I hope you like re ringing a 280 every 100 hours:D

[oceanstatetuning]

I hope you like re ringing a 280 every 100 hours:D


That's probably what I mean by playing with one lol. I don't NEED a 280. I think the 260 is suppose to be the reliable version and the 245 is the same as 260 just with carbs and no EFI?

[rock]

When you talk 260/280 class motors the maintenance is costly and necessary. A nice steel sleeve 2.5 is something you can work with and has massive potential to run pretty good depending on how much ya wanna do and will hold up for a long time.

Rock

[oceanstatetuning]

This will be just a toy, and really unless I fall in love with it will be sold within a year I'm sure once I get out my want for playing with one. BUT I like where you are going with this since my original plan doesn't seem to be working. Do you know of any good threads or websites on getting more power out?

[oceanstatetuning]

So you suggest trying to find a clean 200/225 Promax 2.5 and building it? They seem to be rare in this area also. Does that first one I posted possibly look like a good start or steer away from it since someone has played with it a bit?

[oceanstatetuning]

So the first guy messaged me with the Bridgeport cowl on it, this is what he said:

[vnemous]

Custom boat rebuilder for 40 years and a Factory 1 racer. Post his name, maybe someone on here can verify that he is some one you could trust to deal with. I know if it were me I would have no problem you putting my name out there to check on my selling reputation.

[oceanstatetuning]

I found the race team the boat was on (Stylin) and contacted them via FB, this was the response "The engines it had were all stock for the most part. The original set was 2.4 bridgeports then 2.5 offshores. We rebuilt them every other race. Other than that they were stock"397197
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[vnemous]

Yeah so who you gonna believe, I'd keep looking if it were me. I can already see the next thread, I bought this motor that was a HP race motor and it turned out to be junk, what should I do:D

Contact Tux on here. He always has clean 225 promax's for sale.

[oceanstatetuning]

Yeah so who you gonna believe, I'd keep looking if it were me. I can already see the next thread, I bought this motor that was a HP race motor and it turned out to be junk, what should I do:D


:D search is back on... I may stay with that guy though and see if he will go any less and just take the gamble.

Maybe I should stop looking for one actually, I'm sure a bunch will pop up then.

Thanks guys

[oceanstatetuning]

397221

So you guys think my best bet is to start with one of these, correct?