Merc V6 History

[elmo4x4]

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[dtmeeks]

I've got one of the early 2.0 powerheads right now and I know it's a strong motor but I don't have anything to put it on right now. After reading this it's made me want to really get after it and get it back on the water again.

[99fxst99]

As you should be, still an excellent engine 40+ years later.

The small block Chevrolet of outboards!!

[rckid74]

The small block Chevrolet of outboards!!

I like that. “The small block Chevy of outboards”. If I’m not mistaken, the Chevy started out at 265ci then to 283ci next came 327ci and finally 350ci. That’s an increase of 32% over the original. Black Max started at 122ci then went to 142.2ci and finally to 153ci. That’s an increase of 25%. So the Merc engine wasn’t stretched quite as far as the Chevy. However, I’m not sure if all the Chevy increase came from boring only or if they stroked it also. Does anyone out there know?

[Dave Strong]

I have been a Chev guy ever since I sold my 69 GTO ram air. Far bigger fan of the V6 Merc. I bow down to you and thank you for creating the best 2 stroke outboard motor ever. By far the 2.0, 2.4, and 2.5L V6 outboards were the best ever made. Thats why so many still run them.

Dave

[Slimm]

I like that. “The small block Chevy of outboards”. If I’m not mistaken, the Chevy started out at 265ci then to 283ci next came 327ci and finally 350ci. That’s an increase of 32% over the original. Black Max started at 122ci then went to 142.2ci and finally to 153ci. That’s an increase of 25%. So the Merc engine wasn’t stretched quite as far as the Chevy. However, I’m not sure if all the Chevy increase came from boring only or if they stroked it also. Does anyone out there know?

3.671" bore x 3.10" stroke = 262
3.75" bore x 3" stroke = 265
3.50" bore x 3.48" stroke = 267
3.875" bore X 3" stroke = 283
3.736" bore x 3.48" stroke = 305
3.875" bore x 3.25" stroke = 307
4" bore x 3" stroke = 302
4" bore x 3.25" stroke = 327
4" bore x 3.48" stroke = 350
4.125" bore x 3.75" stroke = 400

Slimm

[JWTjr.]

In my past writings for Bass & Walleye Boats and Hot Boat, I used to refer to the V6 Merc (not the 3L series, but the 2/2.4/2.5L series) as the "small block Chevy of outboards" due to this exact reason. Extremely reliable and powerful for it's size when stock, easy to modify for impressive power gains, high revving, high top end power with impressive low end torque for a "small block", and since it was introduced in 1975 for the 76 model year, there's plenty of parts around. Proof positive is that Merc has not produced a 2.4L engine for at least 20 years, yet there are still legions of them around, and they are 100% the "go-to" engine for a guy on a budget who wants to go fast. It only took a few years from introduction for the Merc heads to overcome the big-block OMC power; for awhile, from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, the big crossflow OMC (160ci version)was the power of choice for Mod-VP guys who wanted to win. Even in OZ/Mod U, the crossflows were very competitive. Once the Merc guys figured out how to extract big power from the 2L (Champ) and 2.4L (Mod-VP and OZ/Mod U) blocks in the early 80s, it was game over for OMC. Even later, when OPC/IOGP allowed the new 86 OMC big-block 165ci loopers into MVP and changed the rules back to "stock" after the 85 season, it was clear that if you wanted to win with an OMC, you had to be someone with special talents and drive/skill (and that meant your name had to be Alan Stoker! .

For OMC, there's still some glory. The venerable crossflow V4 I have always called the "Flathead Ford" of outboarding. Great little powerplant, makes good power, legions of them still around, and cheap. The Eagle engine series is also extremely good, but hard to modify for substantial power increase.

Hail to the King--the Merc V6!!

[T2x]

Hail to the King--the Merc V6!!

Don't let Lars or Roger read this....or you're toast. Correct....but toast.

[JWTjr.]

Don't let Lars or Roger read this....or you're toast. Correct....but toast.

Haha! You're right Rich. You know, my Dad raised me to be an Evinrude man, but I call 'em as I see 'em.

[T2x]

Haha! You're right Rich. You know, my Dad raised me to be an Evinrude man, but I call 'em as I see 'em.

See you next weekend....

[RogerH]

Don't let Lars or Roger read this....or you're toast. Correct....but toast.

Ya know!,,,I have ONE OMC and EVERY other outboard I have had has been a Merc. Good thing I don't play that "Chevy / Ford" game. I love em all.

[FUJIMO]

Hey, lets talk about small-block chevys...and Johnson and Evinrude outboards...and antique boat meets...and... ? ? ?

[Lake X Kid]

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> This is an early 1970’s race jacket, when the Molinari race boat powered by Mercury Marine was the winning combination. This was the racing colors during the era of Mercury's Inline 6 and the beginning of the V6 race engine.

That is Roy Ridgell and Dave Brier in the boat at the Paris 6 hour race (1973 or '74), and me (the Lake X Kid) in the color photo.

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[olboatman]

This is an early 1970’s race jacket, when the Molinari race boat powered by Mercury Marine was the winning combination. This was the racing colors during the era of Mercury's Inline 6 and the beginning of the V6 race engine.

That is Roy Ridgell and Dave Brier in the boat at the Paris 6 hour race (1973 or '74), and me (the Lake X Kid) in the color photo.

WOW This really is deja-vous!!! LOL Great Stuff! Gary

[GrewuponLakeX]

This is an early 1970’s race jacket, when the Molinari race boat powered by Mercury Marine was the winning combination. This was the racing colors during the era of Mercury's Inline 6 and the beginning of the V6 race engine.

That is Roy Ridgell and Dave Brier in the boat at the Paris 6 hour race (1973 or '74), and me (the Lake X Kid) in the color photo.

To correct Lake X Kid - Dad and Mr. Brier are not at Paris it's Amsterdam (look at the pit arm band on Mr. Brier) and it's not 74 - we left Europe March '74. I believe this is '71.
Either way it is a great picture of Dad. Thanks for putting it on the web.