Mercury and OMC Race Engines - Max HP @ RPM ratings - Late 60's through md 80's

[Watermark]

It would be interesting to see a chart that lists all of the race engines manufactured between 1968 ( approx ) and 1985 ( or beyond ) - and what horsepower ( approximate ) they put out at their maximum rpm rating. While company horsepower numbers may not be documented, our experts should be able to help here.

I believe some data has been published throughout various threads, but it would be good to see the horsepower progression in chronological order - for both Mercury and OMC engines clamped to the transoms of OPC V-bottom and tunnel boats.

Anyone care to get the ball rolling? ( or prop spinning? )

[Raceman]

I'm not sure the ratings would be very relevant, because they were largely products of the marketing guys rather than real world numbers. If this were not true, there would have had to be some increases/improvements that fell off on some odd numbers, instead of always the 10, 15, 25 horse, etc, etc numbers that they always increased by.

I think a prime example (and this will almost for sure cause some debate) was the first years of the Merc and OMC V6's. There were numerous examples around here of the 175 V6 Merc compared to the first year 200 OMC crossflow that on IDENTICAL HydroStreams, Ventures, and ProCrafts the Merc would be several MPH faster. (light/fast boats) By the same token, my Dad had a Wellcraft slug that he went from a Merc to an OMC on and picked up 3. Even though it wasn't an apples to apples comparison because of the prop differences on that boat at the time, he was always convinced that for a heavy load the OMC could tote it better, presumably because of it's crossflow design and extra inches, and we're talkin' a 40 somethin' MPH boat.

Anyway, the best comparison was two guys here that had Venture bassboats and changed engines like I change shirts. He OMC guy just never could get his boat to run with it's twin with the old 2 liter 175 in spite of the fact that they tried each other's props, etc. The Merc guy had actually changed from OMC previously, and when they both ran 4 cyl 135 Johnrudes, his buddy was always faster.

[Watermark]

Agreed.. and yes, posting horsepower numbers will be cause for debate, but I'm thinking that people may be interested in knowing how much horsepower (again, approximate) the old engines delivered - If only to say, " I ran a 1969 Molinari with a Merc BP that put out X? horsepower" ..

Of course, those numbers may still get "embellished" when tall tales are being told...

[T2x]

Agreed.. and yes, posting horsepower numbers will be cause for debate, but I'm thinking that people may be interested in knowing how much horsepower (again, approximate) the old engines delivered - If only to say, " I ran a 1969 Molinari with a Merc BP that put out X? horsepower" ..

Of course, those numbers may still get "embellished" when tall tales are being told...

Okay......

From the Merc side, here's a start........:

Merc 1000 BP...... 120 hp
Merc 1250 BP.......130 Hp
Merc 1250 BP "STacker" ....... 150 HP
Twister....... 150 HP
T-1............. 160 HP
T-2............. 170 HP
T2x............... 175-200 HP (depending on pistons, ports, jets, etc)
1750 XS......... 175-220 HP (ditto)
T-3 (Bendix injected)...... (250 HP ?)
T-3 (Bendix injected/Methanol)....( 275 HP?)
T-3 (Bendix injected/Nitrous)....... ( a can of Whoop *ss)
T-4 Carbureted....... (300 HP)
T-4 Mechanical injection.... (350 HP)
T-4 EFI....... (375 HP)
2-liter IOGP...... (250 HP?)
2.4 liter Champ.. (piece of crap...250 HP)
2.5 liter Champ....( 340 HP)
2.5 liter Drag....... (360 HP)
S3000................ ( 350-375 HP)

Please note that later model HP may be affected by RPM limits in different computer control boxes.

OMC

X-115 (or GT115).... (115 HP)
Some other V-4's (who really cares?.... )
The Wankel.......... (impossible to agree on cu.in. of displacement, so it's irrelevant)
Some V-6's (who really cares?)
Some V-8's (ditto)

Next?

T2x

[largecar91]

I have a T2X that was supposed to be a record setting powerhead that Seebold set a record with. I raced it years ago and it was fast but the #'s I was being told at the time were around 220hp. I have no idea if this motor was his or the horsepower of it. That sound a little high to me, I would guess around 200? Judging from the port work I would say it was a factory motor. I know there have been thread on here before listing approx. horsepower #'s of the mercury 6 carb motors and they were supposed to be around 180-200.

[largecar91]

I was typing too slow, Rich has it all listed already

[Watermark]

OMC

X-115 (or GT115).... (115 HP)
some other V-4's (who really cares?.... )
some V-6's (ditto)
Some V-8's (ditto)

Next?

T2x

Good stuff on the Merc's, T2x - Hey, the OMC numbers are needed too, even for those who bleed black - after all, you may want to tell the grandkids that you whipped an OMC engine producing "X more" horsepower with a smaller Merc!

[T2x]

Good stuff on the Merc's, T2x - Hey, the OMC numbers are needed too, even for those who bleed black - after all, you may want to tell the grandkids that you whipped an OMC engine producing "X more" horsepower with a smaller Merc!

My grandkids are all girls....so they don't care, and I have been told by a certified expert (Jackie), that OMC outboards especially the Wanker...er ....Wankel versions.... have been proven to cause herpes in laboratory mice.

Look no further than what your stint driving OMC's did to your nose!!!!!!!



Your pal..... T2x

[seeroy]

Golly Gee - Were they lying to me when I launched into the 1969 Bahama 500 with four 1250BPs barking on my transom at (purportedly) 140hp each?

[LightNBug]

[QUOTE=T2x;1922054]My grandkids are all girls....so they don't care, and I have been told by a certified expert (Jackie), that OMC outboards especially the Wanker...er ....Wankel versions.... have been proven to cause herpes in laboratory mice.

I think Jackie would rather have a daughter in a whore house than a son driving a OMC.

[T2x]

[QUOTE=LightNBug;1922099]

My grandkids are all girls....so they don't care, and I have been told by a certified expert (Jackie), that OMC outboards especially the Wanker...er ....Wankel versions.... have been proven to cause herpes in laboratory mice.

I think Jackie would rather have a daughter in a whore house than a son driving a OMC.

I once had somebody's daughter in a whore house.

[T2x]

Golly Gee - Were they lying to me when I launched into the 1969 Bahama 500 with four 1250BPs barking on my transom at (purportedly) 140hp each?

Those would have been the later engines....... maybe they were 140 hp each......... or not.....

Willabee could say for sure as he was the only one on here privvy to the real numbers........

I will say that 80 mph in some offshore hulls back then always looked slower to me when I passed them in my dual Eltro hull at 70 mph with 10-15 mph to spare..... maybe the offshore horsepower was factored to justify the alleged speeds....rather than vice versa......

[VELOCITY 3.6GT]

Scared to post the Evinrude numbers? You probably should be as it took Mercury getting a beating in the 70's and 80's to make the good motors of the 90's.

[T2x]

Scared to post the Evinrude numbers? You probably should be as it took Mercury getting a beating in the 70's and 80's to make the good motors of the 90's.

oops an Evinrude guy........

Okay here goes......

X-115.GT 115.....400 hp
various V-4's....even more
the Wankel.....unlimited depending on RPM
Various V-6's---- classified,currently used by the McClaren Formula 1 team
Various V-8's .....no dyno big enough...and they also make great supports for suspension bridges.

Truthfully I don't even know the names of the damn things after the 115 era. ( I raced them (E'rude115's) for one season...and ran away screaming).

Bottom line....the whole effort was based on Mercury's chief engineer's (Charlie Strang) arrival at OMC..........so it's all in the family IMHO. I'm not sure what "beatings" you are referring to in the 70's and 80's, but I will confirm that the factory wars went back and forth as one and then the other upgraded the products, until OMC (realizing that their v6's couldn't cut it consistently) with Ex Mercury racing chief GG at the helm set up their own sandbox for the V8's (currently on loan as mooring anchors worldwide).

T2x

[Watermark]

Truthfully I don't even know the names of the damn things after the 115 era. ( I raced them (E'rude115's) for one season...and ran away screaming).T2x

Awe, come on now Rich, just think of your highest Grade School marks - C C C ..