Advice on Merc 1500, mods, tips?

**dragonwolfe** · 12-14-2002, 06:59 PM

Anyone out there have experience with a 1977 150 hp Merc Tower of Power? I was just curious about power increase mods, runnning tips. Any particulars aboout this year in general. This is not my first inline 6 so I am farmiliar with the inline 6 in general.
Any extra advice would be appreciated

**Laker** · 12-14-2002, 07:55 PM

Really the 1500 mercs were the end of 30+ years of trying and Evolution of that Design. not much is left on the table for power other than balancing and blueprinting.... making each port perfect. I did like the High compression pistons and Open Exhaust. These mods didnt seem to make much power but did Sound cool! Low RPM power is a big problem for the I6 1500 of any year so becarefull on a heavy hull. On a light light hull however they can rock. They cost a ton to rebuild so again be carefull about what you expect.

**dragonwolfe** · 12-14-2002, 08:10 PM

Laker Thanks for the comments.
This motor is cherry. It was on a heavy 16' Sidewinder. It's going on a 14' Checkmate that's around 400 lbs. It should rock.
I was thinking about reilieving the exhaust this winter

**Laker** · 12-14-2002, 09:10 PM

I must say (Not sure why I must say but It seems like a nice place to say......) that on looks alone the I6 mercs have a special place in my heart and I will alwasy love them if not just on looks alone. The 80s Bridge port merc is a close second.. perhaps a tie. To me a 2.4 MOD VP cowl is beyond COOL.

**crazy horse** · 12-14-2002, 09:26 PM

Lakers right about the rebuild cost. They are harder to work on but on the right hull they can haul ass. Lighter = speed, O,ya a speedmaster helps with the sound. My engine was balanced lighten and cleaned up by Dick O'Dea years ago and it still runs great. My comp Viper hull weighs less than 300 lbs. The whole rig ready to run is around 650 lbs.

**vector mike** · 12-14-2002, 09:45 PM

Crazyhorse, how do you know that is a comp Viper? How can you tell it apart from a regular Viper? I think I have a light weight Viper hull too because it is different from other Viper's that I have seen in the floor layout and flotation.

**Laker** · 12-14-2002, 09:59 PM

Mike
What year is your Viper?
Their is 2 types of Vipers... Vectors also. The eary ones pre 1975ish and the later Viper and Vector2 models.
Ron Baker SR (Baker marine of scarry fast fame) He Did all the R&D work of those models. Check out Hydrostream.org for more details.
Any Comp Model I have ever seen is solid color (non metal flake) and Center Steer.

**crazy horse** · 12-14-2002, 10:03 PM

The comp hulls don't have a floor for one thing. It should have two stringers about ten inches apart from each other and mine are 1/2 thick and ten inches tall. They run from the transom to the seat box. they are about as wide as the pad. The stringers that run along the cockpit are 4 inches high and run from the transom to about two feet under the dash. I installed a small floor in the front of mine, I hated having my pedal on a angle. Plus my hull is very thin, You can't lay on much less walk anywhere on the top of my hull. I don't know about the second viper design, I never saw a newer comp viper mine is a 1974.

**crazy horse** · 12-14-2002, 10:08 PM

I ordered mine in red metalflake, They didn't want to build it because of gelcoat cracking. Thats what I wanted so they built it, I had to sign off on the gelcoat before they would do it. They were willing to work with customers back then to build what you wanted. I had to have full seating in it to race it in the class we set it up for. It came with back to back low bucket seats and was first rigged with a 1974 short shaft 1500.

**dan agnew** · 12-14-2002, 10:28 PM

man how can u say xpensive to build and hard to work on? i just did one for captroger in conn. and i had to sleeve one hole. his was less that one grand with new rings and one sleeve and new wiseco.
some people do not like to work on em and make u pay to play.
guess i grew up with them so i feel they easy to work on and easy on the wallet.

Danny

**crazy horse** · 12-14-2002, 10:39 PM

Dan, Whats it take to resleeve a inline. Was never to sure that you could do that. I know L&S even sells the sleeves, Just didn't know how much work it was to drop one in.

**Raceman** · 12-14-2002, 11:36 PM

My comp Vector was solid black. I thought I remembered more than 2 stringers, but it's been a long time. Wayne Week's comp Vector which held the unlimited V Bottom NOA Kilo record more than one year was blue metalflake. It was definately a comp boat with exposed stringers and center steer.

**Raceman** · 12-14-2002, 11:40 PM

One other comment on the 1500. I relieved the exhaust on a couple of mine back in the 70's. The mid section isn't nearly as strong as the V6 stuff and is very prone to breaking if drilled in at all. I've seen a couple of inlines drilled in the gearcase right above the cavitation (anti ventilation) plate.

**dragonwolfe** · 12-15-2002, 08:42 AM

Hey Raceman I'm surpised that you don't have one of these in your collection

**Checkmate Too** · 12-15-2002, 09:28 AM

I'm in the process rebuilding a 1400 right now
A gasket kit was about $50
the bearings. rings, reeds and some other stuff was about $700
a carb(s) kit was about $20
two used pistons $40
hav'nt bought the GC seal kit yet.
no decals either. most sign makers can do it. cheap
It should come in under a $1000.
not bad for a complete rebuild

Not really needed but deceided to go with 6 new 15 over pistons.
theres goes the budget.

Need a trim & tilt system