Mercury V-6 200 hp 2.4 2.5 evolution.

**leifbert** · 12-23-2020, 06:41 PM

I have had many v6 Mercs on my boats over the years. I just bought a 2001 200 carb Mercury to replace my blown motor. I notice many little differences in the way the motor looks compared to my older motors. The biggest is the cylinder head design. I searched this site and didn't find much. It would be interesting to know the evolution of the V6 Mercury and what changes happened along the way.

**gotboostedvr6** · 12-23-2020, 07:31 PM

https://www.screamandfly.com/showthr...erc-V6-History

**leifbert** · 12-23-2020, 08:35 PM

I read every word of that last week because of my search. It gave little if any info on the later 2.5's

**gotboostedvr6** · 12-23-2020, 08:59 PM

Not enough guys care to build them anymore. Why would you when the new 4 stroke motors are so strong?

The guys that care to build them are getting older and don't want to get compression fractures riding in small hulls required for speed. They also already have 5 of them in their garage because the market for them is so weak you can get good running examples of them for dirt cheap.

**gotboostedvr6** · 12-23-2020, 08:59 PM

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer!

**mach351** · 12-23-2020, 09:17 PM

Some of us aren’t old guys and we still like building 2.5’s.....just come to any ODBA/SODA race.

anyhoo.....

2.5’s came out in mid ‘91

original motors were 200hp 7 peddle fronts with carbs or laser efi.

Hipo 2.5’s came soon after....225, 245, 260

life was good and the motors really matured through the 1990’s

2000 was the first year of both o-ring style head, and the CDM style ignition.

Mid 2000’s saw Opti technology applied to the 2.5

Hipo motors peaked in the mid 2000’s with the 280 and the 300 drag

in my opinion, the 280 was really the pinnacle of the 2.5

production started to slow in the 2010’s

not sure on when the last was production 2.5 was produced....2015ish?

**Capt.Insane-o** · 12-24-2020, 03:15 AM

Long live the 2.5...

**tlwjkw** · 12-24-2020, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by leifbert

I read every word of that last week because of my search. It gave little if any info on the later 2.5's

in '90/'91 tha 2.5 (aka: fat block) came about with "behind tha liner" portin' (reason blocks look different) openin' up a whole new world of performance over tha older "piston port" motors of earlier years................

**FUJIMO** · 12-24-2020, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Capt.Insane-o

Long live the 2.5...

...amen...

**DangerNewb** · 12-24-2020, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by gotboostedvr6

Not enough guys care to build them anymore. Why would you when the new 4 stroke motors are so strong?

The guys that care to build them are getting older and don't want to get compression fractures riding in small hulls required for speed. They also already have 5 of them in their garage because the market for them is so weak you can get good running examples of them for dirt cheap.

Not downplaying the four strokes, but I havent seen prices dropping on 2.5's. If anything, going up. 3k for a clean sportmaster seems to be the new norm. Guys getting over 2k for ROS mids. 7k for a complete 225 promax. Point us to the cheap 2.5 stuff. Im not a facebooker so maybe the market is different over there?

Seems prices are going up so fast on new stuff its bringing the used market along for the ride.

**Greg G** · 12-24-2020, 09:43 AM

You are correct. Prices are firm to rising for stuff that is accurately represented. Finding a clean low hour Promax for $7k? Not easy to do.

**Greg G** · 12-24-2020, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by mach351

.......not sure on when the last was production 2.5 was produced....2015ish?

I would think the end of the 2.5L would be the last year that Mercury would sell you a Gen 2 200XS ROS Opti SS. They made 247 on the dyno.

In theory, you had to order those almost a year in advance. I'm not sure if they came with the year stamped on the clamp bracket or not.

**Charli** · 12-24-2020, 11:56 AM

When was the last year of the 260? I have twin 94's, with LL blocks. Great engines but can drink the fuel

You are correct, long live the 2.5

**tlwjkw** · 12-24-2020, 12:17 PM

'98.....

**mach351** · 12-24-2020, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Greg G

I would think the end of the 2.5L would be the last year that Mercury would sell you a Gen 2 200XS ROS Opti SS. They made 247 on the dyno.

In theory, you had to order those almost a year in advance. I'm not sure if they came with the year stamped on the clamp bracket or not.

Agreed. A buddy has a 2.5 175 ProXs. I think maybe a ‘13 or ‘14. It’s an impressive motor....opti, 5peddle sportjet reeds, thin ring pistons.