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  1. #1
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    Old ridge back housing history

    looking for a little help

    I am restoring another old mercury and was wanting information about the old ridgeback os housings or any race history.

    Did mercury cut the back off these from the factory? Or is it a modification (see pics).

    The engine I’m building is a mod vp with the old formula cowl it will be a complete nut and bolt restoration.

    I have attached a photos of the Bridgeport I have just finished.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 9AC9B68F-F175-4730-A1D2-8FCC5CECF13E.jpg   D7E09B6F-522F-4F69-AE69-7493EC965C6F.jpeg   808A01F9-5A75-49FF-B139-1CE3D61F20CB.jpeg   CC288749-F207-461A-9BC8-FEE8EEAD6198.jpeg   3AFBCA92-AC97-47A2-8EA0-09B47E7E419D.jpeg  


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  3. #2
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    Nope, Merc didn't cut em. There are different reasons people do that, I don't care for it.
    Living in the Freedom provided by Bud Conner and his fellow warriors.
    R.I.P. my Heathen Brother






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  5. #3
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    They came from the factory like your first three pictures show. Don’t remember them ever coming from the factory on a Mod-VP though. They did come on offshore motors and were considerably stronger for offshore abuse. The standard towers would break with enough rough water abuse.

    People did cut them like your later pictures show. Did make them noisier, don't think it did anything for more power.
    Last edited by Onetime; 12-04-2022 at 10:47 AM.

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  7. #4
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    Pardon for jumping in here. Do the ridge backs precede the smoothbacks?
    Hydrostream dreamin

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  9. #5
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    Yes. Ridgebacks 2.4. Smoothbacks 2.5

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  11. #6
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    Don't think a ridgeback ever came on a 3 ram trim either (like in the first two pics). Although, if I was building one for river running thats how I would do it. I understand those pics may just be for reference, but just fyi

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  13. #7
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    Didn’t even notice the production trim and clamp brackets.
    Good catch!
    Nope the offshore ridgeback tower only came on the high performance single ram trim and heavy duty clamp brackets. Never a three ram.

    Three ram trim not good for fast high performance running. They can allow the engine to trim out when you let off the throttle at high speed.
    Last edited by Onetime; 12-05-2022 at 07:58 AM.

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  15. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Onetime View Post

    Three ram trim not good for fast high performance running. They can allow the engine to trim out when you let of the throttle at high speed.
    I had no idea about this. Is this because gravity holds the motor onto the trim? Im not at my motors right now to look so im trying to visualize. Where the osm is bolted?
    Hydrostream dreamin

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  17. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by LakeFever View Post
    I had no idea about this. Is this because gravity holds the motor onto the trim? Im not at my motors right now to look so im trying to visualize. Where the osm is bolted?
    I think the idea behind this is the 3-ram was not deigned to hold as much HP back as the single ram? So theoretically as you power up with 250+ hp the 3 separate rams are not as rigid as the single ram, so they can compress a little due to air/leaking seals/greater tolerances inside. Then if you let off the gas the hydros relax and the whole ram kicks out the slightest amount. Kinda like a mini spring. This is what I have heard: but I have never EXPERIENCED it. I know peope who run 100+ on 2.5 3 rams and on 250 proXS that came with the same 3-ram.

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  19. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by 25two.stroke View Post
    but I have never EXPERIENCED it. I know peope who run 100+ on 2.5 3 rams and on 250 proXS that came with the same 3-ram.
    this............

    i've personally never had it happen either..... with more than one production clamp/trim........

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  21. #11
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    ...lots of standard midsection cans were raced for years back in the 80's in offshore. just as many as the ridgebacks or more. it was rare when one failed actually. but yes, they did fail on occasion. if one did fail, it was from hitting something, or loose or questionable rigging maintainence. national and world championship boats won in offshore, with standard mid cans...
    Last edited by FUJIMO; 12-06-2022 at 04:41 PM.

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  23. #12
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  25. #13
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    ...stock midsection cans...

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  27. #14
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    Click image for larger version. 

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    Thank you very much for all your information, I really appreciate it. After a little bit of machining on a mill and a bit of tig welding it’s now back in original form. Thank you also for the input on the trip tilt assembly, I have two of the old style big single rams under the bench which I’ll now be restoring as well.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 48F249A0-C1B3-45F8-B36F-8BC2D0BD2896.jpg  

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  29. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by FUJIMO View Post
    ...lots of standard midsection cans were raced for years back in the 80's in offshore. just as many as the ridgebacks or more. it was rare when one failed actually. but yes, they did fail on occasion. if one did fail, it was from hitting something, or loose or questionable rigging maintainence. national and world championship boats won in offshore, with standard mid cans...
    When i installed the custom exhaust tuner i had made the inner liner could not fit anymore
    At the time i read a lot about dry stacking but decided against it as i was wurried that the extra heat would degrade the strenth of the mid
    So i also opened 2 holes to 7.5mm they jet against the flairing of the tuners and hopefully to the mid after that

    So now the special bolt on kit is installed to turn it into a poppet cooling engine
    This kit is availeble through my craigslist account "gettingsuckered.com" ask for joe smith!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 20221206_082616.jpg   20221206_142106.jpg  
    Last edited by PanRonnie; 12-09-2022 at 04:16 AM.

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