Whats the reason for using the "older" Mercs as apposed to a new Merc?

[vnemous]

They are out there. Not that hard to find. JMO

[W2F a V-King]

I'm sure you'll do research, and find that the 260 280 requires re-ringing, freshening up A LOT sooner than other motors. BUT do haul the mail!!

James

[maineidyl]

With a 260 or 280, what is the average ring lifespan? Is this every 25 hours or 100 or so hours between re-ringing.

Tom

[flattracker60]

I'm sure you'll do research, and find that the 260 280 requires re-ringing, freshening up A LOT sooner than other motors. BUT do haul the mail!!

James

You're right, I will do my homework....right now lol.

What's a motor that requires less maintenance then the 260/280? I don't NEED to go 128mph.....

[hsbob]

just for the record.

i've had serios head gasket with pre 1999 head gasket motors. it had 5 motor blow up. i now prefer the newer o-ring heads.

you can get Jay to modify 2.5 gaskets to o-rings.

[eli]

I am new to the speed boat scene, and have a '16 Liberator with a new 300 xs (which I like a lot).

Why does it seem that 98% of the boat owners use the older 2.5 Mercs (260s, 280s, etc), as apposed to a new Mercury?

It seems like a lot of goofing around with compression, mixing fuel/oil, different pieces of the engine (mids, lower units, power heads, etc).

Is there a new Mercury option that weighs the same (or lighter), more reliable and would perform like a nice 2.5L 260?

I just sold my '71 Hemi/Challenger and bought a new "fun car" because of the same reason....the desire to keep things simple and just drive the car, not fix oil leaks and spend my time tuning all the time.

I want a newer STV, but want to put a motor on it that will rip, and just let me run 'er, not wrench on 'er all the time.

Is it cost? Weight?

Help me understand.

You probably should of bought Wildman,s 21 flamer instead on one with a single 300 , then you would of been happy ,day and night different in performance and fun factor just like your challenger

[90 5.0]

just for the record.

i've had serios head gasket with pre 1999 head gasket motors. it had 5 motor blow up. i now prefer the newer o-ring heads.

you can get Jay to modify 2.5 gaskets to o-rings.

you have other problems, it's not the design of the gasket. I've never had an engine failure that was related to the design of the head gasket and sealing surface.

You are either using unsquare heads and or block deck, using crap gaskets or not sequencing and forcing the heads properly.

I have 2.0's,2.4's and 2.5's currently on boats i own none of them have ever failed to this reason. And I've blown up some sh$t over the years.

[90 5.0]

You're right, I will do my homework....right now lol.

What's a motor that requires less maintenance then the 260/280? I don't NEED to go 128mph.....

225 promax they actually dyno close to 250hp. It's the most reliable motor closest in actual hp to a 260.

[WillySteve]

AND, as far as a 260 and re-ringing....I bought a brand new one in 1995 and ran it on a fishing boat until 2015 without touching it!!!!
Grant you it wasn't ran at 7500rpm constantly like most racing applications but Lord know how many hours were on it when I did a complete overhaul inc. replated cyls!!!!
This time around unless I start showing a bad leakdown it will get rings at 200 hours even though most recommend 100!

[flattracker60]

You probably should of bought Wildman,s 21 flamer instead on one with a single 300 , then you would of been happy ,day and night different in performance and fun factor just like your challenger

What is "Wildman,s 21 flamer"?

I already have a 2016 Liberator 21' with a 300 Pro SX.

[eli]

Look it up on you tube

[flattracker60]

Look it up on you tube

I just did....can you tell me what kind of boat you're talking about?

[BUZZIN' DOZEN]

I just did....can you tell me what kind of boat you're talking about?

[eli]

That's it thanks buzzin

[flattracker60]

That's it thanks buzzin

I already own a 21' Liberator with a 300 xs.

Sweet rig though!