Mercury Through The Years...

**FUJIMO** · 07-14-2017, 08:14 PM

**2us70** · 07-15-2017, 11:14 AM

Does this motor have an exhaust tuner in it? The old 44in Mercurys before the tuners were added were rated at 45 hp powerhead. My dad and I added a tuner to an older 44in motor and it did make a measurable difference. Doesn't look like enough room in the mid on this motor for a traditional 5o hp tuner?QUOTE=FUJIMO;2971137]

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**Mark75H** · 07-15-2017, 11:22 AM

I don't think they have a tuner; but they were built for sameness, not for extra speed.

**2us70** · 07-15-2017, 12:05 PM

When I was just starting out in OPC racing one of the E class top runners was Herb Reeves. Herb put together a rig consisting of two 44in powerheads on D stock mids with Quicksilver lower units on a 13' Raveau. This motor reminds me of that rig. It was something to see running.

**WaterZebra** · 07-16-2017, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

Is boat #34 a Molinari running "topless" (no cowl) as a kneeler / laydown with a TII on the back? How did the guy work power trim if he was laying down (foot buttons?). Must have been a lot of work to "set" the boat in the turns. Kneeling or laydown vs seated position, where did the fuel tank end up going? I've never seen a TII "kneeler" before, how did it do?

**powerabout** · 07-16-2017, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

Does this motor have an exhaust tuner in it? The old 44in Mercurys before the tuners were added were rated at 45 hp powerhead. My dad and I added a tuner to an older 44in motor and it did make a measurable difference. Doesn't look like enough room in the mid on this motor for a traditional 5o hp tuner?QUOTE=FUJIMO;2971137]

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shame they werent competitive with the OMC, could have ended up with some cool multi brand racing

**FUJIMO** · 07-16-2017, 07:58 PM

...Go Boldly...With Mercury Racing - https://youtu.be/U36SGQSsOoA

**Mark75H** · 07-16-2017, 08:26 PM

shame they werent competitive with the OMC, could have ended up with some cool multi brand racing

They weren't intended to be. One was a Stock Division motor, the other was an OPC Division motor. In the Mod Division where both were allowed, the taller, lower displacement OMC 45ss was at a distinct disadvantage. They were tried for a few years, but it was soon obvious the Merc's had the advantage.

**2us70** · 07-16-2017, 08:27 PM

The 44s were reclassified into D class in both OPC and Stock Outboard. In OPC they became just about the only SD motor but with a standard mid and lower unit. I raced this class for two years in the mid 1970s. I have never even seen one of these 44XS motors in person.
shame they werent competitive with the OMC, could have ended up with some cool multi brand racing[/QUOTE]

**powerabout** · 07-16-2017, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Mark75H

They weren't intended to be. One was a Stock Division motor, the other was an OPC Division motor. In the Mod Division where both were allowed, the taller, lower displacement OMC 45ss was at a distinct disadvantage. They were tried for a few years, but it was soon obvious the Merc's had the advantage.

We are talking 44xs Versus sst45 the 45 meaning cubic inches
It was on hydros that the omc was designed for
So the stock 44xs is over 70hp?
Merc was a 50hp xflow stock omc was 60hp looper stock

**Robby321** · 07-17-2017, 02:59 PM

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**Robby321** · 07-17-2017, 03:00 PM

Here ya go Sam!

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**John Schubert** · 07-17-2017, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by powerabout

We are talking 44xs Versus sst45 the 45 meaning cubic inches
It was on hydros that the omc was designed for
So the stock 44xs is over 70hp?
Merc was a 50hp xflow stock omc was 60hp looper stock

Wrong Sam. The SST 45 is a 44.9 c.i. Motor & 2 cylinders lower c.g. Then the Merc 44 c.i. 4 cylinder. Yes it was tried & should have exceeded with continued effort. Remember it's loop scavenged whereas the 44 Merc is cross flow. I doubt if any version of a modified 44 Merc could reach 70 hp, but pretty sure a stock 45 pulls 60 plus then if decent expansion chambers were developed could possibly get 70 how

**Mark75H** · 07-17-2017, 05:07 PM

The OMC twin powerhead is shorter, but the mid is taller.

People tried them in Mod and the lower powered Merc with more mid range consistently won. Its not who's fastest, its who's "firstest"

One motor builder did build a OMC twin with expansion chamber and it did very well in the few races he took it to.

I agree, I do not think a modified 44 Merc has the potential to make 70hp.

**2us70** · 07-17-2017, 05:11 PM

The 44 in Mercury just couldn't flow enough air to make a lot more than 50 hp. I heard rumors of a rotary valve conversion to an inline Mercury which might have helped but the inspectors would probably have noticed that one.