Confused over a Mercruiser MCM-165 Engine

[DLHarvey]

Hey,

As the topic states, I am a little confused over the Mercruiser MCM-165 engine (I know it is an old engine but it is the one that a Glastron SSV-177 boat I am thinking about restoring has). On a thread here (http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...utdrives/331091-mercruiser-mcm-165-reputation) states, that this engine is a four cylinder with an aluminum block, The engine on my boat is a 6 cylinder and appears to have a cast iron block. It is also a 4.0 L (250 cid) engine.

I guess my question is this, according the the previous mentioned thread, the Mercruiser MCM-165 engine has a bad reputation. Does that include both engines or just the 4 cylinder engine?

Thanks in advance

 

[Scott Danforth]

the 4-cylinder motor with the aluminum block is the Mercruiser 470. it is half of the Ford 460 with a custom Mercruiser only crank and block. the head is a modified ford 460. they are not desireable. any lack of maintenance and the motor could be in dire need or repair or replacment. the alternators were prone to fail, the distributor mounting was funky, and they have the whole head to block mating surface dilema. I would walk away very fast to the car, then speed away.

the motor in your boat is a GM 250cid I6. while a bit dated, it is a great running engine.

I would keep looking

 

[achris]

Yes, 2 very different engines were labeled as '165'. The original was the GM 250 (6 cylinder) based engine. Very good, very reliable, but getting a bit long in the tooth these days, the last one being supplied by Merc in 1981. The other '165' is the 4 cylinder Mercury marine, 224 cu in, 3.7 litre, of the '4'70' family. Apart from the problems Scott mentioned, this engine has great power to weight ratio and is very economical, but also now getting to be quite old, the last being built in 1989....

Chris......

 

[stonyloam]

It does not include the 6 cyl. The 6 cyl cast iron engine has a very good reputation as a reliable and durable engine.

 

[DLHarvey]

Thanks for the replies and thanks for clearing it up. The engine is in a 1977 Glastron SSV-177 and from what I have been told it has very little time on it. The boat was given to me a little over a year ago and needs quite a bit of work (mainly the boat and not the engine or stern drive, both runs great).

Thanks again for your replies.

 

[achris]

If the engine and drive are the same year as the boat, that will make the drive an 'MC-1'....