Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

[hibbert6]

I'm looking at a 21' boat with a 165hp Mercruiser w/ Alpha 1 outdrive. 1988 I believe. Any idea what this really is? (4.3L?) Would it be enough to pull up a 160lb slalom skier? Oh, yeah, the boat has a cuddy cabin.

Dave

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

has it got 4 cyl.s, closed cooling, a funny looking stator thing on the ft of the engine, a water cooled voltage regulator, an aluminum block...
likely is one of these, a mercrusier engine....
http://www.sterndrives.com/470information/470coolantleakrepair.html
read all the way to the bottom of the page.
many engines don't have right up's like this for know engine issues..

for skiing, 21' might be pushing it a shade for hp wise. in my 19' boat a 165hp does just wonderful, my old boat was 16' w/165hp. it did good too... difference is a 165 inline 6 chevy 250....

reason i suspect the mercruiser engine is the inline 6 had stopped being used by '88. might check the year of the engine in question too. from a mercruiser drive application chart, a 165hp w/alpha1 was in 87, in 88 looks like it was designated 3.7L w/alpha1....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

Ayuh,... You DON'T want a boat with a 470,... Keep Lookin'...

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

Thanks, guys, for the enlightenment! I'll avoid that engine.

This is why I enjoy iBoats forums so much. Where else could I ask these types of questions and have access to so much authouritive information?

Dave

 

[frank246]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

Whats with the 165 4 cyl, the replacement for the 470? Same engine or ...

 

[fyrfightr]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

Same engine, different name.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

That engine had a different name every year, trying to outrun the reputation. Merc finally dropped it and used the 4.3, best thing they ever did.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

Good engine with some annoying (expensive!) quirks! 'nutcase

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

How about finishing up this thread with opinions on the I-6 250CI 165HP engine just in case.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

How about finishing up this thread with opinions on the I-6 250CI 165HP engine

hum, what's to discuss. the base statement that i've heard is the the I6, chevy 250, 165hp may be one of the best engines ever to be marininzed. torquey, don't break down. common, ya don't see many my I6 250 is broke down threads? ya don't see many, gee, i sure like my engine threads either. for the I6 you will. to me, it's the ultimate in a basic carbed power plant. ultimate simplicity that works. ya get the feeling i like my chevy 250?

 

[180shabah]

Re: Mercruiser 165hp - any good?

How about finishing up this thread with opinions on the I-6 250CI 165HP engine just in case.

It is heavy, but very dependable.

BUT

The boat in question is from the '80s, so it is the frankenford 470.