mercury or evinrude

[wesley pipes]

im a evinrude johnson mechanic still in college and mainly all i know is j/e im buillding me a boat its a 18foot chief center console. im looking for a motor that can give me speed and power for skiers. i have my eye on a v4 90hp evinrude that im going to bring back to life but im interested in the 6cyl mercurys. the 90 and 115's i heard there was alot you can do to those motors for more performance, speed etc. i want to hear your opinions and what all you know thanks

 

[coolguy147]

Re: mercury or evinrude

johnson evinrude all the way man. mercs have problems with there 6 inlines there good but have problems that can be very bad.


mercs r kidna hard to work on and johnson evinrude r much cheaper to maintain and easier to work on. there very good motors

 

[Chris1956]

Re: mercury or evinrude

Wesley, I have not heard of many practical modifications that can be done to merc L6's, or J/E V4s, for that matter. Your best bet is to restore a stock motor. The inline mercs were a good, simple design. They have good power/weight ratio, but since they are of low displacement (inline 6 = 99 Cu In, 150HP max), the lower end power is a bit down, compared to the V6 engines of the same power. The mid range power on the inline is excellent, and stacks up with anyone.

The last inline 6 was 1988. Since these are pretty old now, you might want to work on a 60* V6 from Merc, although, these are pretty similar to the J/E 60* V6s.

If I were you, I would consider the largest J/E V4 that you can find. They had ones with 140HP. I would expect that the 18 footer you have could handle the V6 as well.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: mercury or evinrude

Agree with Chris, a v6 Merc or Johnnyrude would be the best choice fer skiing on an 18 foot boat, (assuming the boat is rated for the power).

Contrary to what some say here there is no problem AT ALL with the older inline6 Mercs and the only inline6 that was a bit weak outa the hole with torque was the 1400 or the 1500 (as they were set up for mid and high end power with only 99 cubic inches as Chris stated).

The 95 hp to 135 hp inlines had very good torque outa the hole fer a waterskiiers et al, (I own a few of 'em and I'm a skiier), and would easily outrun the v-4 Johnnyrudes (also 99 cubic inch engines), but the V6s (Johnnyrude or Merc), would be the better choice fer a heavier boat.

JR

 

[wesley pipes]

Re: mercury or evinrude

the boats not thaat heavy but im thinking about just going for the v4 j/e. work on evinrudes and i knowtat if that 90hp blew id have a 140 hp power head on there in a week. i have seen a few racing modified v4 quiet riders and was just woundering what all you can do to increase performance. i kbow theres plenty to do to a 350 chevy but i have no clue on what you can do to crank more horsepower out of a 2 stroke

 

[Chris1956]

Re: mercury or evinrude

Wesley, There are plenty of "bolt on" HP boosters for SBC. Everything from headers to cams to high rise intakes, big carbs and superchargers. On the outboards, the changes are with porting and exhaust tuning. These tend not to be bolt on.

You might monitor the "Scream and Fly" website for some good ideas. They work mostly on V6 Mercs and J/Es.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: mercury or evinrude

the boats not thaat heavy but im thinking about just going for the v4 j/e. work on evinrudes and i knowtat if that 90hp blew id have a 140 hp power head on there in a week. i have seen a few racing modified v4 quiet riders and was just woundering what all you can do to increase performance. i kbow theres plenty to do to a 350 chevy but i have no clue on what you can do to crank more horsepower out of a 2 stroke

As Chris said: it is not soooo easy to tweek a fully tweeked (by the factory) 2 stroke outboard engine, (open air exhaust would be real noisy and the gain would be a bit dubious, a low friction LU would be the only thing that would give ya an immeadiate n' very noticable gain, [n' the $/gain would not be worth it cornpared to a stock V6 which would be far more noticable] IMHO).

Automotive type engines are another matter, (as Chris also said). If the boat is not that heavy a 115-1500 inline6 Merc whould make her really scream and are some of the best waterskiier (very serious hole shot) light weight engines ever made, but as you said: you know how to werk on those Johnnyrudes v-4s! Which are great engines as well, (as long as ya get the later model ones with the thru prop exhaust).

Me over priced $.02. JR

 

[wesley pipes]

Re: mercury or evinrude

thats what im loking for i woud say more than speed is the whole shot. im going to be fishing in the bay and skiing with my firends so im still stuck on the merc i6 but no experience on them. i have overhauled a few v4evinrudes befor. the one im looking at getting is the 92 model the ones i like. except for the thermostat set up on them

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: mercury or evinrude

The 1982 to 1988 prop rated 115 inline6s are real killers. They are not as finicky as the late 1970s 140, 1400 and 1500s were, and their hole shots are second to none from a similar sized engine, (Johnnyrude v4s included).

I prefer the distributor fired inline6s up through the 1979 model. An early 1970s crankshaft rated 1350 or 1400 (the first 1400 not the late 1970s model), would be another great choice as well. Even faster then the later model 115s I mentioned above.

I had a 1968 1250 short shaft that would run away from any v-4s, (or the inline 4 Chryslers which were also faster outa the hole then the 'Rudes), I ever found from outa the hole, mid range to WOT, and the 1350s were even faster from a standing start.

BTW that same 1250 short shaft would destroy my freshly rebuilt, (broken in), 1976 1500 outa the hole 'til the ol' 1500 got a up head of steam and it would run by the 1250. The 1500 had a bigger wheel then the 1250 was swingin' (ta be fair), but even with a 19p on both engines it was a bit slower outa the hole then the ol' 1250 was. Mid and high end was a different kettle o' fish as the 1500 really rocked at that range.

JR

One other note: I noticed you are from the Texas coast. If yer runnin' in the salt: Johnnyrude v-4s are superior to the inline6 Mercs in salt water.

If ya want an inline6 that is fair in the salt environment (with regular flushing when ya pull her out): go with the mid 1970s to 1988 as they had stainless drive shafts that the late 1960s and early 1970s inline6s lacked.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: mercury or evinrude

Wesley, You will find the inline sixes to be very interesting, I would think. They are basically 3 two cylinder inline motors stacked up. Each of the three carbs serves two cylinders, one above and one below. Carb induction is through a reed block which surrounds the crankshaft, in the center of the two connecting rod journals. The top and interior main bearings are caged roller as are the crankpin bearings. Piston pin bearings are needle and the lower main is ball bearing. Pretty standard stuff, however it is very compact, and pretty simple for a 6 cylinder motor. They are all cross flow motors with either a high or low dome piston. The 140HP and 150HP version (depending on year) has special ports in the pistons and special transfer port machining. Only a few tools are necessary to tear 'em down.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: mercury or evinrude

well i would stay away from the inlines sixes for the matter. poursonally i just dont like mercs mainly cause there not user friendly i guess if i had more experience in that field i would change but for now im sticking with my johnson evinrude motors.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: mercury or evinrude

well i would stay away from the inlines sixes for the matter.

Question: do you or have you ever owned an inline6 Merc there: young feller??????

poursonally i just dont like mercs mainly cause there not user friendly

Ya don't say.......... How so? Please be real specific as I own six running inlines6s and I have found just the opposite to be true!

i guess if i had more experience in that field

Like any expereince at all......... yer sayin'?

i would change

Yes you may; and then again maybe you would not; why not wait fer a bit until ya own one and run one to see what ya actually think of 'em???

but for now im sticking with my johnson evinrude motors.

I know ya like yer Johnnyrudes. I did too when I was yer age n' BTW: I still like 'em!!!

It is better to express yerself positively about people and things people like when ever possible, and if ya have something negative ta say it is always a real good idea ta base it on somethin' ya know ta be 100% true.

Did ya know that the Merc inline6s were the most popular high power outboard engine ever produced on this particular planet there: young feller?

Maybe there is a reason they were soooooo popular; don't ya think?

Good luck to ya with yer 'Rudes, as they are great engines as well.

Respectfully, JR

 

[coolguy147]

Re: mercury or evinrude

my 35hp johnson vs ur merc 350 fourcylinder motor.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: mercury or evinrude

my 35hp johnson vs ur merc 350 fourcylinder motor.

I don't have a Merc 35, I have a Johnson 35, and three Merc 25s, (twin cylinders).

The Mercs are real fast (rated at the prop) and out ran me old crank rated 25 Johnson and me neighbor's Johnson 25 too.

I have never raced the 35 Johnson against the 25 Mercs. Me thinks the Johnson would likely win if I did. JR

 

[coolguy147]

Re: mercury or evinrude

just saying if u had one. lets do that tub of war challenge thing u think johnson win( duh

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: mercury or evinrude

just saying if u had one. lets do that tub of war challenge thing u think johnson win( duh

I dunno which would win, n' not gonna try a tug of war n' swamp two boats.

The 350 is a fast little engine and most of the older Mercs are faster then cornparable sized Johnnyrudes, 'cept the three cylinder OMC loopers which were real killers.

I would not bet against the older Mercs if I were you.


JR

 

[56 rude]

Re: mercury or evinrude

Me im a johnny/rude guy,that being said i had a few mercs and they were good motors .Had a 1962 40hp 4 cylinder that was a beauty and ran like a fine swiss watch(rolex)!Now im into the older omc stuff just because it usually easier to find parts and i like the looks and simplicity of the 54-57 stuff.i got a 1939 rude that is a opossed twin of 22.5 hp ,do you know that thing has a metal waterpump impeller and is as good as the day it was made!

 

[coolguy147]

Re: mercury or evinrude

least i can keep my motor runnning

 

[jimmbo]

Re: mercury or evinrude

I had a 1984 115 merc, prop rated. Had it 14 yrs, loved that engine. On a 15 ft boat it even pulled a guy out of the water barefoot. The same boat also had had a 1982 140 Evinrude, crank rated. The Merc had better bottom end and better top speed than the Rude. It also burned a little less gas doing it. Inlines sixes... great little engine.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: mercury or evinrude

I had a 1984 115 merc, prop rated. Had it 14 yrs, loved that engine. On a 15 ft boat it even pulled a guy out of the water barefoot. The same boat also had had a 1982 140 Evinrude, crank rated. The Merc had better bottom end and better top speed than the Rude. It also burned a little less gas doing it. Inlines sixes... great little engine.

That is similar to my experience.

My crank rated 1968 1250, (similar in power to yer prop rated 115), would outrun every 115 or 140 Johnnyrude I ever saw, n' I had the engine fer many years and ran down many a v-4 'Rude.

When I had that same engine on me 14 foot tunnel hull fer a few years it prolly would have run down lots of engines as I had it at a non GPS 74 MPH on Lake Washington one time, (as paced by a car on one of the floating bridges).

I have a crank rated 1977 1500 now and had a 1976 1500 a while back which also ran all over the 115/140 v-4 'Rudes, as do my crank rated 1150s, which are 8% + 0r - less power then yer prop rated 115.

I dunno about gas cornsumption of the older 'Rudes but me inline6s are not bad at all, (I don't run them at WOT all the time), jus' when I need ta show somebody me stern.

I also have two 1969 1000s; and a 1967 950 crank rated 90 cubic in inline6s.

They prolly would not beat the 140 'Rudes, (never tried so I dunno), but they have very strong outa the hole torque, (I'm a 210 lb water skiier who still makes deep water starts on one very aggressive ski after I take a spill). They are very strong engines that run very sweet, (the 950 runs great now thanks ta Laddies), THANK YOU BOB!!!!

Anybody who has had the pleasure of owning an inline6 Merc in good mechanical shape would be hard pressed to bad mouth it after they hit the key n push the throttle down n' take 'er fer a spin.

To be fair: I also think the later model v4 'Rudes are very good engines too.

Me over priced $.02