Mercury Outboard???? 80's or 70's Era?????

[Budso_86]

Hello to all,

Well I'm new to this site but thought if there's anybody gonna help me its gonna be you guys here. I have just recently acquired a 20' or so fibreglass( not quite sure on the hull model????) with a 80 HP Mercury outboard. I'm planning on restoring the boat this fall/winter and hopefully get it on the water in the spring/summer. The hull is in perfect order and all needs is a interior that I will be doing myself.

The engine from what I know of it is a Mercury 80 HP Thunderjet Ignition 4 stroke/ long shaft now let me explain my confusion. The serial number for the engine is a canadian number of 2991338 which I found on the left side of the engine when standing behind the prop. I looked up the number on the net and found it to be supposedly a 1971 model. Now the engine looks nothing like a 1971 model unless the Canadian models looked different??? I did more research and found the engine looks more like a 1980's model..... Am I reading the wrong serial number???? How else can I indentify the motor??? I havent been able to locate anymore serial numbers on the engine at all. I'll be doing a complete fluids swap and also need to change the fuel line from the carb to the intake manifold. Which is behind the starter and looks to be a pain in the butt. My father-in-law says that the motor ran last year and has been covered and out of the weather since( the hull has been covered and protected also). He just dosent have the know how or time to fix it up.

Wow I wrote alot....Anyways hopefully you guys can help me indentify this motor so I can get a manual for the thing so I can start turning some wrenches!!!!

Thanks for the help and looking forward to your response.

Thanks again
Budso_86
Mission, BC Canada

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Mercury Outboard???? 80's or 70's Era?????

If it has a distributor on port side its a pre-78 engine, if it has 4 coils on starboard side and a "pack" is 78 or newer....

 

[79Merc80]

Re: Mercury Outboard???? 80's or 70's Era?????

Also, it's not a "4 stroke" it's an inline 4 2-stroke. Here are some pictures of the 80hp modles I can find. The 70-71 is an inline 6, but gives you the color scheeme.

Also, the 800 (80 hp) was made from 1969 - 1972, then again from 1978 - 1989. Somewhere after 1983 they changed it to an inline 3

 

[Budso_86]

Re: Mercury Outboard???? 80's or 70's Era?????

Thanks for the help guys.....Yea my engine looks nothing like a 71 but looks indentical to the 1980-83 model. So I m guessing its in that range. Thanks for clarifying the 800 and 4 stroke conundrum also. Im new to all this so I'm learning.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Mercury Outboard???? 80's or 70's Era?????

Here's a clever way to identify your engine's year...as long as the cowling is original and the engine inside is also original.

If your engine is somewhere between 1972 and 1983...you will find it here:

http://www.nymarine.ca/SIDE-DECAL-STYLES-72-83.gif

For the newer ones from 1984-1993 you will find it here:

http://www.nymarine.ca/SIDE-DECAL-STYLES-84-93.gif

But; a lot of powerheads get switched over the years...and sometimes the cowling as well...so once you find the correct serial number on the block you will have a definite answer. On my engine (1977) the serial number is on the block on the port side. I also have an ID plate on the transom mount. Your engine's location may well be different though.

Chuck