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Looking for info on 1970s outboards

D

DCell

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I am in the market for a repower. Boat is a 16ft bass boat, fiberglass hull. Says it's rated for 55hp, came with a 25 from the previous owner. I would love to get my hands on the old Tower of Power but it's way too much for that hull. Are the motors in the smaller range as good as the inline sixes from that era?
 
I had a mid '70's 4 cylinder Merc 850 (85 engine rated hp)....probably 80 HP with today's prop ratings. It was one of the finest engines I ever owned. Had power trim and tilt.....a great addition. Had it on a 16' fiberglass boat. Would do 39 with just me.
 
One thing to watch on the 800's and 850"s is cone shaped cylinder wear for engines that idled a lot or who were babied, those engines were over cooled and had weird cylinder wear. Whatever that's worth. They actually lasted longer being run hard. The 850's I've run were really nice running engines. I do have a very clean 1978 900 tower with power trim in stock, needs internal wiring and normal maintenance, bore scoped all six bores are perfect. Barn find lake motor from north of Raleigh NC. Cleaning out the shop, come get it down here in north Florida, its yours if you want it.
 
fitz73222 said:
One thing to watch on the 800's and 850"s is cone shaped cylinder wear for engines that idled a lot or who were babied, those engines were over cooled and had weird cylinder wear. Whatever that's worth. They actually lasted longer being run hard. The 850's I've run were really nice running engines. I do have a very clean 1978 900 tower with power trim in stock, needs internal wiring and normal maintenance, bore scoped all six bores are perfect. Barn find lake motor from north of Raleigh NC. Cleaning out the shop, come get it down here in north Florida, its yours if you want it.
Click to expand...
Mine weren't babied...pedal on the metal as the saying goes whenever the wind and waves let me.
 
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