Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

[Texasmark]

Ok you expert guys. Help me with this.<br /><br />Years ago Merc was advertising their 99 cu in in line 6 at 125 hp then 140 hp then 150 hp. Wow. more than 1 hp per cu in.....Old man Kiekhaefer would have rolled in his grave. Was running a 9.9 McCulloch on a 14' aluminum john boat one day and a dude with a 150 on a 16' Hydrasport blew past me and when he hit my wake, all that was in the water was his prop and skeg. Impressive.......<br /><br />When I was a kid, seemed Mercs ran low for their advertised hp. OMC was the queen for that reason. I thought it was because Mercs used a 2 balde prop and OMC a 3....but time changed that.<br /><br />Then I hear that in some time frame (late '60's '70's....dunno), Merc quits rating engines at the power head and rates at the prop like OMC had done all along.<br /><br />So the rumor goes on that the once rated 150hp 99 cu in 6 cyl is really nothing more than the late '80's 6 cyl 115. I always thought that they put really large jets in the carbs and that's how they got more than one hp/cu in....but what did I know. I was just a dumb kid.<br /><br />So whats the truth? Thanks<br /><br />Mark

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Radical porting and big carbs made for an engine that had great high RPM power but was a tad fussy about running smoothly below 4000 rpm.<br />When I was young, the mercs were the faster motors for a given horsepower.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

My dad always said......expert = An Ex is a has-been! And a spurt is a drip under pressure! <br /><br />I also suspect the debate on what manufactures did to justify a sticker change on the cowl will rage on forever......<br /><br />I agree with your comments that back in the 70’s the Johno's and Rudes went harder than Mercs when wearing the same HP stickers but it’s like saying a Chevy's better than a Ford!! OMG! Did I just say that……… oopps!

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

define expert....<br /><br />am i too aloud to add to this pile?<br /><br />oops , i just did

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

OK Mark... here's the poop.<br /><br />The '68-'69 1250 was part of the old crossflow family and made 125hp at the powerhead. For '70-'71 radical intake changes were made and this new modified "direct charge" cross-flow became the 1350. In 1972 the motor got better flowing exhust and became the 1400. Lastly in 1973 came the boost port to get the thing to 150hp at the powerhead- the 1500. This is as good as they got.<br /><br />During all this time existed the 115, a 99ci deliberately strangled version of the big one.<br /><br />In the later 70's the big one got low dome pistons and was renamed the 140 so as not to compete with the new V6 150.<br /><br />In 1982 Mercury went to propshaft ratings and the 140 became the 115 and the 115 became the 90.<br /><br />In the early-mid 70's the 150 Merc would surely outrun the 150 Jonnnyrude (when they had one)ditto the 115's.<br /><br />Not everyone went to propshaft ratings at the same time, so for a while in the very late 70's and very early 80's, till '82, Mercs were powerhead rated while OMC was propshaft. But in the ealy '70's the 1500 was indeed the "king of the lake".<br /><br />You can put hi-dome pistons, rejet the carbs, and put 1500 type reeds in the later propshaft rated 115 blocks and still make a powerhead rated 150. I run such a critter. They really can make 1.5hp per cubic inch (at the crankshaft)and Big Carl prolly never would have approved of retailing it to the public, as the engine is pretty volitile and unforgiving. <br /><br />Also.... the '82-'88 propshaft rated 115 prolly puts out a *little* more than 115 at the prop.<br /><br />As far as HP per ci, and HP per pound, the big 99ci inlines are in a class by themselves.<br /><br />-W

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Thanks Clams for your reply. I think I read between the lines on your little more than 115hp comment.<br /><br />But your answer triggered another question if you will: When the first V6's came out at 150 hp, do you know of any "races" between the old 150 inline and the new V6? If so, was 150 hp 150 hp or was one better than the other; top end, hole shot?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark

 

[scrapper]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Originally posted by myoutboards:<br /> define expert....<br /><br />am i too aloud to add to this pile?<br /><br />oops , i just did

EXPERT :::: One Who Knows More and More about Less and Less

 

[timmathis]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

I'm not sure who would win the race between the inline 150 and the V6 150, But if anybody Has a 1976 150 H.P. V6 that will come to Lake Hartwell S.C. I have a 1975 1500 150 H.P. and we will just find out who will win. Tim

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Well, there's no substitute for cubic inches, so I'd say the V6 150 has that advantage, and probably (guessing)got a stronger hole shot. <br /><br />The 1500 JUST made 150hp at it's peak output, no real extra margin (the margin is in that late 115 though) If the V6 was at all conservatively rated, then it might have been stronger.<br /><br />But the 1500 weighed less, was real peaky, and spools up easily once "on the pipe". I'm not sure about long and short drag racing potentials, but I'd bet the 1500 has some advantage on small closed courses with lots of cornering and coming on and off the throttle.<br /><br />-W

 

[timmathis]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

That is what I mean short run's like 1/8 or1/4 mile runs like drag racing. My 150 H.P. inline is super fast. We do a lot of bridge to bridge runs with other boats and have not been beat yet.<br /> They say is is hard to beat cubic inches not true in all cases. I have A 1955 chevy 210 post I have had it for 31 years. For many years all we had to do in Liberty S.C. was drag race on Friday and Saturday nights or any time somebody wanted to. It has a 1965 corvette 327 cubic inches bored 30 over so it now has 332 cubic inches.(In the old days) On the street I have never been beat.. and I have ran many big blocks 396, 427 454 Etc. so that alone proves that you can beat cubic inches. <br />Some motors are just faster than others with cars, boats, Etc. Tim <br /><br />P.S. BTW, Now if we race we go to Greer drag way. Also most the time I would not use nitrous oxide nobody would race me with it. They knew they wouldn't stand a chance.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Ok guys, thanks.<br /><br />Now Tim, on the street rappers, I think that stroke is the key. Back in '59, when the chev taillights looked like teardrops on their sides, I was in the service in Altus Ok. Had this California smart *** that had a new then, Chev Biscayne, Stick on the floor with a 348 and 3 deuces. Nobody liked him cause according to him Cal was the only place on earth and midwesterners were just maggots....pfffffft for him.<br /><br />We had lots of deserted roads there in the farmbelt and we would get out on a straightaway at night and go for it.<br /><br />So this other guy.....shy Okie with Mon's 4 door Bel Air (2 tone green.....the color did it) with a little 283 and power glide tranny take on Mr hot rocks........you know it B4 I say it. Smoked his cheeks. Best I can tell, the short stroke rapped up tighter, faster than the 348........course the power glide is used today by racers cause it gets you goin without spinn.......but I really didn't want to say that. Grin.<br /><br />Mark

 

[timmathis]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Yep, That was the good old days. This old world has gone crazy. People are just not the same anymore.<br /> One thing I can say about most people here at iboats have been verry helpfull like people in the old days thank god!!! One reason for that is. I think is that you can't make money here. <br /> Tim Mathis

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Originally posted by Tim Mathis:<br /> Yep, That was the good old days. This old world has gone crazy. People are just not the same anymore.<br /> One thing I can say about most people here at iboats have been verry helpfull like people in the old days thank god!!! One reason for that is. I think is that you can't make money here. <br /> Tim Mathis

you sure called it

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Say Elmer,<br /><br />Got any water over there?<br /><br />I'm N. of Lavon. Good for 4 wheeling. Grin<br /><br />Shure need some rain.<br /><br />Mark

 

[mikebc]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Hey, sellin the 1350, what should I ask for it? Runs sweet, all decails are 95%, paint is 95%, was stored for 15 years! I have it up to snuff last fall, runs perfect now. any ideas????

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

You'll do best if you offer to rig it for a fee.<br /><br />-W

 

[mikebc]

Re: Inline 6 hp.....real vs imaginitive...Experts only...thanks

Clams, thanks for the info. Yeah, rigging is a pain in the A@#. What kinda number is fair for this motor? would love to sell it on the toon it's on, with the toon at no value.