Best years for 70-75hp Johnson/Evinrude outboards

[WinnerCougar74]

I am considering switching to a boat with a Johnson/Evinrude 70-75hp 2 stroke outboard. Are they pretty much all the same from the 70's to 2000"s? If not which era is best and why?

 

[airshot]

I owned a 1979 model and it was awesome. Great motor, pulled skiers and knee boards. Never an issue other than replacing the CDI box.

 

[WinnerCougar74]

Thanks for you input. I have heard they are some of the best outboards ever made. I know at some point they started using a VRO pump so you didn't have to mix your own oil and used less oil at low speeds so it didn't foul plugs as easily. Just not sure when they started doing that.

 

[jimmbo]

They may looks the Same, or Similar, but the Early ones were 49.7 Cubic Inch Blocks, while sometime in the 80s the Displacement was increased.

Out of Curiosity, what brand of Motor are you currently running?

 

[flyingscott]

Stay away from the 75 Hp unless you have a light hull. The 70 hp is a much better all around motor. I also prefer the 86 and later as they are actually prop rated motors.

 

[Lpgc]

I'm no outboard expert but remember my dad buying a new Sims Super V 14ft boat and new Evinrude 2 cylinder 60hp for it in around 1984. He sold that boat and engine a few years later and bought a used Microplus boat and used 3 cylinder Johnson/Evinrude (I forget which but believe the Johnsons and Evinrudes were the same engines anyway). We much preferred the 3 cylinder 70 to the 2 cylinder 60, it was a bit older than the 60 (maybe a late 70's or early 80's engine) but a lot smoother than the 60. Never had any problems with either engine but wouldn't expect any problems because the 60 was new / almost new and the 70 was probably only 5 years old when he sold it.

 

[WinnerCougar74]

They may looks the Same, or Similar, but the Early ones were 49.7 Cubic Inch Blocks, while sometime in the 80s the Displacement was increased.

Out of Curiosity, what brand of Motor are you currently running?

I am currently running a 1974 Chrysler 135hp

 

[redneck joe]

I had an 84, great motor.

I don't trust VRO and imo unless you are spending hours and hours trolling it burn off just fine. If the trolling thing is you, just have a smaller, separate fuel tank mixed at 80-100:1.

 

[racerone]

The 49 cube 70 ( 60 prop rated ) from 1979 to 1988 would be my choice.----A V-4 model 90 / 115 HP OMC would be a better choice.-----But needs to be cheap for rebuild.----Great , simple , reliable motors once properly rebuilt.-----Any one from 1980 to 1998 model year.

 

[jimmbo]

I'm no outboard expert but remember my dad buying a new Sims Super V 14ft boat and new Evinrude 2 cylinder 60hp for it in around 1984. He sold that boat and engine a few years later and bought a used Microplus boat and used 3 cylinder Johnson/Evinrude (I forget which but believe the Johnsons and Evinrudes were the same engines anyway). We much preferred the 3 cylinder 70 to the 2 cylinder 60, it was a bit older than the 60 (maybe a late 70's or early 80's engine) but a lot smoother than the 60. Never had any problems with either engine but wouldn't expect any problems because the 60 was new / almost new and the 70 was probably only 5 years old when he sold it.

Given a choice between a 3 Cylinder or a Twin of similar HP, I would pick the 3 in less than a Heartbeat, as its Exhaust Tuning would provide a smoother Torque Curve and better Fuel Economy over a wider Rpm Range than a Duce

 

[WinnerCougar74]

Thanks, great information. Is the 1977 Johnson 70 hp a loop charge outboard? The parts diagrams show them with flat top pistons. That could make them a superior design.

 

[racerone]

That 3 cylinder was a looper from day one in 1968 as a 55 HP model.

 

[WinnerCougar74]

Everything I have read says a looper is a better design. more efficient, less wasted fuel, crossflows push more raw fuel out the exhaust with each stroke

 

[racerone]

Looper design was NEW in outboards for Johnson / Evinrude in 1968.----But the concept was used in their air cooled Lawnboy powermowers in the 1950's.-----Casting / manufacturing technology improvements allowed it to happen in multi cylinder water cooled outboards in the late 1960's