merc 260

[blues]

I Have a 23 foot day cruiser, originally with a 350 , now, has a 302 , I am underpowered,
with the 21 or 19 prop 40 is top speed at wot.
I am shopping for new motor was at a dealer today.
a remanufactureed mercruiser. 350
they have one turn key , with fuel injection,. at 300 horse power. I may go for it, still working on pricing for different options to go,
a four barrel carb model ?
my sterndrive is a merc 260 from 1979. in very good shape,can it handle 300 HP?
as I can afford to upgrade drive at this time,.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: merc 260

300 HP is the upper limit for an Alpha, so you'll be OK.....
You mean the present one is a 305, correct?..... ​

 

[blues]

Re: merc 260

no, present engine is a ford 302 at 188 H P
original engine was a chev 350 at 260 H P

 

[Don S]

Re: merc 260

I somehow suspect the Ford was the original engine, and the drive was changed to a 260.
There is a lot more to changing the engine than just pull it out and stick a new one in.
The engine Bellhousing, inner transom shield, exhaust Y (possibly) are all different between the Fords and Chevys.
As I recall, the Ford input shaft on the drive is also longer, and the coupler is different.

 

[blues]

Re: merc 260

no, I bought this boat it had the 350 chev/merc 260
and that engine rusted thru from salt water usage. right after I bought, or got stuck with this boat.at the time I was short on funds, and got a deal on a used ford 302.
now, I want the boat back to 350.

 

[MikDee]

Re: merc 260

Talk about a downgrade, that's gotta be one for the books, I'm amazed you got to 40 with the 302? Anyway, I hope you saved some of the external parts off the 350, either way they may not help if you're upgrading to a newer 350, But you would be putting it right, good luck

 

[ringmaster]

Re: merc 260

no kidding 40 mph with a 302 in a 23ft boat i have a 24ft sea ray with a 351 and only goes 35. i think mine may be holding back or something.

 

[monterey242]

Re: merc 260

no kidding 40 mph with a 302 in a 23ft boat i have a 24ft sea ray with a 351 and only goes 35. i think mine may be holding back or something.

I have a 98' monterey 24' crusier with a 305 2v and she'll hit 43mph with two peeps on board and 1/2 tank of gas. I guess i'm doing ok. With that said, she's a dog off the line with any real load on her...

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: merc 260

no kidding 40 mph with a 302 in a 23ft boat i have a 24ft sea ray with a 351 and only goes 35. i think mine may be holding back or something.

YUP, something is not right, you should be 40+....

 

[ringmaster]

Re: merc 260

my prop is 15x19 and it jumps out of the hole. at wide open i run 4000 rpm's at 35mph. i was told to put a 17p prop on to get the rpms up. is that true?cause it runs and rides real smooth.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: merc 260

Depends on the year of the engine......
The older ones said 38-4200 wot.....
I think a 14 x 19 would be good for you....
Your top speed will depend on hull style & how much your boat weighs....
24 feet is alot of boat for a small block, but I'd think you should get 40 mph...
If you have the means to experiment, I would......​

 

[ringmaster]

Re: merc 260

its a 1977 im gonna play with some props next summer im not complaining it runs great and floats now that i found the leak. i never messed with the trim though either.

 

[blues]

Re: merc 260

well, I ordered from mercruiser, a full dress drop in 350 with fuel injection at 300 HP- is a remanufacutred engine from mercuiser.
includes everything from coupler, to exhaust, drop in ready.with a 1 year warranty, can get 3 year.
so, in a few weeks, I shall be on lake havasu,.

 

[2Smokinya]

Re: merc 260

If you slap that 350 in there, I would rebuild the out drive, make sure everything is up to par.