Hey all ,,,I am looking to buy an older 1980 johnson 140hp ,,, but was told back then the 140hp was really equal to a 115/120hp by todays standards,,TRUE or NOT TRUE
Tas' comment is correct. The hp ratings changed somewhere in the mid 80's. My guess is that the older 140 crossflows bubbleback engines probably were in the 125+ range as it relates to current propshaft hp ratings. A direct comparison should not be assumed as the powerheads have some significant differences. The older 140's had some sought after factory performance parts which were discontinued on the later 115 bubbleback engines. Such as: the 140's had high compression heads and the rubber intake filler blocks. The 77 140 even had a special exhaust tuner in the midsection. The older 140's had unlimited power packs, whereas the newer engines have power packs which limit rpm's to 5800.
