1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

[jimmbo]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

Very few engines can idle at 400-450 let alone for hours. Merc speced the 90 @ 500-600 and the 115, 140, and 150 @ 550-600 I know mine didn't like less than 550.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

A set of boyesens in a V4 allow 450 forever, and I had my 115 down to 350-375 relatively smooth, then turn around and nail it...no hesitation what-so-ever, and go right to 6500 without so much as a cough.<br />I did mess with the timming to get the 375, but done it to prove a point to a gent that said his 115 wouldn't idle below 650.<br />Kinda off subject but to idle that slow and provide instant response to WOT says alot.<br />Bottom line is the '73 150 didn't have near the reliability, smoothness, fuel economy, or power the V4 JohnRude has. The Merc made enough noise to sound as if it were going 300MPH, but I don't think it will put any hurt on a good OMC V4.<br />I know it didn't in the late 70's when we were demoing new Johnsons at a lake nearby...when we did see an I6 Merc, it had the cowl off...<br />I'd leave'r in the shed.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

Assuming this engine is a crossflow, isn't the reccommned WOT RPM range 4500 to 5500? To spin the motor up to 6500 means you have it severly under proped, which translates, it wasn't very heavily loaded at idle. Makes it easier to run at low rpm. <br /><br />In June of 1975, Trailer Boats mag did a comparision test between the 135 fat4 and the 150 black towering inferno. The boats were different types of hull so it really isn't an apples to apples test. The merc was fastest, even though the Evinrude had a stainless prop while the merc had aluminium. The merc did have power trim. The mrec burn a little less fuel.<br /><br />My 115 I6 was faster, both out of the hole and top speed, on the same boat than my 140 V4. I didn't find the Merc any louder, but it was a different sound. Both had been new when installed so it wasn't a new Merc acompared to an old worn out OMC. I also had a 150 Faststrike. It was ok, but looking back I would have felt happier with a Black Max hanging on the back.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

Obviously, you are black in the blood...we all have our favorites and J/E are mine, but as was mentioned earlier, where were the I6's when Dhadley was waxing everyones azz with a V4 J/E...this includes V6's.<br />6500 is not under-proped, when running forged wisecos and proper clearances in a V4, DH run'em tighter yet...<br />As for the Faststrike 150.....well, it'll take a Black 200 to beat Dhadleys 6V6 150.....

 

[sycamore]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

Must have opened up a can of worms here. I'm just an old country boy with a chance to upgrade my catfishing boat, but it sounds like for different reasons the old Merc 150 might be a lateral. If I keep the 88SPL (which is probably the case), it is currently mounted so that the propshaft it 7" below the flat bottom of my jon boat (the cavitation plate is even with the bottom of the boat)and there is no set back. The bolts are in the proper location so it can be raised twice without new holes. I read in a magazine that compared the newer 90HP motors and most ran at 5 3/4" below the bottom of the boat. How does that gain anything other than reduce drag?

 

[Walker]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

Grandview, raise the motor one hole. I have a 18' Majak, flat bottom fiberglass with a 120 on it and I run the cavitation plate about an inch and a half above the the bottom.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

Thats exactly the point. To reduce drag. You can do it by getting more of the lower unit out of the water and/or by using a prop with more lift to reduce the wetted surface of the hull. You can do it with hull design. A pad botom hull should be faster than a V or flat. An air entrapment hull should be faster yet. Although Steve Stepp (Velocity / Thouroughbred) seems to have the pad & step V design nailed.

 

[reeldutch]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

why are people comparing inline 6 cylinders to v4.<br /><br />why not inline 6 cylinders to v6<br /><br />are there any mercury 4 cylinders that can blow a v4 out of the water?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

re-post this in the merc forums and see what kind of responses you get. to each his own.<br /><br />mercs were designed for speed and omc was designed for long lasting.<br /><br />i have and currently do own both of each brand, everything from v4 omcs to 2 cylinder mercs and everything inbetween.<br /><br />i love them all in their own special way.<br /><br />my inline 6 merc 1150 was the cleanest and easiest to start/run/idle/drive<br /><br />my v4 omc sounds the meanest! and probably looks it too!<br /><br />my 3 cyl 90 merc gets up and goes like there is no tommorow and asks for more, " thank you sir, may i have a nother?"<br /><br />and of course, my lil motors.... love em all<br /><br />i am not partial to any special brand for any special reason<br /><br />merc lower units are easier to remove, no shift linkage to disconnect.<br /><br />omc have removable heads. not really sure why my mercs dont? hhmmmppphhh<br /><br />i will tell ya though. i have had 6, soon to be 7 diferent motors on the back of my current boat since i bought it in oct.2003( 16.5' center console)<br />suzi 65 1988<br />omc 85 v4 1970<br />omc 50 1980<br />omc 50 1972 <br />merc 115 L6 1976 <br />merc 90 3cyl 1989<br />( in that order)<br />and reall soon, my new 115 v4(1976)<br /><br />so far my absolute favorite was the L6, hands down....<br /><br />....but i havent ried the 115v4 yet.....so who knows<br /><br />i will post results when done, promise!!!

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

The I6s and the V4 crossflows both maxed out at just under 100 cid, with HP ratings of 90, 115, and 140/150. Makes for great comparisons, on and off the water. <br /><br />Some of my observations;<br /><br />OMC V4s were junk until 1969, compare the pre 69 V4s with Mercs of the same day. Mercury was way ahead in engineering. In the mid 60s Charlie Strang left Kiekhaefer/Brunswick to join OMC. A few years later(1969) OMCs motors did a dramatic change, probably due to Strangs influence.<br /><br />I personaly don't care for Mercs newer designs; the 2+2, the newer inline 4s and 3s. I prefer the older designs.<br /><br />Now that the JonRudes are made by a Canadian company, they are definately a much superior product.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

honestly, you cant really compare a 150hp L6 to a 88hp V4<br /><br />if you wanted to do a true comparison, you should do it as follows:<br />90v4/ 90L6<br />115v4/ 115L6<br />135v4/ 135 L6<br />140v4/ 140 L6<br />150, well, they didnt make a 150 v4, so dont know what to do with that one.<br /><br />both motors definatly (sp) have their propper place!<br /><br />dhadley and walleyehead, as important and respected as they may be, are always gonna say that the V4's were the kings.<br /><br />clamscanino, as important and respected as he may be, will always say that the merc inlines were the kings.<br /><br />i did start my V4 115 tonight on a stand in the driveway, and ill tell ya, ITS LOUD AND MEAN SOUNDING !!! <br /><br />my inline6 merc sounded more like a tightly tuned racer, very tight and crisp sounding. the V4 sounds more like a big block racecar!

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

The loudest outboard I've hear is definately the 90 degree V4 looper when running on the muffs. In the water it's quiet, but out the water it snaps and pops, your ears will hurt. The Fichts sound like a honda lawnmower when run on the muffs.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

All of those engines have good/bad and the ugly, Mike.<br />Now, if you're interested in making that V4 run even better, put a set of Boyesen #144 reeds in that thing and enjoy the increased hole-shot and break-neck acceleration...Have fun with it!<br />EDIT: ahh, did we use up too much space with our post images and get them removed?????

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

By Jimmbo,<br />

The loudest outboard I've hear is definately the 90 degree V4 looper when running on the muffs. In the water it's quiet, but out the water it snaps and pops, your ears will hurt.

Ahhhh, I sold my latest 115 project after deciding it was about as good as it could ever get while passing a starcraft alum. of the same length as mine except had a 135 V6 Rude on the rear.....I'm a gonna miss that one... <br />Oh well, the 200 has been quite a project, and my, my, my, what fun it is to stay up with some of these bassboats with newer 150's....

 

[Walker]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

135 V6 Rude on the rear

??????????????????????????????????????????

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

walker, you're not keeping up with the 'Rude products are you???<br />Yes, I said a Rude 135 V6....2004 model

 

[Walker]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

That is news to me. I gotta go take a look at one of those. 4 stroke, fitch????????

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 1988 88SPL vs 1973 Merc 150 Inline 6

DFI......(Ficht)