What year is this engine?

[tdsr1]

I am considering buying a used 3.0. The seller says it's a mid to late 90's engine. I cannot tell from the pictures he's providing. He says the serial number is 3849449-H264. This number doesn't seem to be right. Is it?

 

[Laddies]

Re: What year is this engine?

If thats a merc serial number it was born before 1980, 140hp started with 6229718 in 1982, 3.0 started with C856559 in1990

 

[tdsr1]

Re: What year is this engine?

Thanks. I'm getting him to verify the number.