6 banger mercs

[Kevin Welsh]

Along with my D mod project I am also considering a Fe project I have acsess to some 60 cube mercs with speedmaster units . would these lower units work better on a hydro or a runabout. Any tips does or donts to consider with this combo? Also I would like to thank Sam, John, and all the rest of you for the porting advise on my D mod . Kevin Welsh

[sam]

A 60 cube with a Speedmaster is a rough beast on either one. To be even close to competitive you have to have a minimal mid section like George Luce uses. A 15" tall transom will leave a 6 bossing the back of the boat around more than you can steer/counter steer.

Another problem for the Speedmaster: 3/4" prop shaft= custom props any money you save on one end is gonna bite you on the other end.

[mercguy]

Along with my D mod project I am also considering a Fe project I have acsess to some 60 cube mercs with speedmaster units . would these lower units work better on a hydro or a runabout. Any tips does or donts to consider with this combo? Also I would like to thank Sam, John, and all the rest of you for the porting advise on my D mod . Kevin Welsh

Kevin, you are definately in the right APBA region for the 6cyl Mercs. The Morris's are die hard MERC ONLY guys and have quite a few 6's. Lonnie runs a Bass underneath his 6cyl FE, but Sr. runs a speedmaster on his. As to running a 60cube Merc in FE, it probably is not the best decision anymore, mainly due to the NON AVAILABILITY of pistons and such! Plus, to build the motor right (Fuschlin is the BEST!!), it is going to cost! Alot easier and could be cheaper, to just go the OMC route.............they are the ones always winning in Reg11......be it Lopez, Williams, Clinton (Bird) or whoever..........I think Lonnie is the only Merc guy left......

[bh/]

sixes

We really should open the discussion again about allowing the 66ci block into
FEH/FER. Every site one visists has an add looking for oversize 20/40/60ci pistons and rings, often just to restore ones M55E.
The only good reason for doing this is nostalgia, and the wonderful noise.
We had a six run with our triples last week in ON, [14M] and it brought every one to their feet. Restricted to stock carbs & cc's, ie; pipes, reeds, ports only, they will not dominate the triples, but will be competitve on some courses. It simply requires a YES vote to allow it, but I think guys are afraid we will open the flood gates to the 56ci. etc, speeds will go up,
and then capsules will be mandated.

[sam]

Brian, according to your logic wouldn't it make more sense to skip the 66 ci 6 altogether and allow the 85 hp 66 ci 4 cylinder instead? The 4 cyl 66 was made much later than the 6, parts availibility should be much greater for the 4

[bh/]

Feh

Sam; -not so sure if there is much sense or logic in having the old 60ci sixes in the class in the first place, but it was a stoke of genius by whomever decided to do it at the time. Again, the only good reason to allow the 66ci six in, old though it may be, would be to ensure we continue to see the sixes in the class. Any other new block should be examined on its own merits, without any 'precedents ' being set by any other desicion.
Maybe we need a NASCAR type committee, that would arbitrarily restrict a dominant engine, leveling the playing field, and ensuring safe speeds.
But I would hate to fiddle with a sucessful formula, one that appears to be growing, and still cheap to get into.

[sam]

Brian, there is an ample supply of usable 60 ci blocks to be found, I see no reason to go to 66's. As far as pistons there are plenty of 20 & 40 ci motors to donate pistons in addition to the ones found in 60's. To make a good as new piston to bore fit you can always have a 60 ci block sleeved and bored .001 or .002 small and turn pistons to fit; I guess you could even end up with a better than new fit if you were careful. As long as a racer didn't throw a rod through the side of a block, 2 or 3 blocks would be all each guy running a 6 would ever need.

Rings are available from Hastings if you can find a local retailer to order them for you.

With the high dollar that NOS oversize pistons are bringing on eBay, you are probably better off resleeving and staying with stock bore

If you (or someone else) need help finding a 60 ci block, let me know. The block isn't the thing that would stop most people, it is the rest of the stuff: lower unit, pipes, short mid .... that stuff is going to cost a prospective 6 driver as much as a good boat

[modFE]

Not to argue with you Sam. But, the mid and gearfoot are a relative constant. Pipes, seems only the OMC triple gets away with out one...
And the 85hp 66cid motor may be a good one if limited to stock carbs,reeds and no external exhaust... heavy though..