TOPIC: cross reference info, swap lower units & weights,

Are there sites that I can use to cross reference swapping out sections of motors, the lower units,
example :
i have a mercury 350 serial # 2089974, if someone has a 1837996 would those lower units be compatible to swap out?

Also, can i find info on the weights of motors for shipping to purposes if i just want to buy a engine. somone has a 1960's mercury 500 i'd like to know the weight for getting a shipping quote. or maybe aprox weight
THANK YOU

Well, its been quite some time since I visited this site, but I'll give your question a shot. I have a 1963 1000 and it weighs in at 298 lbs. If I recall the 500 is a 4 cycl. The 1000 is a six. Even though, I wouldn't expect a 500 to weigh all that much less. Somewhere between 225 and 275? Best guess.

I found some info on very old Mercs in my archives, from the John's Old Mercury site:

merc800E with speedmaster (15-inch) 225-lbs
merc800E with normal unit (DR) 233-lbs
merc700EL (DR) 208-lbs
merc600E 189-lbs
merc400S 151-lbs
mark 78AE 196-lbs
mark 75E 178-lbs
mark 58E 152-lbs
mark 30 (no tiller) 114-lbs

So I'd say a "modern" 60's 500 probably weighs a bit more than the MK58E, also depends on whether the engine's a longshaft or shortshaft.

With a Dockbuster 800E weighing 233 lb, I'd venture that a 60's 1000 Merc weighs around 240 lb.

Some that I actually do remember:

Merc 850 4-cylinder (66 c.i.): 252 lb

Merc 1150/1350/etc Inline Six: 300 Lb. I recall deadlifting my 1350 Merc with PT&T off the transom of my ski boat, Many Many Moons ago. Don't do that anymore!

FWIW I found a spec chart for Merc outboards, 1940-1955 here:

www.vintageoutboard.com/pages/merc-spec-chart

This J.D. Power site has listings for Mercs that go as far back as 1974:

www.jdpower.com/boats/1974/mercury/outboard-motors

It shows the lightest 500M at 165 lb. That's a manual, non-electric, short shaft.

The heaviest is a 500EL at 179 lb. That's an electric start, long shaft. Sounds reasonable to me.

Their weights for the 850 and the Inline Sixes are a bit less than I quoted, but pretty close. I distinctly remember those weights, as far back as the 90's when I was heavily into working outboards.

At any rate, that oughter be able to help you figure out what you're needing to figure out!

HTH.............ed

OK, so the engine with ser # beginning 18......... is a 1965 model. Your 2089974 is a 1966 model. So I'd expect it has a black cowling with silver band and black "MERCURY" letters.

The 65' thru '69 lower units should all be the same. That's starting with ser # 1744799 in 1965, and starting with ser # 2487558 for '69. You might find that similar-year 500's would also fit.

One big change that Merc did sometime in the 70's (IIRC) was to widen the distance between the 2 upper front lower unit mounting studs.

So a good thing to verify is that any lower unit you consider buying, has the same width between those 2 studs. The wider-stud gearcase won't properly fit an older exhaust tower without undesirable mods.

Attached is a pic of the top forward part of a 1968 350/500 lower unit, you're measuring the distance center-to-center between the 2 studs that stick straight out of the gearcase.

Best thing is to wait until you get the gearcase apart. If you're gonna just buy another lower unit, I'd unbolt and remove your lower unit , so you can see exactly how the driveshaft, water tube, and shift interlock cams are configured. Some of these are different from others, so you need to make sure everything about any lower unit you're gonna buy is the same.