TOPIC: merc 140hp question

I bought a mercury tower of power, the guy I bought it from said the previous owner had peeled of the 140 stickers and put newer 115 stickers on it, because his boat was only rated for a 115hp. Is there a way to tell if it is really a 140hp? I looked all over the power head for some kind of markings to confirm this but I can't find anything. According to the serial number it is a 1972.

looks like mine, But I would have to ask the inline 6 group on facebook

72 would be BLUE decals.

The motor has been repainted, and newer 115 decals put on it that is why it is so hard for me to determine whether it is a 115 which the decals say or a 140 which is the story I was given. In the end it really doesn't matter that much to me if it is a 115 or 140, because even a 115 is going to be plenty of motor for my Seafair sedan, and the motor runs great and has about 140psi in all six cyclinders. I would just like to know what I really have.

serial # will tell do you have it to look up?

How do you look up a specific serial number? I know it is a 1972 from a general search. serial number is 3425230

the serial # points to a 1972 140hp

www.marineengine.com/mfr/mercury_models.html

and make sure it is the serial### on the block

On the block , kinda behind the lower fuel pump there is a block casting # look back in that cavity & you should see a 7 digit # like 000-0000 I can look that up & determine which block it is.
Looked up 1400 blocks & if it truly is a 140 the # should be either 852-4589 or 852-4880

that is a casting ### not a serial ####

Exactly. Those Casting #s that I listed were used only on the 72 1400s.

I got a chance to look at the block this weekend and the number is 852-4880, so it is indeed a 140hp, which makes me very happy. Thank you guys for your help, I really appreciate it.
Another question I have is, does anyone know why mercury made the 1400 in 1972 and then didn't make them again until 1978?

Hi guys! I'm a little rusty, still not doing very well, but sure enjoy this forum.
Another thing that suggests this is an early 1400 at a glance is the smooth port exhaust cover, which was only used in '72 & '73 - I think.
The distributor eliminates it from being the Merc that originally wears the 115 decals it is sporting in your pix.
The new 1400 stepped down when the new 1500 was introduced in '73.
Then the 1500 was eliminated so that the people wanting 150hp would buy the newly intruded v6 150. That allowed Merc to bring back the 1400, which in '79 was actually as close to the old 1500 as you can get. It got power port pistons & adi ignition and was the beast of the inlines until about '82-'83 when prop rating and low dome pistons resulted in it hiding behind 115 decals, but still a brute.
Happy Holidays all,
Doc Frankenmerc

Hey doc! Been busy my end doing nothing. Tree put off until spring. I'll still stop out yet and BS, as see ya moved stuff around again. I'll email ya when a possible show up...Robby