165HP I6 VS 130HP I4

THEFERMANATOR · #1 03-26-2007, 11:30 PM

I've been doing some research here lately regarding swapping the older straight 6's rated at 165HP crank over to the newer 3.0L 130HP at the prop. Has anybody here done this swap since many V's came with the straight 6 at 165HP? Comments on it?

I've got a project in mind but it is barring the answers to this question first.

spareparts · #2 03-26-2007, 11:55 PM

the 165 has a ton more power, their s no replacement, for cubic displacement( well maybe a blower)

THEFERMANATOR · #3 03-27-2007, 12:47 AM

It would be going in a twin application where weight is a concern. I know I've read where others have made the swap with good results. But I'm of the there's no replacement for displacement thinking as well, but better economy is the name of the game these days. Just trying to get some input before I commit to anything(plus get the SEARAY done).

Skools Out · #4 03-27-2007, 12:56 AM

the straight 6 would be better than the V6 as Spare said. much more HP and tons more torque.

Hammerhead · #5 03-28-2007, 12:46 AM

Plus it's cheaper. I tho't 'bout a V6 package but, my wrench said the straight 6 was a beeter motor. If I wanted more power to go with a 5.7

THEFERMANATOR · #6 03-28-2007, 01:25 AM

The 130HP I'm considering is a an inline 4, not a V-6. I'm trying to talk myself(and my wallet) into buying a 26 BERTRAM FLYBRIDGE. They origanally came with the 250 straight 6 @165HP, but many have converted to the straight 4 @130HP and reported no loss and a couple have reported gains in top speed. Just trying to get a different perspective on it since many V-20's came with a single 165HP straight 6.

Here's a pic of one of em I'm considering.

I love the lines of these smaller BERTRAM's, and the 24 degrees of deadrise helps.

macojoe · #7 03-28-2007, 04:38 AM

Thats a awsome looking boat!!!!!!!!!!! I got wood!!!

I know you don't want to hear it, but a twin bracket and twin 150's would be perfect!!

I just have a bad taste for I/O's cause I got bit from 25 year motor, that had everything that could go wong, go wrong!!

But the stright chevy 250's were solid motors!!

Good luck!! I buy that thing just to make my yard look better!! ;D

spareparts · #8 03-28-2007, 09:47 AM

that 26 bertram is an incredible boat, one Of my custoemrs has one with twin 4.3 MPI's, it runs close to 60, The express is my first choice of an offshore boat. Cummins Mercruisers' r&d shop is here in Charleston, they just repowerd a 26 with twin 150 HP diesels, Capt said it runs great and sips fuel. The best set up I've seen on one of those boats was a guy in a Yamaha class one year, he had a 26 express, he converted it to a center console with a small tower, put a bracket on it and ran a single 225 Opti, boat would run high 40's before he painted the bottom(lost 4 mph), still cruises at 30 thru just about anything. I called BS on his speed, but after researching it, on this web site

http://ccridlin.home.mindspring.com/

they had an original boat house bulliten from Mercury where one of the express' was tested with twin 150(135 at the prop) outboards, got close to 60 mph, you figure in that those motors weighed in over 350 each for combined out put of 270 hp, figure the single opti 225 makes close to 240 hp and weighs 400, it starts to make sense. I don't think the flybridge will perform this well, but its something to think about. If i were going to do it, first choice would be Volvo d3 with the composite drive, d4's with the dpr drive, but either one would be expensive. Probably the most economical way to go would be a pair of 140(or 175) fourstroke Zukis on a bracket. Those older Mercruisers can be a money pit if they stay in the water( its what I make a living on)

THEFERMANATOR · #9 03-29-2007, 01:40 PM

This one here that I am looking at was repowered in 99 with the 165HP 4 cylinder 3.7L engines as well as new ALPHA drives. He's wanting low 30's though. I personally would love to do a repower, but my moneys getting tight with all of my other projects going on right now. I gotta get my SEARAY done first and get back on the plus side with it.

Here's a link to another FORUM regarding that 26 MOPPIE repower.
http://www.simplifying.net/plugins/B...ML/001395.html

spareparts · #10 03-29-2007, 02:07 PM

those 3.7 l engines have a bad reputation, but I've allways liked them, the only problem with repowering them is V6's will have to moved futher apart, whic would require glassing up the transom and cutting new holes, the 3.0 is about the only option unless you want to spend the bucks on diesels or outboards