TG 525 vs. 650 engine value?
 

Hello all, first time poster here. I'm looking at 2 TG's and I am trying to determine how much more or less value to put on one having 525 EFI's vs. the other with 650 Richie Zul's. Both engines have about the same times and recent tops. Any thoughts on the pros and cons of each is helpful also.

Thanks!

Zul all the way! :boat:

Depends on the buyer. Some only want Merc power whereas others appreciate mills from a respected builder such as Zul.

The Merc boat will have a higher value. Zul boat higher fun factor.

Say no more then!

I say its a tossup, are the Zul engines EFI ? probably not, so whats your preference, EFI or carb. about 540hp vs 650, are they both step bottoms ?, read somewhere that Mr. Zul had retired, but most competent engine shop can work on either.

Carbed, 2004 & 2005 so both stepped. My preference before finding the one with 650's was EFI but I like the 650 boat better in a visceral sense. So while trying to establish some value on both engines, I'm now throwing carbed engines into the mix and trying to see if that is really an issue worth worrying about. From my research on previous threads on Zul engines, I shouldn't be too concerned.

For the Cigarette guys that are "in the know" particularly with Lip Ship boats Zuls are the most widely accepted motors other than Merc as they are authentic and period correct for that era. No one will contest the relationship that Cigarette and Lip Ship had with Zul Power from 2000 to 2005 much like the Hawk powered boats from the late
1980s to early 1990s. Very Cool boats and the power is timeless and just pure bad a$$

RAF

I would assume so right up until the time I get passed....

Good info, thanks

Subscribed--researching a purchase and good info here!

Always!

The 525's will tell you how hard they have been ran, not with the carb, with any engine maintenance is key,

I don't think who built the engines originally means much once they've been worked on by other people. I've looked at engines before that were "Zul" engines. After some questions come to find out they've been rebuilt by some different builder. Well then they are now the engines of whoever rebuilt them last and the name on the valve cover is pretty much meaningless. The same is true of the Merc engines. So how many builders have touched these engines since 2004/5 ? You're talking 14/15 year old engines here. Even if they are newer, who else has taken them apart?

Unless you had bought 2 new complete 525 efi long blocks from Mercury Marine.
They even came with the valve covers. I think but don't recall if they came with the intakes.
Just install your exhaust headers, alternators, water pumps, distributors, etc.
That's what we did on The "Lucky Strike" F-2 38 T/S Top Gun.

This boat. My son LS jr. Bobby now owns it.https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7465727d8e.jpg

Lucky Strike
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7465727d8e.jpg

Lucky Strike

That was Jr. on a lunch run ^^^^^^^......:champs:

Stock Mercury 525 efi's. We made the exhaust dry to stop reversion.
That's my son Bobby's boat now. LSJr.
Those engines have low hours and are VERY HEALTHY!
We put 2 complete new long blocks from Mercury Marine in it, because reversion took out one of the engines.