picklenjim, I stand corrected. On the cruiser versions it must have been easier to change the rotation of the engine for the desired effect, I understand about spinning the props inward or out for handling & performance but was un aware that the TRS changed direction in the lower end. By the time I started working on boats most performance boats had bravos & I never had to take a TRS completely apart. As far as the starter issue both scenerios were in full play, I looked at the problem said my piece about putting the correct starter on the correct side & was blatently told to F off so I watched by the sidelines until they were done. One of the guys even came up & apologised because I was correct in that instance. If I remember correctly the velvet drive uses the fwd clutch assy trom a c-6 ford trans & the planetary gearset & reverse band from an FMX very simple to build, My thoughts were that the input shaft would be the weakest link in the whole setup. Sorry if I offended anyone.

picklenjim, I think you are right about both motors being standard...did a little more research and found a thread on here that explains that the TRS transmissions do not reverse the rotation, but it is done in the actual outdrive...also read where the TRS drives are stamped either LH or RH on the propeller shaft to mark which way the drive will spin...this is good news as it will def make my 454 motor search a lot easier (454 counter rotating motors are very difficult to find)...

my motor is making a loud banging noise when i throttle it up over 2k rpm's under load or when the boat is moving...however, it doesnt do it when i throttle it up in neutral...I can here a valve tap when its idling but no banging noise...the motor was just rebuilt with a new crank in the lower end...im going to check the firing order and make sure that whoever installed it didnt reverse the firing order...short of that, i cant think of anything else to do but to replace it with another motor...

is that a staggered scarab? i have pretty much the same boat. If its not banging in neutral its probably not the motor. Sounds like either a u-joint or if on fwd staggered (port) motor something in the drive shaft assembly.

it is a staggered setup...its the starboard motor though....where is the U-joint located...

Actually there were two different transmissions used with the TR/TRS. Velvet Drive was made by Borg-Warner and supplied all their own parts. During the 70's Mercury made their own transmission called the Merc Trans ll. This was the one that used the clutches-drum-planetary,and reverse band assembly from the Ford FMX. No c6 parts. It was short lived and they returned to using the B-W Velvet Drive.

If the firing order wasn't correct it wouldn't even run. Outdrive has to come off to inspect the u-joints.

I'm thinking wrist pins banging under load. How many hours on the engines?

No merctransii were ever put in staggered or on 370's, he has the BW trans. The u-joint connects the drive to the tailstock on the BW trans. I would definitely inspect before considering removing motor (plus you have to remove that drive anyway to get that motor out of the boat). Spin the prop by hand on that drive, does it make any unusual noise or feel funny spinning?

I'm aware of this. I was replying to Randy about the Ford parts being used in the Merc Trans ll and not the B-W's as he was thinking.

ok, we adjusted the timing today and still no help....it is definitely making the knocking in neutral with rpm revings...turn the props and nothing odd about it.turned both props and they felt the exact same...so im thinking new motor time...