I got this Mercruiser 260 (350ci) as part of a package deal last winter. But the thing is I really have no use for it. Everything I have is BBC. So now it’s sitting in the garage and I’m a lookin at it. Don’t have any real projects for this winter so I’m thinking of stripping it down and making a screamer out of it. If it’s going to be garage furniture it should at least look pretty and maybe there is a small chance I will try it in my Biesemeyer hydro so it has to be built. Lol. Then again it almost seems like a waste to do that to this motor because the motor looks like it was professionally removed and stored. It has everything. Starter, cooler, power steering, all the lines, mercruiser bellhousing and all wired to the merc plug. The oil is clean and I’ve turned the motor by hand but that’s all I know about it because if I so much as pick up a wrench for it some mad things may happen.
So what to do?
Sell it to someone as is? I couldn’t with good conscious take a look around inside and then say I don’t know about it and if I’m not building it I’m not touching it. So leave it alone and list it cheap to get it gone?
Or,
Strip it and build a motor?

If that's a early 2 piece rear seal design , I know a builder who prefers those for stroker motor builds .

sure it is, looks like a early to mid 80's

bump

the engine could be 1982 thru 1986 but the exhaust manifolds - log style and rear riser might be older than that. If I recall thunderbolt IV ignition came in around 1982. Looks like you have that but really can not see all. Also this should be 2 piece rear main seal.

engine serial # will dictate what it really is and year model. Serial # tag should be around the starter area.

looks like pre alpha. late 70's. points dist. not that is makes any diff. the rear dump logs are too light for mooring anchors, and too heavy for any other use...sell the coupler, flywheel cover, carb, thermo hsng and dist on ebay. you will get more than you could sell complete engine for. then sell the engine local on craigs for a hunnert bucks...

I worked on an engine just like that this year. It was an 81. I couldn't believe it still had points. And i really couldn't believe I remembered how to repair and set them. LOL.

Anyway, that motor is not worth a whole lot. I wouldn't get too excited about it unless you find a cool small boat you want anyway and you just happen to have this motor to put it in...if he motor is okay.

Some of the OMC sterndrives had points & cond still around 1990 and maybe up to 1992. If you could believe that one.

I have that same motor now too .pull the risers off and see if its really corroded if its clean or if its clean and glm replacements ...if you get bored you might scrape up several hundred or more parting on ebay ..may as well see if you have a high nickel block and or 4 bolt . You prob wont be able to give the heads away .maybe try and find a trade for a hurt 454 that might have some good goodies..or just change oil do a compression test and fire it up for a demo and ship the whole thing down the road for a thousand

I let 2 unloved 260 mercs get punted to the curb one day and they ended up being something special . Still feel the pain damn it