Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

This might be a dumb question, but when Mercruiser rated horsepower on their stock 454, 7.4L engines through the mid-80's and early 90's , were the horsepower ratings given at the prop or crank? Specifically asking about the 454 mag bravo's, MCM 370, 400, 420, 440, 460 etc.

If these are prop ratings what is the loss generally from the crank? 30 hp or so sound right?

Thanks

Happy New Year to all........

Todd

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

The old 330hp was at the crank and that same engine became 310hp at the prop. That works out to be an efficiency of 94%.

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

Hey Todd, I got the miami vice complete first seasson on dvd for xmas. Last night I watched the episode where they race from miami to bimini. The stinger 390 vs. 50ft Cary. Awesome!

I would highly recommend throwing a set of roller rockers on, Edelbrock intakes, your holley 800 carbs, and with a good exhaust, Id bet you would be around 400HP. I have twin 425HP in the same boat as you, mine may even be a little lighter, and I feel it needs more HP. I think with the stock 365's. your boat will run about 55. With the extra HP from the upgrades, should get you around 60. A better cam would be a big help, but I know you dont want to tear into the engines. My old 23ft boat with a stock 454 365HP picked up 8 MPH from a cam/exhaust change.

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

Here is the cam used by merc in their 400, 420, 425 motors.

http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...tType=camshaft

So to make 365HP engines to a 420Hp, you need the above cam, valve springs, crane gold roller rockers, gil manifolds, and a holley 800 DP with 79p, 94S, and a 6.5 pv. Those jets may be on the rich side, but thats what it came stock with.

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

Hi Joe, I just sent you an email. Thanks for the data, but I'm just wondering where the HP is rated at on the Merc engines in the 80's and 90's. I figured others may want to know as well, since I could not find any information on this question on this site. Maybe I just did not look hard enough.

The Miami Vice DVD's are a real blast from the past. Season 2 is out now. I just got it yesterday and right away started watching the episodes with the most Scarab KV coverage. Good show, but I always just watched it for the boats (ok and the bikini's, and cars etc....)

I like my Stinger, but nothing looks like that KV!

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

When they went to the gen 5 in '92 , the rating changed to prop Hp. BBB

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

Heres a question. My 454/425HP motors came with Gil exhaust stock. I currently have 3" Log iron manifolds. What would be a guess on my prop HP? 375?

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

Manifolds rob about 50 Horsepower. Log ones probably more. BBB

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

The 1991 Mercruiser catalog, which I have in my hand, rates hp at the prop.

Re: Mercruiser Horsepower Ratings
 

Yeah I guess they changed the hp rating around 91 then.