Reply To: 1959 Mercury Mark 78A S# 1251154

[JACQUES]

Nick,

I have since  moved  OMC… J&E’s    but  my first love were Mercs  (9.8, 20, 50, 45 )  from the early 60s to late 80s   and that engine sounds like  great project…if the innards are ok.

Have you done some  basic checks before investing big $$$ (if it is a concern budget wise) . Basic checks like compression, some wiring  needs to be redone but that is not a big deal,  the antique  ” finned selenium rectifer can be replaced with a 3$   25 amp  full-wave  rectifier from Amazon.  better yet a voltage rectifier/regulator !  A small  endoscope  (cheap) can allow you to peek inside

I have never openned up an engine to clear up rings, pistons, redo rebores etc…)  I have limited my repairs to externals only  like carb jobs, GC oil, magnetos, coils etc….

Mercs can be strange beast  sometimes needing more  than  basic tool$

 

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