Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Best 60-90 hp motors of the 70’s-80’s? › Re: Best 60-90 hp motors of the 70’s-80’s?
My vote would also be either 3 cylinder ( prefer 70hp because of low end ) or V-4 85hp. In particular 1978. 1978 & later you have the later style TNT unit that was so reliable. The 3cylinder 75 can have the long exhaust tuner put in to improve low end so that is not a major problem, but something to be done. Stay away from salt motors of course for this age.
The 1978 85 is the last 92 cu. in. (3 3/8") bore motor. It never had high ring pistons so no problems there. Getting harder to find replacement pistons, but they are out there. They aren’t as bad on fuel if you don’t try to turn them a bunch of RPM. They were a tractor motor. 5000 WOT is about it.
I’m sure the Merc guys have their favorites, but I’m an OMC guy.
Dan in TN