Wanted: 454 Mercruisers

[Freeebird]

I believe 454's didn't come to mercruiser stern drive world until 1987ish. And this was on alpha drives that blew up a lot on single applications. 1988 the bravo drive came out to handle more power. My go fast has twin 454 with alphas and is the last year--1988 had bravos.

Inboards mercruiser got the 454 earlier, I think.

454's did come first as inboards, and the Bravo 1 didn't really come into play until 1989. Prior to that, they were mated to TRS drives. As memory serves, B1's were introduced in very late 1988, but they were still using Alpha 1's hooked to 454's in '88. Had a new '88 32 Pachanga with white Alpha 1's with Sea Ray instead of MerCruiser decals on the outdrives. They only did that in 1988 as even the Mercury outboards were painted white. Blasphemy!!

[krush]

Ok. We're getting too picky on dates LOL. All I know is I have a 1987 wellcraft with 454/alphas and my friend had the same boat that had 454/bravo1. NOW...I though it was 1988, but you know it could be 1989 . Who cares? I hate sterndrives, and I know how to fix everything on them!

[Boatsb]

Ok. We're getting too picky on dates LOL. All I know is I have a 1987 wellcraft with 454/alphas and my friend had the same boat that had 454/bravo1. NOW...I though it was 1988, but you know it could be 1989 . Who cares? I hate sterndrives, and I know how to fix everything on them!

Krush its not about you. I think the statement was that they did not offer the 427's when that boat was built.

[Freeebird]

Krush its not about you. I think the statement was that they did not offer the 427's when that boat was built.

Are YOU sure about that?

I didn't mean to phrase my question to Jim as my possibly knowing more than he did about his boat, it's just that I never saw older Hatts with MerCruiser power. Then again, I never looked for one until I ran across mine and knew it was a repower.

[Freeebird]

Ok. We're getting too picky on dates LOL. All I know is I have a 1987 wellcraft with 454/alphas and my friend had the same boat that had 454/bravo1. NOW...I though it was 1988, but you know it could be 1989 . Who cares? I hate sterndrives, and I know how to fix everything on them!

Who cares?

No doubt your '87 couldn't have had B1's, but like I said, I think some late '88 B1's were around. They stopped mating 454's to Alpha's after the Bravo's came out.

[tom5518]

Krush its not about you. I think the statement was that they did not offer the 427's when that boat was built.

Are YOU sure about that?

I didn't mean to phrase my question to Jim as my possibly knowing more than he did about his boat, it's just that I never saw older Hatts with MerCruiser power. Then again, I never looked for one until I ran across mine and knew it was a repower.

I never recall MerCruiser making a 427 and I think Randy may be right on Hatteras not offering them until the Brunswick years. I do think Hatteras offered the Chris Craft 427's back then and maybe that is what Dr. Jim's boat left New Bern with.

[Freeebird]

MerCruiser did offer a 427, but I've never heard of one in a Hatt.

http://www.romeosmarine.com/images/O...tification.pdf

[tom5518]

MerCruiser did offer a 427, but I've never heard of one in a Hatt.

http://www.romeosmarine.com/images/O...tification.pdf

Interesting information Randy. Were they Chevy blocks? I have never seen a boat with Merc 427's, so my curiosity is up. Did the horsepower increase much when the 454 came out?

[Avenger]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when Brunswick took over Hatteras the smallest boat in the lineup was 50 ft. I don't think they were offering Mercruisers anywhere in the lineup.

[Freeebird]

Interesting information Randy. Were they Chevy blocks? I have never seen a boat with Merc 427's, so my curiosity is up. Did the horsepower increase much when the 454 came out?

Yep, they were Chevy blocks (only big blocks used by MC), but I've never seen a 427 MerCruiser either. Based on the info in the previous link, I assume the 427 had to be the 390 listed based on the fact t only shows availability in '69-'70. I'm assuming that was 390 horsepower which is actually higher than the base 454 that replaced it.