TOPIC: need engine help

i would like to try to get this engine ready so i can fire it up when i can.The old owner said he think the spark plug wires is hook up wrong and it doesn,t sound right when he had it runnig.So how do i know if the wire is hook up right from the dist. cap to the spark plug is there any pic or drawing that i can look up.And am i just weak or the pull start is hard to pull cause it is a 6 cylinder cause i lose the key for it.this is a Mark 78 as for as i know.thanks

Commander,
The firing order is cast onto the top cover, which is the water-jacket that some mistake for the 'head' because the spark plugs go through it.
There is also a firing order cast onto 'some' of the distributor caps - not sure if the early dual point caps like the old 75 and 78 had these numbers though.
Some caps that are used for a variety of Merc timing orders have several timing orders cast into the plastic (bakelite) so be careful.
The manual should have the timing order listed.
Once these old girls are dialed in - they will rope start pretty easy - or at least they would when I was a strapping young teenager.
I'd probably tear a muscle or rip something out of socket as flimsy as my health has been lately.
Thom

Commander
That is a beautiful looking old girl you're a courtin' there.
Here is a shot of it's cousin.
I haven't fired her yet.
You will get it wired right and I hope she purrs like a kitten.
A little different color scheme, but beauties, both of them.
Interesting, I don't see the shocks in your picture, or is it just the angle of the picture for my old eyes?
Neil

His is a MK 75 and your is a MK 78. MK 75's did not have shocks. Either he misspoke. Or the front faceplate was changed over the years.

Conrad

Thanks Conrad. My 75 has no shocks. I could'nt quite tell if I was correct by looking at the picture.
Mark 75 or Mark 78, both are good looking old Mercs.
Neil

Both are very cool Hard to tell apart sometimes, until I learned to look for shocks

wow,i learn something today.mine is a mark 75 and the face plate said mark 78.so i only have 60hp i was hoping to hit a 100km with a 70hp on the u-2.i will check the the wire # tomorrow.the cowling on my motor is not perfect it had some small dents on it.can i buy a replacement for it or i have to find someone to fix it.thanks

Well that little 60 cubic inch 60 hp motor pushed a boat over 170 km/h in the 50's.

Conrad

And I just happen to have the older sister to the hydro Hu Entrop set the record in with the Mk75H in 1958.
He built mine in 1956. It is about a foot shorter than the R-22 later designated RX-3.
See pictures of mine attached.
Thom

That indeed is a gem Thom.