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The 666 did not run last year: It's disassembled awaiting center mains and blueprinting, and will run this summer. With any good luck, the Merc-six special event will happen as well.

Tim

Much as we’d all like to see and hear the sixes run, planned attendees are unable to participate due to a myriad of technical and personal challenges.

Anybody that brings a six will get a chance...

http://www.apba.org/races/hillsdale-american-legion-championships-6460

To all F class Merc six cylinder owners / fanciers; The APBA just posted the race circular (follow link above). Time to get...

Thanks David,

Please join us, and bring one to run. F-class sixes are invited to sing at Hillsdale this September 6-7-8 at the IOA “Carl Kiekhaefer 6-cylinder Mercury Memorial Exhibition”....

The Indiana Outboard Association is hosting a “Carl Kiekhaefer 6-cylinder Mercury Memorial Exhibition” at Hillsdale, MI September 7&8.

The event is open to Alky and Mod hydros and runabouts...

For Joe and the rest of you Dixon fans: He had trouble uploading images, so here they are. Dixon says the engine went through many changes: Blow through, draw through, one carb, two carbs, fuel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnvYuITzGnw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scIaydrpI5g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJslR53LgA0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0vzY4WlOKQ
...

Thank you for your kind thoughts. The project was especially good because the long held dream finally became reality. Rest assured video will be posted soon after it runs.

Tim

The Suter show was excellent as usual, and the 666 got plenty of attention. There were many racers in attendance. Pleasant surprise: Upon return, the 666 was de-rigged, then weighed in at 166.5...

Hey all,

Last evening I learned from Dixon the Andrews is actually 14'-6". Sorry about the error.

Tim

OK Alan,

Just name the powerhead; I've got two spare turbos and know the local NOS distributor personally. Durability will suffer, but you can't use that much power very long. I'd sure like to...

Joys rides on calm lakes are a long way from competition. Regardless of available power and conditions, smart drivers know the throttle works two ways. Remember to always leave yourself an out!
...

The 666 on your Sid is no big stretch: Check out this 13' Andrews with a 2.5 Merc! It has yet to be lake tested, but may be the worlds most powerful kneeler ever built.... The unmistakeable work of...

You can thank Dale Ropp for the lines. Built in 2000, it's 13'-0" with a 38-1/2" bottom and 92" afterplanes. It runs eveything from a 45SS to the turbo and next year will run the 666. Comfortable...

Thanks to all for your interest and encouragement.

The 666 is in the 95% mockup stage, so will not be fired at Suter's (also because it will be displayed inside). It will be torn down after the...

Mercury MK 78A - 1959
Six cylinders in-line, deflector
66 cubic inches
70 HP @ 5500 RPM
Carbs = 3-Tillotson 1" venturi
Reed cages = 3-Crankshaft mounted
Reeds = Four single leaf stainless steel...

Thanks for your thoughts on the bracketing - still needs a little work but good enough for the show. Interestingly, the horizontal support actually came from Bud Parker's stash!

Otherwise, the...

Three days to go, the distributor bracket was completed tonight. Driveshaft and accessory fitting tonight. Stay tuned.

Tim

Tonight is the first time this Merc 700 has been on a boat in at least 25 years...... Two more nights work and it will be ready for show. The distributor bracket, driveshaft fitting, and final...

Wow - he must be the lightest adult driver ever! Agreed, he's a smart %$ss. Good boat racer material!

Pretty sneaky Gene!

Never met Tim Chance, but can guess he is/was under 140 like Rich. Weight makes all kinds of difference as you pointed out. Rich was nicknamed the "trained monkey" by an...

With the intricate throttle linkage out of the way, shop activity turned toward the spacer and steering bar. More complicated than it looks, the spacer was completed, and mockup assembled. Next the...

It's sure to be sweet. That deck rider is Rich Welch. He has numerous Mod titles and the agility or a cat.........

Tim

Here is the completed reversing throttle system. Packaging was tricky, but the finished piece works nice.

Also, the spacer casting arrived yesterday. It will be machined and installed this...

You betcha! A new runabout build has been comissioned this winter. Next spring I'll test the engine on gas, then try alcohol. A dear friend (and only 138 pounds) has offered to ride.

Tim

With all components in hand, another 2+ hours were consumed in careful layout of the hose runs and primer. It's hard to believe, but you're looking at over 10' of hose: 5/16" for primary feed, 3/16"...

Thanks for your kind thoughts, Sam. I've worked diligently to design and build elegant, functional mods - something that might have been designed in the empire room.

Otherwise, you guessed...

Here are images of the simple pattern ready for the casting foundry - it was sent today. The trick is to make it big enough to compensate for 1/64" shrink per inch including a 2-3 degree draft angle...

Thanks, but it's not done quite yet. All my race engines use push-to throttle actuation for safety. That way closure is not totally dependent in springs: You can forcefully pull the throttle handle...

BTW: It's been a wild race to build the 666 in time for Mark Suter's October 20 show. We will make it - but just barely! Many thanks to all of you watching, offering your engineering insight, and...

You just can't imagine how much time it takes to engineer and build throttle linkage and a fuel system for six carbs. Factory OMC looper choke linkage pieces were scavenged from a "box-o-carbs",...

OK everybody,

The 666 powerhead was mated to the tower for the first time today. The spacer shown is a simple casting pattern to be poured and machined late this week, following a driveshaft will...

The 666 will be fitted to one of my steel towers with a 45SS gearcase. Two reasons: 1) It's already built. 2) I can't bring myself to carve up that beautiful Speedmaster. It belongs on a vintage...

You can count on it - next summer - or possibly this fall on the trailer. It's unlikely to be driven this year; running out of WX and turbo needs one more day on the water!

With the water manifold done, we're cooking with gas - or maybe alcohol? Gotta go......... the turbo is calling.

Tim

Here are images of filler block, divider plate, and elbow machining and fitting. There are numerous steps required because of the sandwich construction, and piles of chips: The pictures don't do the...

[QUOTE=R Austin;124991]Tim
You should have told me you needed a filler block. I have 3 left that I patterned up and made to complete one of my deflecters.A small trim job on each end and bottom...

Here you see the results of several hours work...... A beautiful new casting from another source proved improperly patterned at 1:1 - aluminum pattems must be built with a "shrink scale" allowing...

Here are images from the Bridgeport showing rough port work - hand work to follow. Exhaust ports are not raised to maintain compression and mid-range punch. A 5/16" mill is used and bridges are not...

Might be you're talking about the 8-port OMC, except the cage would be wider......... Or is there another?

Tim

Sorry to hear about that.... Pretty as the McCulloch cages are, it's not worth the chase knowing they are NLA and that custom reeds must be made. Boyesen offers several 8-port cages with two- and...

Are they current production?

Tim

[QUOTE=David_L6;124858]Here is a different cage that could be used in one of those builds that doesn't have to comply with any rules. Slightly larger and maybe easier to mount.

Hi David,

The...

I'm hoping for a full field. Here are the rest of the images. Now it's on to porting, boring, and honing.

Tim

Loctite "Fixmaster" aluminum filled epoxy is used to bed and seal duct castings to the crankcase. Working time is 60 minutes, so there's no need to rush. After glass beading the matching parts and...

Good idea! We should request that stock sixes leave the pits before the stackers start up. Plans are to commission a professional videographer to record the event. The Constantine AOMCI meet and...

Dick has it: Eliminate the skirt that decends below the cylinder sleeve to open the transfer passage.

Are there any other mods possible to further improve that transfer?

Tim

Good try, but the stuffers are slightly under the reed cage diameter; there is no interference.

Try again!

Tim

Yep, a Wiseco 2-ring. By why cut the skirt? And why on that side?

Tim

Hey Brad,

Tim is correct - The plates serve dual purpose: 1) Plugging the existing reed openings which allows use of the existing reed cages as crank bearings. And 2) Stuffing the case to make up...