Mercruiser 3.7 Specifications
by Tracy UnderwoodUpdated July 13, 2023Mercruiser is the inboard marine engine division of Mercury Marine. The typical Mercruiser engine is an inline 4-cylinder, V6 or V8 engine produced by General Motors and based on existing automotive engine designs. However, during the 1980s, Mercruiser designed and built an engine that was not a pre-existing automotive engine. This engine displaces 3.7 liters and uses the head, connecting rods, pistons and flywheel from the Ford 460 engine.
Cylinders
The Mercruiser 3.7 L 224 cubic inch engine is an inline 4-cylinder. It uses one cylinder head from the Ford 460 V8 and the same 4.36-inch bore as the 460. Stroke is 3.75 inches, which is shorter than the 3.85 inches of the Ford engine.
Horsepower
The Mercruiser 3.7 was available in five different horsepower ratings: 165, 170, 180, 185, and 190 horsepower. All were designed to operate in the 4,000 to 4,600 rpm range.
Boat Fitment
Because other Mercruiser engines are sourced from General Motors, Mercruiser designed the 3.7 L engine with a GM bolt pattern on the motor mounts and bellhousing. Therefore, the 3.7 is interchangeable in boats with other Mercruiser engines.
Writer Bio
Since 2008 Tracy Underwood has been fulfilling a lifelong dream of writing professionally. He has written articles for Possumliving.com and Woodsloafing.com online, and in print for "Backwoodsman Magazine." Underwood holds an Amateur Extra license from the FCC. He received an Electronic Technician certificate from the U.S. Navy BE/E school, NTC Great Lakes.
