See other engines in this family
Mercury 171ci (1979) specs: 171 ci (2.8L) 6-cylinder, 3.661 x 2.70 in (93 x 68.6 mm) bore and stroke, 8.7:1 compression. Built 1979. OHV.
The Mercury 171ci (1979) is oversquare — the 3.661" bore exceeds the 2.7" stroke by 35.6% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 2.7" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 8,900 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 1.904 is long by production standards — less side-load on the cylinder wall and gentler piston acceleration around TDC, the geometry that tolerates high RPM. Each of the 6 cylinders displaces 28.5 ci (467 cc).
8.7:1 on iron heads is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
It is one of 2 engines in the Mercury 171ci family, all of them 171 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement.
| Displacement | 171 ci / 2.8 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.661" |
| Stroke | 2.7" |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Configuration | V6 |
| Compression ratio | 8.7:1 * |
| Rod length | 5.14" |
| Rod ratio | 1.904 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.356 |
* Compression ratio from a single source; not yet cross-verified.
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Years | 1979 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.356 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 2,700 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.904 — long — less side loading on the cylinder wall, favours high RPM |
| Displacement per cylinder | 28.5 ci |
| Static compression | 8.7:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.