Need help / outboard identification

[sunsurfsandwich]

Sorry for not introducing myself first but I'm in need of urgent help. I just purchased a 1998 Aquasport 175 with a, what I believe to be, 98 Johnson 90hp. The mechanic is telling me that the outboard is not a '98 90hp but a '90 90hp. The engine cowling says 112 SPL but the engine identification tag comes back with a '98 90hp (which is what I'm thinking it is). Please help if you have any idea. The mechanic has my carburetors and swears the '90 90hp kit fits so he "must be correct".  Thanks in advance. Pictures attached.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jx6ugjp4xibf2oj/20210512_165158.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fnmu865pffwkp5g/20210512_165206.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3nsqd49bqlaawwu/20210512_165216.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/d10fki42d5f6j2p/20210512_165221.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r6fub5cjmpprmsp/20210512_165302.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kjvf1pvmuazg9nn/20210512_170133.jpg?dl=0

[Capt. Bob]

If the engine tag ID is correct, then you are too.
It comes back as a  "E"-9 "C"-8

Might want to find another pistonhead to work on your motor.

[Capt. Bob]

Since the carb body for both model years ( 90 and 98) are obsolete, maybe he is referring to the rebuild kits which carry the same part #.

Just guessing.

[sunsurfsandwich]

Thanks for the quick replies. He literally pointed at the engine tag and said "look it says 1990 right there"! I countered with "maybe that's an 8 instead of a 0" but he disagreed. I don't know. He said he can't rebuild the carbs because they appear to have been welded and would like me to pick up another set of carbs. I planned on rebuilding as engine sat for almost a year but I want to make sure I'm getting the right engine year before proceeding. Might just tell him to give mine back and I'll pickup a nice rebuilt set of carbs on ebay.

[Capt. Bob]

You could very well be right about the "0" being an 8.

[dbiscayne]

'He said he can't rebuild the carbs because they appear to have been welded and would like me to pick up another set of carbs'

never heard of such a thing??? Something doesn't make sense. If you can get the carbs off theres not much more to rebuilding them, very simple pieces. I just rebuilt the carbs on an '89 110 Evinrude after it sat for 13 years, runs great once again but was relatively free of corrosion to start with.

When I plug your model number XJ90TSLECM into different parts sites it comes back as a 1998 90hp. Somebody might have replaced the cowling or the stickers.

https://www.boats.net/catalog/johnson/outboard-by-year/1998/xj90tslecm

[sunsurfsandwich]

Sorry, I misquoted him. He didn't say they couldn't be rebuilt but that he couldn't guarantee it would be worth rebuilding since they appear to be welded. My problem is that he said the same thing when he initially offered to rebuild them, before taking them off motor. Then he got home and said "the 1990 carb rebuild kit I bought appears to fit these carbs, not the 98 kit. The only problem is that they appear to be welded and I'm not sure if it's worth it". I just ordered a set of clean fresh-water carbs off ebay for a '98 90hp and they arrive next week. I'm really thinking about asking for my original carbs back and moving on to another mechanic I'm comfortable with. Thanks for the help guys. I'm not going to let this discourage me from finishing this boat. I'm already in love and it hasn't even hit the water yet.