repower a 28' Flybridge

[HT32BSX115]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

You know,

this is similar to the other people who have also bought themselves anything that they shouldn't have bought. When they later find out their mistake it's human nature to get defensive about it and try to justify what they did as being ok etc.........


I did the same thing when I bought my Wonderful 460 King Cobra powered boat. I tried every way possible to justify what I did as being ok in my own mind. I had big plans to modify the exhaust system and use a different coupler for example to prove that no matter what, I could prove everyone here wrong that I DID NOT make a mistake buying this boat.

After all, I bought it from my brother, who bought it new. There wasn't anything wrong with it....etc etc etc....

I knew the boat anyway. I was there when he bought it new. ..... How could I go wrong?



Well I was wrong. I beat myself up pretty good for a long time wishing I had come here first and asked the question "Is this a good idea?" but I didn't. I asked the question AFTER I bought the boat.....


Since then I have watched many people come here and ask if what they're going to do is a good idea. Listen to the people (Like Don, Bondo and Rodbolt etc) that do (or have done) this stuff for a living.

They're usually right.

There's always going to be people that "haven't had a problem" with their 3.7, 470, Cobra, or other discontinued system. Some of that stuff is not or was not junk. But the fact that NO ONE makes them anymore is usually good enough reason to go for something a little more common and/or still in production.


If you detect a little sarcasm or frustration in some posts, just remember that your question has been asked so many times that some of the responders may be a little frustrated from answering the same question over and over and over.......(when they know a simple search can reveal the answer)

Don't take it personal



It's gonna be 16*F here tonight! (I'm sure glad I winterized that thing!!!)



Merry Christmas Everyone!!! (can we still say that? )



Rick

 

[Bob on This]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

No problem mate.
I totally understand, and I did a couple searches, but had to ask anyway.

I also understand your story, as I bought a 26' 25 years ago, new, with a OMC Cobra.
Didn't have to much trouble, but would not buy one today.

The thing is, I never really thought this boat was going to be ready for a
world tour anyway, and If the price was right, it was more about a project
boat and repower anyway.

After reading all that you guys have said, I will not buy the boat unless I can figure a viable repower option.

That being said, I have found that if I go with a V6, the Velvet V-drive will not
work, as they bolt directly to the flywheel housing and don't use an adapter cover.

So that would mean engines and transmission. Dosnt sound good.

It seems a shame to let a great boat rot away becouse of the power plant.

Bob

 

[Don S]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Those bellhousings are available for Chevy V8 engines thru Mercruiser for around $300, and would work with a V6 just as well. They are also available aftermaket.

 

[Bondo]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

That being said, I have found that if I go with a V6, the Velvet V-drive will not
work, as they bolt directly to the flywheel housing and don't use an adapter cover.

Ayuh,...

The only problem I can see with this idea,..
Is that being Twins,...
You may not have the Width(between the shafts) to mount V-motors...

 

[Don S]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

You may not have the Width(between the shafts) to mount V-motors...

For a V6 or V8, you would need 33" min. between the shaft centerlines. inline 3.0L engines are 28" not sure what a 470 is.

 

[Bob on This]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Does anyone know if the 1981 470 used a reverse rotation on the engine, or did the V-Drive use a chain on one side and a gear on the other to get the counter rotation?

Again guys, thanks for all your help.

Bob

 

[Don S]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

The 470 type engines never had a counter rotating engine. All are LH rotation when viewed looking at the flywheel.

 

[Don S]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Here is a thread you should read on the Velvet drives.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=228882&highlight=Velvet

 

[Bob on This]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Thanks Don,

Yes I did read that thread, good info.

From the photos, (I don't know how to post them) it looks like the clearance issues maybe on the outboard side of the engines (looks like fuel tanks). Looks like all kinds of room between.

The guy tring to sell me the V6 told me that both the V-drives are most likely
the same, and that one of the engines was reverse rotation. I sent him another email to see if he can explain further.

I sure wish I could just go look at this thing, but it's a bit of a slep from here.

Oh well, the joys of internet shopping.

 

[Don S]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Head over to the Non-Boating Technical Topics at http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32 and have a look at the stickies at the top of the forum.

 

[DJ]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

If the boat has propellers on it, one quick look will tell you if one is counter-rotating.

If one is, then you just have to figure out if the counter rotation is the engine or transmission.

I sort of doubt they are counter-rotating.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

DJ you know for a fact that merc made a counter rotation motor ?

I swear i never heard of one.

And the last one i would have thought was a 470, 3.7 whatever you want to call them.

Maybe in the 60's or 70's but still never heard of one.

The velvet drive could be set up for counter rotation.

But again i never saw one.

 

[Don S]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Read posts #28 and #29, they cover counter rotating 470's and reversing the Velvet drives.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Said i never saw one, but the list gets bigger, of stuff we ain't seen, someone said.

351 ford hmm who would have thunk it.

Well the seventies was a weird time. Ha.

 

[DJ]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

I was in agreement that the 470's are most likely NOT counter rotating.

If the props are indeed RH and LH than it is proabably accomplished in the trans.

Ford made many counter rotating engines. 302 and 351 mostly. Some older 428's and 312's also.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

Thank you DJ and Don, you both just taught a old dog a new trick.

Learned something i didn't know.

 

[Bob on This]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

I still have not heard back form the broker, and I'm not sure he would know anyway.
The boat is till in the water, so I can't look at them.
(Being 1300 miles south does not help either)

Talking to some of the "locals" with the same brand, is seems that even
the V6, although better than the old 470, is still minimal.

Only time will tell.

Bob

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

A 28 ft boat is a big heavy boat. V-6's might not perform all that much better than the 470's

I would want 5.7L MPI/Bravo III's (300hp) if I had a boat that big......It's probably a real "dog" with the 470's in it. (the repower would cost a fortune.....)


You might just be better off to find a boat set up the way you want it.

 

[Bob on This]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

I agree, then again, I won't be doing much boating a 30 miles per hour and
one mile per gallon

I got most of my "go fast" out of my system with my Donzi, now I just want to float by, playing Jimmy on the Ipod.

 

[DJ]

Re: repower a 28' Flybridge

I still have not heard back form the broker, and I'm not sure he would know anyway.
The boat is till in the water, so I can't look at them.
(Being 1300 miles south does not help either)

Talking to some of the "locals" with the same brand, is seems that even
the V6, although better than the old 470, is still minimal.

Only time will tell.

Bob

OK, with one click of the starters, you'll know. They either turn the same way, OR they don't..........mystery solved!

If you have the engine bay room, switching to V-8's is Probably not as big a deal as proposed. That all depends on the rest of the hull. Is it worth it?????