OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

[Toothdoc]

Hello,
I have a 1987 Cobra 5.7L with Prestolite points ignition. I have to replace my distributor and was wondering if there is any way to bypass the ESA and use a Delco EST ignition set up. Thanks for any information.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Yes

 

[Toothdoc]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Thanks for the reply Chief. What do I need to do? I can buy a new distributor, coil, wiring harness, and plug wires for about $300. I wanted to go this route if possible because I have had such good luck with the Delco EST in the past. Thanks.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

I've waited a long time for this, did you buy a manual ?

A inside joke, doc don't take offense, but did you ?

Also may i ask why you have to replace the dizzy ?

Your gonna replace the whole thing the guts what ?

I asked cause even docs like to save money.

My brother is a doc and no one like money more than him.

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

If he is going to an EST, he has to use the complete distributor. No way to use just parts. Instead of using the ESA, you can set up the wiring to work like a Merc alpha drive. When I get home this evening, I will post a pic of how the wiring changes.

 

[Toothdoc]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Now that I know this can work, I am excited now. I am going to replace the whole distributor. Delco sells a complete marine kit with distributor, wiring harness, coil, and plug wires. Yes docs are stingy and I like to save money but I like to do things right. I do have a manual. I am replacing the distributor because the shaft has a lot of free play, bearings/bushings are worn out. In addition, I accidentally kicked it off the swim platform and as luck would have it, it landed on the gear and did some damage. The mechanical advance inside has a broken spring with another one about ready to go. Other than that it is in perfect condition! I am building putting a new motor in and can't see trying to salvage the distributor in the shape it is in. I can't wait to see how this works. Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Here are a couple of pictures that should explain how it hooks up.
The one with the OMC switches shows how the switches would be wired. The other one showes where the white/green wire is incase your setup has a different harness color.
Just click on the pictures to make them bigger.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Delco sells a complete marine kit with distributor, wiring harness, coil, and plug wires. Yes docs are stingy and I like to save money but I like to do things right.

Is a Delco Voyager system is the same as EST? If so, I can help you do both....check your pm's

 

[Toothdoc]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

As far as I know the Delco Voyager is EST set up.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Good luck Doc, Howards got ya back.

I didn't know you were building a new motor would have told you to go with the new setup.

Just wanted to know why you wanted to replace the one you had, throwing it off a building is a good reason to give your wife ha.

But it fell off a building, now what honey.

Now throw off the outdrive and you will really be in business.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

When you say Delco Voyager I think of my trolling motor battery.
Be carefull that you don't drop anything down the distibutor hole! or you may end up having to do SURGERY.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Can you picture it in your mind with the motor strapped into the chair haa, and hes got the tools and the little vacuum, stuck in the hole.

He's got his mask on talking to it, easy now, easy now, won't hurt a bit.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Yea I see it LOL, my first thought was when he accidently knocked it off the swim platform and damaged the gear, a chipped TOOTH shouldn't have been a problem, LOL.

 

[Toothdoc]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

You guys are killing me here! I would be happy to put this thing in the chair. It won't complain or call me at 2:00AM to ask for more Percocet. Most of the time a chipped tooth is not a problem but this one requires extraction! Howard if you read this, I would be interested to see what information you might have. I am going to order the kit this weekend but I will have to give an update sometime in early spring. Hopefully I won't be looking for a new set of gears. I have a new in box CDI ESA if anyone is interested.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Howard if you read this, I would be interested to see what information you might have.

I sent you a PM - a PM is a private message... look up below where it says Welcome, Toothdoc on your screen

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Usually when a guy want to change to a electronic dizzy and get rid of the points i tell them why bother.

Not worth it, i still have points, however new built motor, would be nice to have it all electric.

The esa is one of the reasons i tell them to leave it alone if it is a omc.

But fresh built and with don s giving the diagram it's actually easy.

Once set up correctly, you don't have to touch it.

Good luck hope it works out for you.

 

[Toothdoc]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Thanks for all of the replies here. That wiring diagram that Don S had made my day. I can wire things up easily using the diagram but if I can't understand why it works, I will loose sleep trying to figure it out. I wouldn't want to get too distracted and take out the wrong teeth on one of my patients! In the diagram, does the overstroke switch still serve the same function as it did with the ESA? I thought Merc just used a shift interrupt switch w/o the overstroke but I can't remember. Also, there was a thread here where one member did a similar conversion, EST on OMC Cobra but he was experimenting with leaving the jumper wire connected all the time instead of just when setting the timing. Does anyone have any thoughts on that? Sorry for all of the questions.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Cobra and Delco EST Ignition

Your not using the esa module at all if you go with don s way.

When you shift it will be like a merc with the coil being grounded out for the milisecond it takes for you to shift.

Take a wiff of some of your gas and you will understand better. Ha

The over stroke switch with the new esa module isn't used anyway and thats what you would have to get if you wire like a omc.

Capice ?