Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

[Tryin2Boat]

New to boating all together fellas so take it easy on me. lol. I have an 86' Sea Ray 21'ter B/R with the original Mercruiser 230 which I'm told is basicly a Chevy 350. The engine isn't locked up as I've turned it with a breakerbar on the main crank pulley. I've tried to start it but all I get is a resounding "click" from the circuit breaker. I've also run a direct line from the Positive terminal on the battery to the Positive terminal on the starter with no response. So I'm going to pull the starter and have it checked as it probably needs to be replaced anyhow. In any sense I'm sure I'll get it running as it should soon. Seeing that my project boat is turning out to be much more intense than I anticipated, I'm seriously thinking of just pulling the I/O after its running and putting it in a one of a couple of boats I've found locally that are inexpensive and just need power plants and drives. My question is can what I have fit in a newer boat that was fitted with different equipment? For instance, there is a 1990 19'8 VIP Victory B/R that had a Ford 5.0 with an OMC Cobra outdrive in it and there is a 1988 18' Checkmate B/R that had some kind of Mercruiser in it. They both have solid floors and interior in far better shape than my boat. What do you think would be the path of least resistance guys?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

My question is can what I have fit in a newer boat that was fitted with different equipment?

Howdy,


The short answer is YES. you can pull the 86 Mecruiser stuff and bolt it into the newer boats. The transom cut-outs are the same. You will have to swap EVERYTHING in the case of the Cobra. And mix and match the Mercruiser stuff in the other one.

Will it be cost effective? maybe/maybe not....probably only if you can get the other boats for nuthin!!

Don't count any of your labor. (that's worth $0 too!)

What do you think would be the path of least resistance guys?

Find a boat that IS in good shape with the engine and drive you want in it.....!!

Regards,


Rick

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

If everything else is equal, changing from Ford to Chevy would eliminate the VIP.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

If everything else is equal, changing from Ford to Chevy would eliminate the VIP.

Not really.....It's a COBRA. Same transom cut-out. At most he'd have to slightly re-locate/re-drill the side engine mounts.

there is a 1990 19'8 VIP Victory B/R that had a Ford 5.0 with an OMC Cobra outdrive in it

The Mercruiser transom mount will bolt right in.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

New to boating all together fellas so take it easy on me. lol. I have an 86' Sea Ray 21'ter B/R with the original Mercruiser 230 which I'm told is basicly a Chevy 350. The engine isn't locked up as I've turned it with a breakerbar on the main crank pulley. I've tried to start it but all I get is a resounding "click" from the circuit breaker. I've also run a direct line from the Positive terminal on the battery to the Positive terminal on the starter with no response. So I'm going to pull the starter and have it checked as it probably needs to be replaced anyhow. In any sense I'm sure I'll get it running as it should soon. Seeing that my project boat is turning out to be much more intense than I anticipated, I'm seriously thinking of just pulling the I/O after its running and putting it in a one of a couple of boats I've found locally that are inexpensive and just need power plants and drives. My question is can what I have fit in a newer boat that was fitted with different equipment? For instance, there is a 1990 19'8 VIP Victory B/R that had a Ford 5.0 with an OMC Cobra outdrive in it and there is a 1988 18' Checkmate B/R that had some kind of Mercruiser in it. They both have solid floors and interior in far better shape than my boat. What do you think would be the path of least resistance guys?

Relocating/drilling motor mounts wouldn't be path of least resistance (all things being equal). Plus, everything that would be compatible merc/chevy that wouldn't be in the omc/ford swap.

May not be much, but not having to get into the whole fiberglass/stringer work is what he looks like he wants to avoid.

JMHO

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

^ Inner transom bracket is not the same for GM MErc and Ford Merc due to the different engine mount spacing.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

May not be much, but not having to get into the whole fiberglass/stringer work is what he looks like he wants to avoid.

There's not a lot of stringer/fiberglass work to changing the engine mount location from one V-8 to another.

For instance, there is a 1990 19'8 VIP Victory B/R that had a Ford 5.0 with an OMC Cobra outdrive

The ford 5.0 V-8 and Cobra are GONE! and any other Cobra "stuff" would be completely removed to make room for all the Merc Stuff.....

He would be removing the Mercruiser engine/drive he has NOW and putting it in the boat that HAD the OMC junk installed.

He would also be using EVERYTHING from the his current (donor) boat......like transom mount, inner plate, trim pump, etc......


Filling the original Ford V-8 (side) engine mount holes with resin/glass slurry and drilling new ones would be required but not difficult.

Mine only moved an inch or two from where the original Ford 460 side mounts were to where the 454 mounts needed to be.

There was NO stringer work at all going from the Cobra to the Bravo....

It would be the same going from a Cobra to an Alpha.....

 

[Tryin2Boat]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

Awesome.. I greatly appreciate the knowledge guys. The SeaRay which we will refer to as "the donor boat" was given to me to pay off a few favors. The power plant and driveline are intact as they were from the original point of sale. While demo'ing the floor, I found much more work needed. Looking at the overall cost to get the boat like I want it, I would spend a lot of time and more money than I want to spend on it as it will need runners from front to back some stringer work and new floor just to get back to square one. This doesn't entail the new seats from front to rear or the engine compartment that still has to be fabbed up. As it stands, there is a fella that has the VIP with a solid hull and floor that needs the very seized 5.0 yanked and the upholestry redone. The outdrive is long gone and this boat is sitting on the ground with no trailer. I can get this boat for $100 bucks if I "take it away". Or my other option is the Checkmate. It's a little shorter at 18ft but is ready to rock and roll as soon as you intall a motor and outdrive. This guy has 4 other project boats that are much more worth his time as this boat was given to him as partial payment for a recently completed project. He'll cut it loose for $600! Boat and trailer. I'm going to view it tomorrow. Pics look awesome. He told me the 4.3 Chevy is crap that's in it and the Alpha One outdrive is removed as it cracked and the internals are jacked up. He was thinking of putting a 350 in it but doesn't have time and can use the space in his yard. I would say that that is a steal my friends. From what I gather from your replies, I should probably lean towards the Checkmate for the path of least resistance as my drive and steering components should match up without much modification. Unless the motor mounts for the 4.3 that needs to come out aren't a close match. This is all the specifics I can drum up for now guys. What do you think???

 

[Tryin2Boat]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

This is the Checkmate.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

Before you buy it, check the hull for rot, particularly the transom. A quick check is to tap it in spots with a hammer. You'll hear the difference if you have serious rot. Getting back to the present engine and drive from the donor boat: You need to check if it runs before you get into this project. You need to connect muffs on the drive and supply water. I'd suggest you pull the plugs and squirt some oil into the cylinders first. Let it sit a while and then turn the crank with a breaker bar. If it turns relatively easily, re-install the plugs, supply water, and gas and try to start it. I would assume that if it runs, your next step will be to replace the water pump impeller in the drive and the exhaust manifolds and risers. You definitely need manuals for the engine and the drive. Downloads are available elsewhere for free on this site. So far, that's about $800-$1000 in parts. Add a tune-up, new bellows and an engine alignment tool and you're up another $300. Throw in a set on gaskets, rear engine mounts, and possibly a set of front mounts, and the dollars are adding up. Think carefully; I've done two boat refurbishings. I've enjoyed doing them, but they always cost more than I, or you, figured. Maybe finding one good boat might be a better idea. Good luck either way. Hy

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Greenie That Needs Serious Help...

If you look at the top of this forum page for the "Adults Only" thread you will find lots of info to get started as well as the manuals you need.