I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

[hayhauler]

Recently bought a nice boat, with a Mercruiser 470. I don't think I'm going to be happy with the motor. I'm keeping it as long as it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg. Do they still make a Seadrive?, or some other way to put an outboard on a boat that wasn't made for one?

 

[Barlow]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

oops

 

[Spidybot]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

What made your purchase a boat with a motor you hate?

 

[Terry H]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

absolutely hayhauler...I have seen many conversions to o/b with brackets. It's like adding 5' length when you put the motor outside...just a thought

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

"What made me purchase a boat with a motor I hate?"<br /><br />Lack of research, lack of sense. I had a Mercury outboard on my last boat, and Merc i/os have been around so long. The only thing is, apparently the 470 is the red headed step child. When I had trouble with it on my vacation merccruiser dealers weren't interested in working on it.<br /><br />Chief 101, what kind of brackets?

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

That is a great motor! w/grat fuel econ....<br />They have some minor probs but nothing too bad. <br />Sea Ray used a ton of them.

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

I hope you're right. I intend to work with it, but if it is as bad as some people say I want to know what my options are.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

look for brackets by stainless marine, gil, there is a gil 24 inch bracket in ebay right now, ends iin 30 mins 76 dollars...

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

OK, it was probably too early to really say I hate my I/O, I haven't had that much of a chance to use it yet. I guess what I really hope is that b.gagnon is right and that it works out to be a great motor with good fuel economy. I'd really rather keep it and enjoy it, if I can just get it working. It's good to know there are some options though, that Gil Marine bracket looks pretty cool.

 

[DJ]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

You can repower with a new 4.3L V-6 complete package for what you are going to spend, or less, on a new outboard and bracket.

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

Either way, it would be a lot of money. My best bet is if the 470 works out to be a better motor than some say it is.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

Outboard 'pods' are becoming popular for sterndrive conversions. They span the entire transom and usually include a swim platform & live bait well. I've seen single & twins depending on size of boat.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

Take a look at these:<br /><br /> http://www.gilmarine.com/products/gbracket/brackets.html <br /><br /> http://www.portaproducts.com/bracket_prices.html <br /><br /> http://www.stainlessmarine.com/twin.html <br /><br />Aldo

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

Those are cool. Portaproducts showed me the price. I guess I'd better be hoping I learn to like the merccruiser and that it lasts quite some time.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

I just got done rebuilding a 470 for a friend. It is basically a Ford 460 big block head, Merc aluminum block, Merc crank, Ford pistons/rods, Merc cam. If it runs good and you take care of it, it performs good. 175 horsepower from a 4 banger is not a bad thing. Trouble spots are the funky charging system, but that is remedied by a GM alternator adaptation. 3 inch heat exchanger provides okay cooling, finding the improved 4 inch exchanger makes it a lot better (yours may have the 4 incher, just measure the diameter). You can still get parts for it, even entire rebuild kits. If it runs good, stick with it, it gets good economy for its power. Put in a 4.3 v6 and you get less performance due to similar power but increased powertrain weight. Good luck...

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

Jason, I really enjoyed looking at your "Skanky Beast," you did a really nice job. I'm glad to hear that some people still like the 470, because it looks like I'm going to have to learn to like mine.

 

[DJ]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

hayhauler,<br /><br />I like the the 3.7L four banger too. I just thought you may have had it with it.<br /><br />It is very serviceable, as JasonJ states, some of its quirks just scare people.<br /><br />The mod's that are availble really turn it into a gem.<br /><br />Number one being the alternator conversion. Numbert two, the 4" cooling.<br /><br />By the way, keep good clean coolant in that thing. You have a cast iron head with an aluminum block. Good coolant will cease corrosion/cooling system cavitation problems.<br /><br />It's a real power house for its size and weight.

 

[hayhauler]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

DJ,<br /><br />I think the previous owner did the alternator conversion. I'm thinking about doing the 4" cooling, because it sure doesn't look like I'll be able to change the motor anytime soon. I may have just rushed to judgment, because other people seemed to have had such bad experiences with it. Thanks for the good words.<br /><br />Who should I trust, if not an admiral.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

You'll know if the alternator conversion has been done if there is an alternator on the front belt driven fron the crank. The original charging system had a stator assembly behind the front balancer on the crank, and a seperate water cooled rectifier assembly on the port side of the engine, above the heat exchanger. I have no idea why they went with that system, other than it being similar to an outboard. They dropped that format pretty quick. There are ways to bump the power, such as carb upgrades and such, I have seen them pushed well over 200 horse in a respectably light package. Good luck...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I hate my I/O, is it possible to switch to Seadrive or OB

I have to give my vote for the 470. I have had my share of problems with it but now it is fine! I am running a 4" heat exchanger and I recently put on new exhaust manifolds and riser.<br /><br />It is a torqu monster for it's size/weight. There are a few (rare) 190 hp which are running the 4 barrel carbs vs my 170 w/2 barrel.<br /><br />Consider that the older v-8's were not pushing much more hp. Do some research on this site and plug differant HP ratings in and you will find it takes allot of HP to get a substantial increase.<br /><br />Last thought - hanging an outboard on a previous stern drive boat WILL change the handling and I would put my 470 up against any outboard for mileage!<br /><br />Bob