1990 5.7L L.E. OMC Cobra - Various Questions

Markdf63

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Recently acquired a 1990 225 Sundowner with a 5.7L L.E. OMC Cobra (King) in mint contidition. Boat runs like a champ. I am trying to locate the following.

1. What does the "L.E." stand for in the engine model (574APEPWS)?
2. What 5.7L engine options were there? The current engine hasl a 4bbl Holley.
3. I m also looking to replace the carpet? Any known companies for this model?
4. Looking for camper canvas also.
 

Markdf63

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Recently acquired a 1990 225 Sundowner with a 5.7L L.E. OMC Cobra (King) in mint contidition. Boat runs like a champ. I am trying to locate the following.

1. What does the "L.E." stand for in the engine model (574APEPWS)?
2. What 5.7L engine options were available? The current engine has a 4bbl Holley but I don't see that as being a stock carb. for that year\model, etc..
 

Scott06

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Apr 20, 2014
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Recently acquired a 1990 225 Sundowner with a 5.7L L.E. OMC Cobra (King) in mint contidition. Boat runs like a champ. I am trying to locate the following.

1. What does the "L.E." stand for in the engine model (574APEPWS)?
2. What 5.7L engine options were available? The current engine has a 4bbl Holley but I don't see that as being a stock carb. for that year\model, etc..
Can't tell you about your questions but would look at the Holley carb on it to make sure it is a marine carb. Can grab the numbers of the airhorn or post a pic of the carb. I think normally all Holley Marine carbs have J tube bowl vents that are pretty obvious on if flame arrestor is removed

@Lou C may know he is the resident cobra guy
 

Scott Danforth

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Most likely the Holley is stock. Both OMC and Volvo Penta ran Holley carbs
 

Lou C

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1990 was about the time OMC & Volvo switched from Rochesters to Holleys so that could in fact be the OEM carb. That fuel line looks like the factory steel line used on the Holley carb so it wasn’t added later. You can take that model # that starts with 57 and plug it into Crowley Marines OMC catalog to see what it came with. The LE designation I haven’t seen before. Not sure what it means. The biggest issue is does it have a standard Cobra drive or the very rare King Cobra Cone Clutch drive. I’m hoping it’s the standard Cobra because the cone clutch drives are very hard to get parts for. The standard Cobra drives aren’t that hard to get parts for as long as you find a shop that will work on them.
 

Markdf63

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It is in fact the King Cobra (cone drive). The previous owner was a mechanic and took meticulous care of both the engine and drive. Maintained maintenance records going back to 1990.
 

Scott Danforth

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Most of the king cobra parts are NLA

The Holley carb appears original. Volvo used a mix of Holley (higher performance motors) and Rochester (base engines) in the 80's then went only Holley starting in late 89
 

Lou C

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Yep I checked, it's the cone clutch
Welp, what I'd do is buy some impellers, impeller housing gaskets (be careful with the housing, it is NLA) and other maintenance stuff that's available still.
The impellers and gaskets are still available. Then just run it, when it needs something you can't find, you'll have to look into converting it to Merc or Volvo
Too bad a garden variety Cobra would be fine with a 5.7 and most parts are out there.
 

Markdf63

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Previous owner provided two boxes of new spare parts along with a complete outdrive. Outdrive needs a new casing but all the internals are there.

My frustration is with what I would consider simple things like identifying parts. i.e. the carburetor I "think" it is a Holley 4175 but the fuel inlet is on the opposite side. And no where can I find what the difference(s) are with the 5.7 L.E. It appears it was only available in 1990-1991.
 

Lou C

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you can look up what is listed for your 1990 OMC sterndrive 5.7 liter V8 here
but basically, there are few options, all the 5.7s that year seemed to have the Holley 4bbl (looks like a 4160 to me judging by the fuel inlet)
There appears to be 2 possible distributors (Prestolite or Mallory) or an electronic system, and the option of an remote oil filter
The LE option, no idea, I wonder if that was from OMC or Four Winns.
 

Lou C

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For the carb, it looks like a 4160, judging by the fuel inlet, the 4175 I think had a different style inlet, there is a # stamped on the carb air horn (go over to Holley.com) that will tell you exactly what it is and what parts fit.
Looks like you have a conventional distributor, lucky it's not that strange electronic system they experimented with (also NLA).
 

Scott Danforth

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Previous owner provided two boxes of new spare parts along with a complete outdrive. Outdrive needs a new casing but all the internals are there.

My frustration is with what I would consider simple things like identifying parts. i.e. the carburetor I "think" it is a Holley 4175 but the fuel inlet is on the opposite side. And no where can I find what the difference(s) are with the 5.7 L.E. It appears it was only available in 1990-1991.
holley 4175 is a spreadbore. Square bore holley 4160 is what is shown (all but a few the big block VP's got a 4150 or 4160). look at the air horn and read the numbers.

then look at the holley bible. https://documents.holley.com/techlibrary_carb_numerical_listing.pdf
 

Scott Danforth

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Merged the threads here. Only one thread per topic
 

Lou C

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First 2 pix are a 4160:
Holley 4160.jpgHolley 4160 #2.JPG
this is a 4175 (Spread Bore)
Holley 4175.jpg

The 4175 Spread Bore was intended for a replacement for the spread bore Rochester Quadrajet
However, my experience with Holley vs Rochester, the same engine with the Rochester ran consistently better. Holley's quality control as of late is a bit lacking.
 

Markdf63

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What is intersting however is that the choke plate on my carb is a closer match to that of the 4175.
 

Lou C

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There is a Holley build # on the air horn that will tell you exactly what it is. The 4160 also came in different CFM ratings. The other pretty definite sign vs the 4175 is that since the 4160 is a square bore carb there will be a square to spread bore adapter between the square bore carb & spread bore intake manifold. The 4175 being a spread bore carb will not have the adapter.
I see what you are seeing with the shape of the choke plate; one thing I have wondered about is this; could Holley sold a version of the 4175 with the front bowl from the 4160 to make the fuel line hook up clear the OMC/Volvo thermostat housing? Hmmm….
 
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Markdf63

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Thats what I'm thinking. Holley makes various covers for both primary and secondary bowls. Both with various fuel inlet configurations. I don't have access to the boat at the moment but soon. Once I do I will get the numbers off the carb.
 
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