1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

[bill1968]

Currently own Merc no exper. with OMC. Looking to buy a 91 Four Winns with a rebuilt 5.7L OMC
Are there any know problems with this setup that I should look for or ask about.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

The biggest problem is OMC went out of buisness about 10 years ago. Mechanics are few and far between. Parts "mostly used" are still available your the 5.7's, but you better know how to work on them.
Their shift interrupt systems uses and ESA module and is a real pain (compared to Merc) to get right.

 

[delsol]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

my buddys got an 89 270 4 winds last year at the end of season drive went. he got one from d/r it cost him over 2k for the drive. i would try to stick with ones that are still in business
bob

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

Ayuh,......... It's Not the boat you Want,.........

It's Cheap, Because it's OMC Powered......You're setting yurself up for Disappointment......

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

I owned an OMC once... once! It was the best boat I ever owned! After two years of hard-to-find parts and expensive repairs, my wife agreed we needed a new boat without OMC power.

 

[bsh21wash]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

I just bought a Seaswirl with an OMC and it does just fine!! I've looked around for parts just out of curiosity and had no problem finding them.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

Obsolete Marine Corporation Merc or VP go ahead and ware?m out they?ll make more????.OMC not so much.

 

[Coors]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

GMC engine is always the same(marine) SEI etc, has all the outdrive parts. Even in Jax, Fl, there are alot of old OMC techs, that will show you.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

So far with the help of Ebay i have found any part i needed for OMC. BUT,my next boat will be powered by Merc,Volvo or an outboard...
You have to figure every year that passes the parts will get more expensive and harder to find..

 

[Monterey10]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

You might be able to get 5 to 7 years out of the older power plant before you would want to repower. If you're relying on local mechanics, verify that they have OMC experience. If the shift cables, ESA and state of tune are off, the outdrive wont shift.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

Oh come on now guys.......Don't be so hard on OMC!!

It's ok to get one.

Just make sure you buy it cheap enough to pay for the Mercruiser repower!!

If you don't get an OMC King Cobra 460 powered boat at least you can buy common replacement parts like a coupler or manifolds....


Cheers,


Rick

 

[Don S]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

Ahhhh, the 460 Fords. They haven't been used for years and years, they only had points distributors, you can't get exhaust manifolds or risers for them, you can't get couplers unless you know the one guy in Floriduh that has a few left.
Soon it will be the same for all the OMC stuff. Deal with it folks. DeSoto, and Edsel parts are also a bit hard to find (although easier than 460 stuff).

 

[#1CATDADDY]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

I also have a 1991 Spyder 208 with the same problems now. I tried to find a mechanic that said he had OMC experience but found out the hard way that he didn't really and after paying him found out he is now in jail.
The shifting is a definite problem as it sticks in gear and won't go to neutral, and now it started running a little rough at idle speed. What is ESA? You mention the ESA and I think that got replaced but could it be out again? Any ideas how to check to see if it is working properly? Is that causing the engine to choke or be hard to start all of a sudden or vice versa?
Thanks

 

[Coors]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

Sounds like the esa; get a manual and check it; the newer ones don't need the override switch

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

Sounds like the esa; get a manual and check it; the newer ones don't need the override switch

Coors,

I think you mean the overstroke switch.

#1CATDADDY,

You should start a new thread with your problem. What you are doing is called hijacking a thread. You will actually get more responses to your problem/questions that way too.

A bad ESA can cause your problems as well as a worn lower shift cable. If you are all of a sudden seeing a large adjustment change, it normally means the lower shift cable is failing. The outer cable housing cable fails at the attatch point in the drive which causes the adjustment to change.

Also, buy a factory OMC manual. Do not buy a Clymer! A Seloc would be preferable to a Clymer if you can't find the factory OMC one.

 

[#1CATDADDY]

Re: 1991 Four Winns 5.7L OMC

Thanks, I will start a thread. Just that I have been searching a while for similar problems and not sure how to ask the questions...and the manual is on the way. I appreciate the info about the cables, eben though it has been ongoing for 2+years and just recently had the ESA replaced, so it might be the cable. Easy to replace I hope.