88 Capri Restoration (Splashed 08/2022)

[FLATHEAD]

Looks good

 

[Reserector_]

You lucky (sea) dog!! Nice score!!

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

This engine came with the CDI shift interupter on it, is it a good unit or should I use the OEM setup. I'm sure there are pros and cons to both, concerned about dependability.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

You lucky (sea) dog!! Nice score!!

My other engine ran obviously but it just didn't sound right. I'm just wondering about valves because one cylinder was alot lower on compression than the other three, which may be why I had trouble getting the idle in the correct range. I'm definitely going to tear into it at some point in the future. I do know it blew a head gasket at least once.
On the one I picked up there is no RTV anywhere and the valve/oil pan gaskets still have paint on them so this why I'm excited about it, the boat I got it out of was about as rotten as a boat could be.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

She's getting one more coat, the color is a bit lighter than I wanted but I kinda like it.
Should be getting installed next weekend!
Then onto getting the drive installed!

 

[Reserector_]

My gray parts ended up much lighter than OMC gray, but I liked it, too. the dark gray is too industrial.
Looking good!

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Mine did too! I purchased DE1611, the cap of course looked a bit darker but it makes a cleaner/brighter look.
I will get the OMC charcoal paint for the drive though.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I mixed up my own metalic silver for my OMC. it was 4 parts rustoleum silver, 4 parts black, 1 part blue.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

I mixed up my own metalic silver for my OMC. it was 4 parts rustoleum silver, 4 parts black, 1 part blue.

Thank you Scott, I'll look into that.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

It went very well! I feel like a new person but now everything, but my neck hurts LOL! I have a lot of catching up to do this year!

I don't think she'll be moving for awhile.

 

[Lou C]

I'm working on cleaning the lower case, I found a source that I can seemingly get a full new gearset at an excellent price. I'll have to inquire after the holidays.
I found a guy that has tons of 2.3 stuff, I'm looking to pick up 2 complete units from pulley to prop in addition to what I already picked up. I will be able to definitely have a spare and try to sell the rest.
The drive has been the thorn in my side, I'd love to repower but it's time to finish this
This is when I really wish I had a bigger garage!
Yes I'm really feeling like a hoarder, but when owning a 2.3 you have to be

Lol
My garage kinda looks like that, but I have only one spare drive and one spare transom assembly. I already used the innards of the spare trim cyls to rebuild the old ones on the boat. My issue is salt water use eventually things just will not come apart. My original drive is working great still (20 years in salt water) but I am concerned it won’t come apart when repairs are needed (even just the water pump adapter or shift rod cover). So my plan is to get the other drive (fresh water used) rebuild in the mean while. No one wants to work on old outdrives here especially OMC.

 

[Lou C]

And I know what most will say, just pull out the OMC stuff sell it off and repower with Merc. I am not set up to be able to pull the engine myself and was able to rehab this engine with a top end overhaul in 2017. So until I need a new or reman engine keeping the OMC Cobra makes sense for now. Other options for Cobra owners are a Volvo SX conversion or the SEI conversion. I even thought of the SEI conversion but with a reman Merc drive instead of the SEI drive. For now though it’s easier to keep the Cobra…..

 

[Reserector_]

I agree. A good running OMC Cobra is fine. Run it for as long as you can maintain it. Hopefully that will be a long time.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Hello everyone, I hope your summer is great!
One of the main items that has been keeping me from using my boat is a gearset for the lower gear case. The only real problem that I noticed was the excessive wear on the forward gear bushing, I looked into finding the bushing but the companies that had it would only sell the complete set that was out of my price range.

I have been slowly acquiring other parts for it preparing for finding these gears at an affordable price one day. I purchased a used lower for parts and found that it had been rebuilt but unfortunately the pinion and forward gears were not usable but the reverse gear is.
I am anxiously awaiting my new NOS pinion and forward gears due Monday, I will post pictures of my rebuild!
I hope to start sometime in September, fingers crossed!