92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

[07caddy]

Knowing OMC is out of business and SOME KC parts are available through brp.com and other sites (e.g., Doug Russell, Fast Eddies), what happens when you can't find parts like an impeller, liner, housing, etc?

Does Volvo or an aftermarket vendor (Sierra) makes a raw water pump that fits or would another pump work? The 91 KC part looks just like the 92 at first glance ... until you line the two units up. The 91 version is smaller. I'd like to have at least one backup pump.

A local shop said there should be a Volvo cross reference for #987176 (Impeller). Is this true? I've pretty much given up on the OMC water pump repair kit, so I'm piecing together a backup pump.

The BRP site states the impeller #987176 is 'not available,' which is not an uncommon response from other sites. I can piece together a kit (liner, seal, gasket, housing) but the impeller is not easy to find. I've ordered the impeller few times only to receive an email saying the part is NLA.

If BRP doesn't have it, where else can I go?

Sorry for the rambling. I'm pissed at myself for buying a KC a few years ago :

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

I'm pissed at myself for buying a KC a few years ago :

Join the "Club"!!


We have a LOT of members!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

A local shop said there should be a Volvo cross reference for #987176 (Impeller).

Nope, Volvo doesn't have anything to do with the cone clutch King Cobra. Volvo went into a joint venture with OMC in 94, by 96 all the OMC dog clutch style drives were gone. What you was never used by Volvo. Then OMC sterndrive sold out to Volvo in 98. No more OMC sterndrive division. BRP only bought the Outboard part of OMC, not the Sterndrives. Which explains why they don't have the impellers or plan on getting them.

 

[07caddy]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

I just called BRP to inquire about the impeller and was referred to local dealers.

Going to stock up on a few impellers as soon as I find them.

Will be up a certain creek w/out a paddle if something major happens to the stern drive!!

Wish there was an SEI conversion

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

Will be up a certain creek w/out a paddle if something major happens to the stern drive!!

Yes. You WILL be.

Once you get it running, be VERY careful with it!

Since you do have a "good" engine, you're partway there though.

You could do what I did and swap the whole mess out with either a Volvo Penta BBC +drive or Mercruiser BBC + (Bravo) Drive.

It'll depend on what you find. They are out there........And yours is VALUABLE because there are others out there (just like you) who have them and will want a good used replacement if they "break" theirs!!!

Since you have an engine, if you live in an area that experiences freezing weather in the winter time you could peruse the craigslist ads in Spring and find yourself a donor boat with a cracked block.

I wish I could tell you something better.

Your drive is far MORE scarce than the Dog-Clutch King Kobra I pulled off the back of my Liberator just because they didn't make as many of them......

Good luck........



Rick

 

[07caddy]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

Spoke to Doug Russell parts and they do not carry the OEM impeller #987176 and reminded me how scarce parts are, especially the impeller. I found an impeller here in town and put it in my boat, which runs nice and cool compared to a few weeks ago. I'd like to have a spare on hand but that may not be possible in the short term. One place online that said they have an impeller for $125.00. I paid $41.00 here in town.

I looked at the water pump repair kit for the 91 KC and it looks really close....but the impeller is a little smaller. Do you think I'd ruin my engine if I bolted on a 91 water pump repair kit? Bolts line up, but the impeller, housing, liner are just a tad smaller. At first glance the 91 kit looks like the same part but its not.

Oh yeah, I called this place that sells SX drives and the guy told me I'm looking at $13K to replace my KC with a SX.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

Oh yeah, I called this place that sells SX drives and the guy told me I'm looking at $13K to replace my KC with a SX.

Yeah, you probably wouldn't want to do that....... I paid $5k for the complete "Firewall-Forward" 1997 454/Bravo III in my sig below.....

When I was looking, I found a complete 2004 (everything) 5.7L EFI 300hp Bravo I For $7500 and a newer 496/Bravo III for $8500

I would have REALLY liked to get the 496!! But I had JUST finished installing the 454....... and it runs SO NICE........

From time to time I see various year BBC/Bravos for sale in the PNW/Seattle areas........ I have never seen a Volvo Penta engine/drive for sale here.......

I even toyed with a new engine and drive combo when I first got the boat..........

BBC Mercury or Volvo, it was going to be roughly $25K.........I bagged that idea pretty fast!!

Oh yeah, I called this place that sells SX drives and the guy told me I'm looking at $13K to replace my KC with a SX.

AND he probably thinks you can just bolt the drive right on the back and turn the key!!!!!!!

 

[07caddy]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

I'd like to keep my 454 if possible and focus on researching a merc drive. That's where I get confused. Not even sure what to look for.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

I'd like to keep my 454 if possible and focus on researching a merc drive. That's where I get confused. Not even sure what to look for.

You could do it but you would have to literally replace everything on the engine (except maybe the carb) And you would need everything from the flywheel (and housing) -----BACK.......

Your boat would work well with either a Bravo I or III. (I cannot believe the difference in performance between the original (340hp KC) engine/drive and the new (330HP) +Bravo III.

It's a tad slower now (3mph)............but before it was a REAL dog out of the hole (even when it was new......Brother bought it new)

Now it just ROCKETS out of the hole and even though a little slower it's worth it.


If you did a Volvo Penta DPS drive you would probably need to do the same thing.

Have a look at EBAY, you can usually find drives, transom mounts etc there....There just seems to be a LOT more Merc stuff.............

Also, if you're always going to operate at high altitudes, you might need to start with a 2.20:1 or lower drive ratio. like the following one Bravo III

If I was going to buy a used drive all by itself, I might even have a dealer look at it.....you do run a risk......(might even be stolen!!)

 

[07caddy]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

Did you make extensive mods at the transom so it would accept the Bravo III?

I'm sure I could part out my current setup. Then I start thinking that this is just an avg cuddy, not a Liberator or something real fancy, why not sell it now and cut my losses.

This really sucks!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 92 7.4L King Cobra - Parts Dilemma

Did you make extensive mods at the transom so it would accept the Bravo III?

no.

You wouldn't have to either. The cutout is the same... You only have to drill a couple of extra holes for the 2 additional studs in the Bravo transom.

why not sell it now and cut my losses.

Well,

You'll have to make that decision.

If you like the boat and it's in otherwise good condition, there's no reason NOT to keep it.

If you think you could get it it running good and sell it, you could always find something else......

There's no question that you could easily sell your current drive if it's in otherwise good operating condition.......

The transom mount could be a little bit harder to sell........people usually don't replace them ...................although the guy that bought my 460 Cobra flywheel housing after his was destroyed by the exploding coupler also wanted the transom/gimbal mount. which was also damaged.

I would say yours is far more rare than the Dog-clutch drive transom mounts......