conversion questions

[Cptkid570]

Hi everyone,

I have a 1985 Mercruiser 5.7 liter with an Alpha 1 outdrive. It's installed in a 26' Sea Ray right now. I don't know the size of the flywheel or any of that stuff, it's got the 2 peice rear main seal.

I'm looking at buying a boat that needs an engine. It's a 1988 model and has an OMC Cobra outdrive (possible King Cobra - I don't know the difference)..

Question: Would my 1985 Motor go into this boat? If I took all of the OMC stuff off, would my mercruiser outdrive,assembly, engine bolt right in?

I could get the boat cheap, and it would be an upgrade from my boat, but I just don't know how much work would be in it. I'd bought my engine from Rapid-o marine and built it and installed it myself, so I'm familiar with all of that.

And I'm getting ready to replace my U-joint bellow, so I'll be familiar with that part too

 

[Fishermark]

Re: conversion questions

I believe the transom hole is the same. If you want to transfer EVERYTHING from the current boat to the new one, then yes, it will work. It will be a lot of work, but can be done. If you enjoy projects - go for it!

(Verify the transom hole is the same - I know the old stringer drives are NOT the same hole, but the newer OMC stuff is).

By the way - I do a lot of fishing in Tampa Bay - some big grouper and shark are hitting right now!

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: conversion questions

Are you going out in the gulf for the grouper or catching them in the shipping channel?

I've trolled the shipping channel in winter months and caught grouper...

 

[Fishermark]

Re: conversion questions

Right there in the shipping channel. Caught a nice 33" grouper, and my dad recently caught a nice 4' Black tip - makes for some good grilling! I know the common thought is that the grouper go offshore in the summer, but I've caught nice keepers in the hottest months of the summer right there in the bay.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: conversion questions

Which side of the Skyway did you catch the grouper (Downtown Tampa side or gulf side)? If been in the channel between Egmont Key and Fort De Soto park and it was lie 70 feet deep there.. always wondered if there would be some grouper right there...Funny, that probably sounds pretty shallow to those on this board who boat in deep lakes. I was on a lake in North Carolina one time and was like 20 feet from shore in 150' of water... You have to go pretty far out in the gulf to reach that around here.

I just hijacked my own thread! Sorry for getting off topic.