Engine swap issues?

[aerwin]

Re: Engine swap issues?

you have been fairly and honestly warned, but if you feel that strongly about it then go ahead, its your money.
we have been down that road of hard boat knocks, a bad boat will turn you off of boating

 

[C.Walker]

Re: Engine swap issues?

Well, thanks for the advice from everyone who didn't have all negative things to say. I'll try to check out the stringers. The floor seemed solid along with the transom when I looked over it. Didn't notice any soft spots.

I know theres alot of work involved with this boat, but i'm not looking for somehting in perfect condition that's ready to go. I like projects. I'd be bored and this gives me something to do.

I can get all the wood i need and machine shop service for free or really cheap.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Engine swap issues?

The floor seemed solid

be sure cw. my backyard project is a 72 trisonic. it has a real nice floor in it. it's also been replace. very solid. after some cuttin. i find that the stringers are mush. i have some scabbed on bare boards to the mushy stringers. a ft. motor mount box that's been put in over the oem one. anyways. things aint always as they appear sometimes. as a side note. the new floor is held on real good too. ya'd never know i had problems, unless ya tried to torque a front motor mount bolt down.....i can't. if i can't have a solid ft. motor mount. i don't see how i can spend $7.5K + or - for an new drive and motor. which i also need. that one issue of the ft. motor mount bolt not being able to torque down, led me to find my stringer issue. my boat ain't safe. i figure if i ever get this boat going again. i'll be years of labor in my backyard into its reconstruction + $10-15K before it's all said and done.
i got a different boat. it'll need work too. but hopefully it's not dead line items that will keep me off the water. as for me. my real goal is to be hangin on the lake. then, fixin whatever i got to keep me there.......just my expereince.... good luck with yours......

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine swap issues?

Well, thanks for the advice from everyone who didn't have all negative things to say.

You can lead a horse to water,... But you Can't make him Drink........

C.Walker has been showered with probably Over 100 Years of Combined Experince,...........

If he Refuses this Knowledge,........

He'll have to Learn it for Himself............

C.Walker is just Another poster who Doesn't Like the Truthful Answers to his Questions........

He's Not the 1st,+ I'm Sure he Won't be the Last............

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Engine swap issues?

Don't feel bad Bondo. I get the same reaction every time I post to people wanting to up their 9.9s to 15s to cheat on 10Hp lakes. Then there's that guy that's hanging a 40 tiller on a tinny rated for 6. Sheesh! You just can't save some people from themselves.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Engine swap issues?

C Walker
I have a stringer drive also and if they still made parts for it then it would still be my choice of outdrives. However the company went out of business. Johnson and Evinrude were sold but they still carry a few parts.
Since part are hard to find now I would not buy a boat with the old OMC Stringer drive.

Your pictures are way too big to be helpfull but from what I see looks really bad.

Stringer came in two types, Manual trim like yours, and Select Trim. Select Trim models have a motor under the front motor mount that raises and lowers the front of the motor. Since the motor is attached to the outdrive when the front of the motor is raised the outdrive is trimed in or under to lower the Bow. If you had that model you would have a trim switch on the throttle handel. The out drive is tilted by a different switch usually on the dash. The motor is inside the boat but the clutch and gear to raise the outdrive is outside the boat.

Before you put it in the water Check the boot around the outdrive for cracks or holes. The boot covers a BIG HOLE in the transom and if it splites open will sink in seconds.

Sorry to say that from your pictures I have never seen a Stringer in that bad of shape. The Cracks, Rust, Hoses that look orignal. If you live where it gets below frezzing I bet you find a cracked block and it appears the thermostat houseing is cracked.

I ask a few dealers what they would charge to convert to Vovo or Merc if they did all the work and they have said at least $10,000.

Good luck but with the condition of that boat I would cut my losses and look for another boat.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Engine swap issues?

I concure with Ziggy and all. Good advice here for the road to restoration. Don't think of it as sarcastic or negative. Everyone is helpful and wants you to save a buck and be safe on the water.
"Such a Deal" (in a boat purchase), usually isn't.
In a running and seaworthy condition, N.A.D.A. has your boat at $1760.00. + trailer.
Read and heed. Weigh all your options first, then go forth.
Post your progress.

 

[DukesFin]

Re: Engine swap issues?

Hey man, I hear your frustration about all of the "negative" comments. We don't know you and don't have anything against you so don't take it personally. The above posts are only meant to help.

Like said above, if you choose to move forward with this project, we WOULD like to see the progress.

I think most of us (me included) are baffled as to why you would put so much $$ and labor into a boat when you simply do not have to.

Anyway, good luck!

 

[aerwin]

Re: Engine swap issues?

Even tho everyone has warned you and said run, we have all been down that road. If you get this boat and have deep pockets and pull-off the restoration, you will have gained a pricless amount of knowledge and pride. thats how most of us got our knowledge, by having to build, repair, replace and general tinkering on boats. it can be very rewarding to make a pile into a nice boat. parts and materials are the easy part, money and burn-out will be the enemy. I am like you, I gotta have a project, but I have gotten my project list smaller. I like having something new occasionaly. Good luck on this project if you decide to go forward.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Engine swap issues?

Howdy C.W,

I hate to jump on the bandwagon........but I also think you said the other OMC 5 letter word (Cobra)


I'll also say that if you're thinking about getting a boat with a Cobra you must be careful too!

I thought I was "OK" with my brothers boat, (he bought it new) took good care of it, kept it inside, kept it dry, never in salt etc etc etc...


So I did not do enough home work. (I've had Mercruisers...pulled engines, drives, etc) Thought I knew what I was doing.

I neglected one TINY LITTLE thing......I had NO IDEA that OMC only made the (FORD) 7.5L engine/drive for a few years.

This one is a 1987 model year engine & drive. Not that old...


NO ONE makes the exhaust manifolds now......NO ONE..


NO ONE makes the couplers either. (LORD is the original manufacturer )

So I was stuck with "New Old Stock" or junkyard parts. Companies like Doug Russell Marine or Shorts Marine (big Marine supply companies) told me that they have not seen manifolds in over a year and they said the couplers are N/A.

I didn't investigate what other parts are not available!


Luckily for me I found a 1997 Mercruiser 7.4L eng/Bravo III and discovered (to my complete amazement!! ) that the cutout for the Bravo matches the Cobra EXACTLY ...........Even the bolt holes match up!! (need to drill two additional holes though) If I was using an Alpha I wouldn't even need to drill the two additional holes!


Also luckily for me, The cost of this job will not exceed the actual value of the boat once it's done. (well I have to exclude all the time I'm putting into the swap!!! ) If I had to pay someone to do the swap.....well ......let's just say that the boat would have to be a collectors item to make it worth it!! (assuming you could find someone who'd want to buy it!! )


If you have not bought that boat yet. JUST SAY NO!

If you did. Well you may still be able to JUST SAY NO!


Otherwise get yourself a set of correct OMC manuals. You have a job ahead of you. If you want to swap to a Mercruiser (or a Cobra) from a Stringer, you WILL have to replace the transom.


Good Luck & Regards,


Rick