engine swap??

[Solon Dan]

This is my first post.But I have gained alot of information from this place.I have a 1966 Allmand 23ft.A great boat for Lake Erie.It's all good transom,hull ect.except The Motor.This had a total rebuild in 06 but was not winterized.So when I hooked the hose up and cranked it the water was coming out of the dip stick tube!!!Now I do know something is cracked somewhere.I'm looking for the best option.I do like the classic look of the boat.I have a 1969 cougar I restored so DIY isn't a problem.I do like the aspect of the stringer out drive.
I would like some opinions on my option.The Motor I have in now is a 1969 Buick V-6 1-Try and find a long block
2-Tear it down and rebuild
3-What other engine can I find or use to match the OD
4-Try and find a doner boat with a working motor
I would like to find a fuel injection 4.3 but how can I match the out drive.If I complely change the motor and out drive will I have to stay with OMC because of that rubber boot.
Thanks for some input.No sence in doing any restoration work until the motror works. Thanks Dan

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: engine swap??

read this thread if you want to see what is possible with lots of time and skill:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=369819

If you want rid of the OMC, you have to fill the transom with plywood, fiberglass it, and recut like a new boat builder would.

Low budget? - there are lots of running OMC 225 V6's out there for under $1000

Big budget? ($5000 for decent used stuff/ donor boat, $15,000+ for new)- fill transom, re-rig the helm for modern steering and electrical, and repower with a complete Mercruiser repower package.

 

[Bondo]

Re: engine swap??

I would like to find a fuel injection 4.3 but how can I match the out drive.

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... Ya Don't....

If you're in Love with the hull,.... Do yourself a favor,...
Refit it to a Mercruiser, or a Volvo....

There's No future in a Stringer drive.....

 

[proshadetree]

Re: engine swap??

Any 3.8 buick car engine is the same block. Fuel injection is a different topic.

 

[Solon Dan]

Re: engine swap??

Thats sound good. But what size Mercruser or volvo would work best?Up here there are alot of boats that have good motors but alot of rot.Buying a whole boat believe it or not may be cheaper than a long block.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: engine swap??

the most popular powerplant in boats that size is the 5.7L Chevrolet/ Mercruiser Alpha 1
Probably the easiest setup to find in a donor boat.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: engine swap??

Far cheaper to find an old rotpile and yard the drive package out, and I too would go the 5.7/Alpha setup.

 

[incrediblened]

Re: engine swap??

Probably impossible to rebuild yours (sounds like it's got internal cracks).

I dropped in a Chevy Blazer 4.3 into my boat recently. It runs awesome. There are a few things you have to swap out though (freeze plugs, head gaskets primarily).

I vote for a donor boat though. If you're patient, you'll find one and have ALL the parts for a swap-over.

Ryan