finding a matching lower unit

[Andrew C]

Thanks for the info on my prior post. Now I'm tring to get a little more clarification on exactly what lower units will swap with the one from my 1993 7.4 ltr king cobra. The ID tag on the lower unit has a Model #744DPEAMH and two serial numbers - top one is T61233567, beneath that is T00757706. It also says OMC. I was told mine is most likely a cone because of the year. As I mentioned earlier I broke my skeg off beyond repair and need to find a new lower unit housing. I have a line on a lower unit from a 1989 460 king cobra. If his is a cone type also, would the lower unit housing be able to be used in place of my broken one?
Thanks again for all the help!!!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: finding a matching lower unit

Thanks for the info on my prior post. Now I'm tring to get a little more clarification on exactly what lower units will swap with the one from my 1993 7.4 ltr king cobra. The ID tag on the lower unit has a Model #744DPEAMH and two serial numbers - top one is T61233567, beneath that is T00757706. It also says OMC. I was told mine is most likely a cone because of the year. As I mentioned earlier I broke my skeg off beyond repair and need to find a new lower unit housing. I have a line on a lower unit from a 1989 460 king cobra. If his is a cone type also, would the lower unit housing be able to be used in place of my broken one?
Thanks again for all the help!!!

Howdy,


If your 93 King Cobra has a "hump" on the top of the upper, it is indeed a "Cone" clutch drive. OMC went to a cone clutch drive initially in the 454/460 engines around 90 or so.

The most of certain "smaller" engines used the Dog-clutch drives until about 94 when all the OMC models were Cone clutch

I am pretty sure you cannot "switch" a Cone clutch drive with a Dog and the 89 is definately a "dog". (Pun intended)


You will have to find a 90 or newer drive that was originally bolted to either a 454 or a 460. They didn't make very many of these drives.

You also may be able to put a Volvo Penta SX drive on it. You'll have to speak to a Volvo Dealer or maybe someone here can offer more info.
It won't be cheap.

Someone has said that Sterndrive Engr is developing a kit to install their drives on a Cobra gimbal but that will be an Alpha type drive. It may not be good to put one behind a 454.

Your best bet might be to find a damaged, donor boat with a complete Volvo or Mercruiser Bravo drive.


Regards,


Rick

 

[Andrew C]

Re: finding a matching lower unit

Thanks Rick. I will start the ebay/internet search.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: finding a matching lower unit

Andrew, you are in a fairly exclusive "club" with that "interim" cone clutch Cobra!

They not only didn't make very many of them, they didn't continue the line for more than a few years. They are truly "Dinosaurs".

You are lucky that you have a 454 since Volvo continued to offer it in the later SX series and others. (except for the OMC Spitfire ignition and EFI for which there are little or no replacement parts available)


If you want to keep the boat, it might be a good idea to consider finding a Volvo Penta transom shield/Gimbal etc and SX or DP drive and start the swap. You'll have all winter to get it all together.

Your other choice would be to find a complete Bravo I/II/III setup. It'll depend on what you find and what you're able to do yourself etc.

If you look on ebay Motors, "Boat Parts" you can get specific for Volvo or Mercruiser etc...



Good luck!


Rick

 

[Andrew C]

Re: finding a matching lower unit

Thanks again for the info Rick. It makes me wonder if I should just cut my losses and try and sell my Chris Craft as is. Oh well I guess I will see what I can find on ebay!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: finding a matching lower unit

Thanks again for the info Rick. It makes me wonder if I should just cut my losses and try and sell my Chris Craft as is. Oh well I guess I will see what I can find on ebay!

Well, I don't know how attached you are to that boat.

This is a common problem with any older boat that has a discontinued or obsolete engine and/or drive.

Your boat, with a damaged engine/drive is probably not really worth much.
There's a LOT of parts and stuff out there and you may be able to find a drive. I can say with some confidence that if your damage was due to insured damage, an insurance company would probably "total" the boat because I think they can only repair/replace with like/kind equipment. They couldn't just switch you over to a Volvo or Merc because it would cost more than the boat is worth.


When I pulled my original 460 King Cobra, I was pretty worried about finding an engine and drive (Volvo or Merc) and I was lucky to find a complete Merc engine and drive for $5k and it was a super deal but since then I have actually found similar deals on both ebay and craigslist.

So in a nutshell, those deals are out there.....it might take a little legwork/keyboard work and maybe a drive with a truck to get it and some tools and expertise to swap it all out.

It might be worth it depending on how good of condition your boat is in and much you like it (and of course if you can do the work yourself)

You may also "luck-out" and find a good condition original drive to replace yours with. As scarce as they're getting, that might be a "stretch"....


Good luck,


Rick

 

[Andrew C]

Re: finding a matching lower unit

Fortunately my engine is very solid and runs strong,(720 hours) so it seems to be more of a outdrive issue, and really only the lower housing at this point. I very much like the layout of the boat. I guess I'll just keep my options opened at this point. I have all winter to play around with it.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: finding a matching lower unit

That would probably be your best bet. You never know what'll show up on craigslist or ebay!



Cheers,

Rick