Re: High or low profile OMC electric shift
Do you have any info on what drives will work or any links to that info? I was wondering what if any would work withmy motor as I really like the 302
You can use any drive from 1978 to 1985. Within those years there are two different versions. '78-'81 was the hydro-mechanical drive. That is the one I used when I dumped my electric shift back in late '79.
'82-'85 is the full mechanical shift. That would be the preferable drive to use today. For either one, you need the drive itself, the proper shift cable (very expensive if you have to get separately), the proper shift converter box and a new helm control with shift and throttle cables.
Either outdrive will bolt right up to your intermediate housing. The only thing you have to do (I think) is to enlarge the hole in the intermediate housing where your current shift wire goes through. I had a dealer convert '75 back in '79 because I repeatedly broke forward clutch springs and no one could figure out why.
My Hydro-mechanical drive has served me well. After over 30 years (a lot of hard use for 10 of those) I never had any malfunctions. In 2006, for general purposes, I had my drive gone thru. I had everything out of the boat to redo the floors. They replaced 2 worn splined shafts and resealed everything. At that time, I also replaced the Intermediate drive shaft and engine coupler with the latter, larger splined versions. The fine splines on my '75 IH shaft were getting pretty worn. It was said that the latter larger splined shafts would not wear like that.
