Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

[JHolian]

Quick Greeting and rundown of my situation.

I have a 89 Four Winns Liberator 241 w/ a OMC 460 and I believe Cobra outdrive. I recently removed the outdrive with much aggravating success. The upper housing was totally mangled from being ran w/o zincs. I broke pieces of it off in thin areas prying it from the gimble housing. The main reason for removal was the shifter would not move inside the lower unit. It is seized something fierce.

Onto my big question. I'm looking for a replacement outdrive, upper and lower, used, (I'm on a budget) and I'm having a hard time locating one. I see them listed all over for anything up to a 5.7. I have a 7.5 and I can find nothing. Hoping maybe someone can point me in a direction saying I can use a 5.7 intended drive on a 7.5. Or Any knowledge would be appreciated.

Here's a few pics of my nightmare.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Didn't the 460 use a King Cobra?

 

[JHolian]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Haha. Yea that's what I thought. Though I have come across a few sites that say some came with a Cobra. And when I look at the gimble housings on a King Cobra they look different then mine. Mine looks like a Cobra gimble bracket.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Unfortunately,...
Picture #3 pretty much sums up your predicament....

Both, your Motor,+ Drive have the same part #s,..... Many are NLA...

Sorry,... A Total refit is about your Only Option....

Here's an informative thread about King Cobras...

 

[JHolian]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Well I understand parts for the motor are few and far between. I'm okay with that since the motor is pristine. And I heard King cobra parts are NLA. But Cobra parts I thought were still available?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

And I heard King cobra parts are NLA. But Cobra parts I thought were still available?

Ayuh,... I don't do OMCs,+ avoid figurin' 'em out....
Others who've been down this road will find this,+ Hopefully tell ya Exactly what you've really got there....
Did you read the other thread,..??

 

[JHolian]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Yea. Probably 5 or 6 times in the past 3 days since I decided to jump into this project.

But it's about King Cobras so I feel it doesn't really apply to my situation.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

since I decided to jump into this project.
But it's about King Cobras so I feel it doesn't really apply to my situation.

Ayuh,.... Donno,.... Good Luck with it,....

I'd be shoppin' a BBC with a Bravo, or Volvo drive myself,.....
Dollars will go further both before,+ after....

 

[JHolian]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Well I have found SEI makes a Adapter for Cobras to Fit a Alpha one GenII in the cobras place. But it says they are rated to 300hp. My 460 probably puts out more then that.

Then I was thinking maybe a 5.0 or 5.7 cobra drive since I can't find hardly any for a 7.5 (rare?). But I'm unsure if they will bolt up and I dont know the effects of the different gear ratios I'm sure exist from a 5.7 to a 7.5.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

The main difference between the 460/King in the up to 89 Cobras vs the plain Cobra is the lower unit...the uppers were the same....the Cobras with the small blocks came with a V-6 outboard style lower unit...the 460/King used a bigger one that was used on the OMC V-8 outboards...I figure that if OMC went to the trouble to use a bigger lower on the 460s...they felt that the regular lower would not hold up to the torque of the big block 460...Didn't Merc try putting an Alpha behind the 454....but only for a few years...that tells you something...



I think that given that you can't buy couplers or ex manifolds for the 460/Kings...I'd look to sell the engine...and whatever else...and swap in a Merc 454/Bravo...like Rick did to his FW...best bang for the buck...
The classic Liberator you have is a unique model that is still prized by some and might be worth a re-power as long as the hull and wood frame under the glass are OK...'course that's a whole nuther story...


I'm keeping the Cobra on mine but because it's a Chevy engined plain Cobra I have a few options...Volvo SX conversion (good but pricey) or SEI Merc Alpha (cheaper but unknown as to how well it will work over time)....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

and I dont know the effects of the different gear ratios I'm sure exist from a 5.7 to a 7.5.

Ayuh,.... I imagine it would put you into the Hi-20" to low-30"+ range of Propellers...

Mostly Custom,+ Killer Expensive....

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

So how does it look inside? Take a step back and catch your breath before you mentally loose it.. then start diesecting it, save ALL the good parts.

 

[JHolian]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Well how does this sound?

My current 460 engine w/ cobra gimble housing using a Cobra 5.0/5.7 Cobra drive?

Dont care about ratios or top speed. Just want to move.

???

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

Looks like the regular style Cobra from what i can tell in the pics.
The real King Cobra drives were not used very long by OMC.

A Cobra from a 5.7 should bolt right up but you will need to go way up in prop pitch...It will get you back in the water anyway.Just watch the rpm's and don't be hammering the throttle.

 

[JHolian]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

That's all I needed to hear Gary. I just want to get back in the water, do some cruising around the bay for the summer and put a sale sign on it.

Appreciate it.

 

[solar7647]

Re: Major OMC Outdrive Confusion

That's all I needed to hear Gary. I just want to get back in the water, do some cruising around the bay for the summer and put a sale sign on it.

Appreciate it.

You have a PM..........