MPI Engine with OMC Cobra

[gilliac]

I posted on an earlier thread about an old 89 25 ft Donzi I am trying to rebuild. The 350 OMC (Chevy) is shot but the drive seems good. Oil was clean, gears looked good. I lost a deal on a complete 5.7MPI/Bravo III package so I am trying to plan a path forward. Expect to take most of the summer getting this project complete and trying to get out as cheap as possible (but no cheaper, as I want a dependable boat after all that work!) So for now I am trying to decide on a good plan for an engine/drive package.

Option 1: Keep the OMC Cobra as is and rebuild the engine with carb and all original OMC linkage.

Option 2: Keep the OMC Cobra and try to interface the drive with a 5.7 MPI engine. Question: can I get the ESA (Electronic Shift Assist) module to talk to the distributor in the MPI engine and will any of the brackets work?

Option 3: Since the motor has to come out anyway, just sell the Cobra unit and keep looking for a complete engine/drive package.

Would appreciate any feedback from you guys

Thanks

Gil

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: MPI Engine with OMC Cobra

Option 1 or 3 seem like better options.
Now that SEI makes a Merc Alpha style conversion, option 1 seems best to me. I like carbs on old boats.

 

[Lou C]

Re: MPI Engine with OMC Cobra

I agree the complication of EFI on a boat esp an old one is not worth it. I'd use a carb and the OMC points dist and just change the points and condenser every 4-5 seasons or so. We had them in our cars and it was honestly easier to deal with than today's $700 fuel pumps and equally expensive mystery EMC units.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: MPI Engine with OMC Cobra

#1 is the better option.
#2 Probably near impossible to get the esa to work properly.
#3 May cost more than the boat is worth.

 

[Bulbash]

Re: MPI Engine with OMC Cobra

I'd go with #1 option

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: MPI Engine with OMC Cobra

I posted on an earlier thread about an old 89 25 ft Donzi I am trying to rebuild.
Option 1: Keep the OMC Cobra as is and rebuild the engine with carb and all original OMC linkage.

Option 2: Keep the OMC Cobra and try to interface the drive with a 5.7 MPI engine. Question: can I get the ESA (Electronic Shift Assist) module to talk to the distributor in the MPI engine and will any of the brackets work?

Option 3: Since the motor has to come out anyway, just sell the Cobra unit and keep looking for a complete engine/drive package.

Howdy Gil,

In 2006, I did much the same thing when I removed my previously installed OMC 460 King Kobra and looked for quite some time for a similarly powered Mercruiser engine and drive.

I even considered buying a new Mercruiser or Volvo engine/drive package ($25K+)!

Locally, I found a 2003 model year, closed cooled (400 salt hrs) 5.7L MAG MPI (300hp) + Bravo I for an asking price of $7500. I offered $6000 (denied) and was going to offer $6500 when I found a 1997 carbureted (never in salt) 454/Bravo III with 122hrs since new. The owner wanted $6000 and I offered
$5000 which he accepted.

You have a fairly big boat. You would be very happy with a Bravo III and even if you get a 454, you'll love the performance............While the 454 was similar in HP output to the 460, the Bravo III made all the difference.

I was also able to sell most all the OMC 'stuff' piece by piece over about a 3 year period for a little over $3500.

While I thought I got some pretty good prices for some of the stuff, your OMC stuff is worth a fair amount of money if you use a little patience selling it.

If all you need to do is rebuild your engine to get it back on the water, I would do that....

If you really like the boat and it's worth re-powering, I would still keep looking for an engine and drive package. As new as I could find to include finding at least a 300hp 5.7L MPI, 320hp 6.2L, or even a 7.4L MPI engine and Bravo III.

Then when you do the swap, you'd be selling a running OMC Cobra package.


Regards,


Rick