Need help figuring out what I have???

[lillbush]

hello everyone I was in need of some help and wondering if someone here can help please? I just got a boat from a friend of mine the other day for free and I need to know what I have so I can order parts. The outdrive is missing for one. Here is the info that I do have...I know it is a GM V6 and that the outdrive was a OMC Cobra...thats all I know. Dont know the year or ltr or anything along those lines. The inboard is there and all torn apart and the outboard frame and power steering is there. I am missing the driveshaft and upper and lower unit. The frame on the inside of the boat has a model and serial number on it. The model on the outboard is 985680 and the ser #TO239976 so does anyone know what I do/dont have. As far as the motor goes like I said it is a v6 has a prestolite screw down dis. Oh and the boat is a Sunbird Corsair 185. The vin on the boat is SB2R01291990. This is all the info I have can someone please help?

Thanks
Matt

 

[67SeaSkiff]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

Not be the bearer of bad news, but I think your friend just gave you his problem. Do yourself a favor and give (or sell cheaply) it before you invest any elbow grease or time. As my screen name suggests, I'm speaking from experience - except I paid cash for my nighmare. (1967 Chris Craft Sea Skiff with "one engine works great, the other just got stuck sitting in storage") What i regret most wasn't the cash, it was the time wasted on a project that would never be completed. A year after I sold it to another dreamer I saw the boat back on the local classifieds in the exact state I left it. It takes a HUGE amount of time, dedication, money, and patience to rebuild an old boat. In the end, you just have an old boat! On the bright side, i did learn to re-assemble and bench start a small block chevy.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

4.3L GM (Chevrolet)

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

Hi Matt,

I did a little google search for "OMC 985680" and found several hits that indicate your transom mount was on a 90 (or so..... ) OMC Cobra powered boat.

Your engine is clearly a 4.3L V-6 and it indeed had a Cobra on the back.

Now,

Free boats are rarely "Free".

You'll want to carefully inspect the engine. Do a cooling system pressure check first! You need to know if you have a cracked block. A lot of times, someone will not winterize, discover a cracked block (and/or a rotten floor and transom) and then part the boat out.

The drive is the most valuable thing on a boat like that. So they sell the drive.........leaving a worthless boat and engine.

Next, you'll need to know if the floor and/or transom is rotten. If either is the case, it's probably not worth trying to resurrect the boat.

You'll want to scrap the engine (if the block is cracked), remove the transom mount (it's actually worth something) and saw the boat up with a sawzall and throw it away piece by piece etc......! (sorry about that......if you try to restore, you'll put more money in it than you can actually buy a good used running boat for!!)

If none of the above is true, I.E. the floor and transom is NOT rotten, and the block is actually NOT cracked, then you have some options.

You can find a used (correct ratio) Cobra drive, OR you can get an SEI conversion kit and put an SEI drive on it.
That will make it a pretty good boat. I would do that instead of finding a used Cobra. You get a new (with 3 year warranty) drive That is supportable from a company that is IN business. OMC went out of business more than 13 years ago.

Another option is to find a used Mercruiser transom mount and used Mercruiser drive out of a damaged ( or rotten transom/floor) boat.

That's what I did with my boat (I bought an engine/transom mount/drive out of a damaged boat)


Good luck,


Rick

 

[lillbush]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

Well I’m NOT going to get rid of it. I got this knowing it would take time plus I am a mechanic and know a few things. I have rebuilt 3 boats in way worse shape than this. Like I said I am just trying to figure out what I have so I can get the ball rolling on this project…Ok so it is a 4.3 GM V-6. Anyone else know anything about this outdrive?

 

[lillbush]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

Block is good, Transom is good. The floor had a little flex to it so I pulled it out. So far the BONES of this boat are good. Like I said I just need the outdrive and/or some other ideas as what direction to go. This is just a family boat going to be used to pull kids on a tube.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

Anyone else know anything about this outdrive?

you have way more info than you would ever need to order parts... I'm not sure what info you are after

you want to order an outdrive?
I think the consensus in these forums, is that this is the best bet to replace a missing Cobra drive:
this kit:

plus one of these (you require 1.81 ratio)

the company is called SEI and the kit plus their drive converts your gimbal setup to accept a drive that is still manufactured affordably

You order the kit and drive together because they have to do a couple of mods on the drive before shipping.

 

[lillbush]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

I just was looking to see what it was I needed exactly. Like what I needed and where to get it all? I was looking for options and suggestions as far as fixing it... (Not Scraping) This build is very important to my kids and I want to make it right and safe. So any and all info is greatly appreciated!!

 

[krazzeeblonde]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

I'm trying to figure out what type of seal or o-ring goes on the pilot check valve up out line Prestolite 105392-B (the old high pressure low volume square reservoir) power pack. Also if there is a seal on the thermal/over pressure relief pilot valve.

 

[projo198]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

I just was looking to see what it was I needed exactly. Like what I needed and where to get it all? I was looking for options and suggestions as far as fixing it... (Not Scraping) This build is very important to my kids and I want to make it right and safe. So any and all info is greatly appreciated!!

I think they've already nailed it, a few times. If your dedicated to fixing the boat the SEI conversion is probably the way to go. I already determined that if my outdrive ever goes out I an doing the conversion as well. I decided this because finding OMC parts is a real PITA. The ONE SHOP locally that sells them just LOVES when I come walking in.

 

[Levinz11]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

View attachment 160694View attachment 160695View attachment 160696View attachment 160697I'm trying to figure out what type of seal or o-ring goes on the pilot check valve up out line Prestolite 105392-B (the old high pressure low volume square reservoir) power pack. Also if there is a seal on the thermal/over pressure relief pilot valve.

View attachment 160693

Random dude has arrived!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

I just was looking to see what it was I needed exactly. Like what I needed and where to get it all? I was looking for options and suggestions as far as fixing it... (Not Scraping) This build is very important to my kids and I want to make it right and safe. So any and all info is greatly appreciated!!

You can google suppliers of Cobra drives. I searched for "rebuilt cobra drives" and found several. Some require a "Core" or charge about $ 500 or so.

One was about $1700 + the core charge + shipping, I didn't look at the warranty. Another was around $2200 for the upper and $2000 for the "lower" making it about $4000 with a 2 year warranty.

SEI will be about $350 for the kit and around $1500 for the drive with a 3 year warranty (my choice if I was going to buy a drive)

You could find a used one too. Good luck on that.

No matter how you slice it, you're going to have a lot of money in your "Free" boat. Maybe more than you'll have in an already running boat when you get it all together. Good luck on that too. (really!)


Since you have a "good" engine, you might find another "Free" boat with a bad engine and good drive. I would avoid another OMC powered boat though.

krazzeeblonde

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???
Attachment 160694Attachment 160695Attachment 160696Attachment 160697I'm trying to figure out what type of seal or o-ring goes on the pilot check valve up out line Prestolite 105392-B (the old high pressure low volume square reservoir) power pack. Also if there is a seal on the thermal/over pressure relief pilot valve.

Attachment 160693
​

You need to start your own thread instead of hijacking this thread. Your question is not related to the Original Posters' question.

 

[krazzeeblonde]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

You can google suppliers of Cobra drives. I searched for "rebuilt cobra drives" and found several. Some require a "Core" or charge about $ 500 or so.

One was about $1700 + the core charge + shipping, I didn't look at the warranty. Another was around $2200 for the upper and $2000 for the "lower" making it about $4000 with a 2 year warranty.

SEI will be about $350 for the kit and around $1500 for the drive with a 3 year warranty (my choice if I was going to buy a drive)

You could find a used one too. Good luck on that.

No matter how you slice it, you're going to have a lot of money in your "Free" boat. Maybe more than you'll have in an already running boat when you get it all together. Good luck on that too. (really!)


Since you have a "good" engine, you might find another "Free" boat with a bad engine and good drive. I would avoid another OMC powered boat though.






You need to start your own thread instead of hijacking this thread. Your question is not related to the Original Posters' question.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread, couldn't figure out how to start a thread.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Need help figuring out what I have???

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread, couldn't figure out how to start a thread.

No Problem! and welcome aboard if I didn't say it!

Click here: http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=445

Scroll to the top of the list of threads, and click the big red button that says " + Post New Thread"

BUT before you do, click the following and read the message that says, "how to ask a question"!
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=468284


Cheers,


Rick