Newbie here.....

[Bigdaveaz]

HI GUYS, got led here by the guys over at 24hourcampfire. Hope you all can help this old phart, I just bought my first boat and its a project! It's a 1987 Glastron 19.5 with a omc chev V6,it is well used but in pretty good shape,upholstry has been replaced. Boat was run hot now bottom end makes noise! now I have been a Chevy Mec all my life but not on a boat motor. my plan is to pull engine and rebuild it, Tips please. Do i need to pull off outdrive first? Special tools? Is there an online manual/pictures or guide? any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Dave.

 

[ccmarsh]

Re: Newbie here.....

HI GUYS, got led here by the guys over at 24hourcampfire. Hope you all can help this old phart, I just bought my first boat and its a project! It's a 1987 Glastron 19.5 with a omc chev V6,it is well used but in pretty good shape,upholstry has been replaced. Boat was run hot now bottom end makes noise! now I have been a Chevy Mec all my life but not on a boat motor. my plan is to pull engine and rebuild it, Tips please. Do i need to pull off outdrive first? Special tools? Is there an online manual/pictures or guide? any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Dave.

Welcome Newbie. I am new to engines so you probably know more than I however I will tell you something that I read my manual. I have a 302 Merc. The Manual told me I need to move the block away from the stern drive at lease six inches to be able to pull it out completely other wise I have to take the stern drive off. The guys on this forum really know there stuff. They will be able to help you more than i can however if it was me I would just go ahead and pull the sterndrive off anyways. It probably needs some attention also. You might be able to find the manual for it on e-bay. Thats where I got mine.

Good luck and welcome

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Newbie here.....

Howdy Dave,

Welcome to iBoats!

I hate to say it, but your first mistake was buying an OMC (Cobra) powered boat.

The OMC Cobra has it's own unique set of problems......mainly OMC is out of business almost 10 years now.

It's all doable and if you do rebuild it you'll get VERY familiar with what I'm talking about.

Now having said all that, yes you need to pull the drive first (6 ss nuts on the drive and the thru-bolt on the back the trim cyls are connected with) then pull the engine.

You do need to find an OMC service manual for the 87 model year (or possibly 86) It's based on the model number of your engine and drive. You also need to have a look at THIS.

You probably will be able to find most parts for your engine. Some of the parts for the drive may be either very hard to find or non-existent. Hope your drive has no "issues".

You can go to either BRP or Doug Russell for parts.

And of course there's others.

There's a lot of people here that are still running the Cobras successfully so you should have lots of company!

Good luck!


Rick

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

Ht, thank you for your reply. I do have a mentor in a BIL that has had boats most of his life and yes he told me about omc! This Boat was bought new by a good friend and has never had an issue till now,his brother took it out with no freeze plugs and didn't notice till it was to late! Which wasn't too long! My plan is to rebuild the mill and try the boat out,no rippin and running! Just cruising! Me my wife and BIL and his wife. Oh! one issue he did tell me about, the button/switch to trim is dirty(His words) finnicky! And trim needs adjusting when runnig.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Newbie here.....

I have been a Chevy Mec all my life but not on a boat motor. my plan is to pull engine and rebuild it, Tips please. Do i need to pull off outdrive first? Special tools? Is there an online manual/pictures or guide?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard Dave,.....

As noted above,...
You should have been Listening to your Bud when he was telling ya to stay away for OMCs,....
But,.....
That's now a moot point,....

If you're going to rebuild it,..... Just Build it like you were trying to build a Stump Pulling Truck motor,.....
That'll give you the Best marine version of a Chevy that there is.....

The Outdrive wants to be Pulled before you get started on the motor,..... I'm guessing this is new enough to be a Cobra,... If so,... Pull the 6 nuts at the top of the drive,+ disconnect the aft ends of the hyd. rams,+ Yank it outta your way,.....
Then pull the Motor....
No special Tools really til you get headed back together......
And,....
I'm sure some of the OMC crowd will be along to give you any Tips o the proper Manuals,+ other Info to be found at various Websites,.....
Hastings comes to mind,.....

Again,.....
If you'd jumped onto a Merc,.... There'd be much more Help available,.....
But a Chevy is still a Chevy,..... It's all the Other neat stuff that's going to Screw you Up......

Good Luck................

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

Bond-o, Thanks for your input. I pulled the outdrive this am, piece of cake! Am going to do a compression test before I go any farther,just because. One question has been bothering me, The boat was run with one (1) freeze plug out and was reported to get hot! My question is, if the motor was running and pumping water(cold) how hot could it get?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Newbie here.....

Ayuh,.....

My Guess is,.....

The bottom end was probably Stone Cold,+ the top end was Smoke'n....

With the Coreplug laying in the bilge, The water couldn't get above the level of the Inch,+ 1/2" Hole.......

You'll want to have a Look at the exhaust system,+ it's Boots,.... My bet is their Cooked from a Dry exhaust run.....

Try the Comp Test,+ a leakdown Test,...... That might tell you how far you've got to Go.........

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

Previous owner bought the Boat new and has had no issues with the drive,when I pulled it this morn there was surface rust on the joints,but no play! Exhaust boot look good from the outside. i was told there was noise from the bottom end!

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

Looking at the Boat this am, found oil filter laying in the sump, no oil showing on stick pulled the plugs( They didn't look bad) and did a compression test, all six 150! Put a new oil filter on and filled oil pan, reinstalled plugs and fired her up.... she purrrs! Next i will grease the Joints,reinstall the drive, put the ear muffs on and bring her up to temp,watching the oil pressure and temp. May have lucked out for once! Dave

 

[Don S]

Re: Newbie here.....

Lack of oil isn't going to effect the compression as much as it's going to really destroy the bearings that are being run dry. They might sound fine now, wait till you get it under load for a while and see what happens.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Newbie here.....

Here is a real OMC factory service manual.I used to have the exact same book but give it to the guy that bought my boat.
Its well worth the money! All the critical info and shift cable adjustments,everything to a full rebuild.These books are rare!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987...62QQcategoryZ26453QQihZ024QQitemZ370032377600

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

Lack of oil isn't going to effect the compression as much as it's going to really destroy the bearings that are being run dry. They might sound fine now, wait till you get it under load for a while and see what happens.

Gotcha Don, the compression thing was about the supposed running when real hot! Did not know what shape the Rings/Valves were in. Prob put it in the water next week, takin it slow at first!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Newbie here.....

Dave,

That manual might be a good deal! I paid about $100 for a reprint of the same manual when I needed one!

Be very careful when running it after starving the bearings. That "bottom end noise" was probably the rods rattle'n!

If you have it loaded at high RPM you might spin a rod bearing with catastrophic results!

If you were thinking about pulling the engine it might not be a bad idea to have a look at the rod bearings.

Good luck!

Rick

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

You have a good point Rick,except every thing I have found is contrary to what I was told by the previous owner,I don't think he ran the engine when he got it back! I am VERY familiar with what an engine should sound like, Have been building engines since the Ford Flathead days. I plan on taking it slow one step at a time, since this engine is a stranger to me, but i have known many of his brothers! Thanks to all of you since I know squat about Boats! Dave.:redface:

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Newbie here.....

Boat was run hot now bottom end makes noise! now I have been a Chevy Mec all my life but not on a boat motor. my plan is to pull engine and rebuild it, Tips please.

OK....

Then by the above, you meant that THEY said it made noise? Or you ran it and it made noise and then you found the oil filter laying in the bilge?

I guess I wasn't completely comprehending how you discovered the oil filter... I thought you indicated that you discovered the noise and the oil filter in the bilge AFTER running it...

You might still want to have a look at the rod bearings though.....piece of mind and all that rot!

You still need an OMC manual! I'd sell you mine (it's for an 87) but I'm going to sell it with the drive/gimbal etc...


Keep us posted.....and take pictures....we all love pictures!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Newbie here.....

I would not put the drive back on without doing the shift cable adjustments in the manual,also the engine alignment.
Service u-joints and water pump impeller in the drive.That would be the very first thing to cause the original overheat.
If it has the Cobra one peice manifolds they need to be junked!
Get the GLM manifolds and replace them!
Look at Ebasicpower.com for manifolds and most other Cobra parts.
Any oil leaks? The timing chain cover and oil pans are very common to rust out.
Oh,i miss my Cobra!....
Love my Johnson 175!!!

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

Sorry for mis-leading you all,the hot running is what i was told! I did not hear the boat before I bought it,upon inspection I found no oil on the dip-stick then found the oil filter in the Bilge. I have since come to doubt any thing the previous owner said! I can't find any indication that the motor was hot. I have backed up to just ,buying a Boat with no knowledge of history and going from there. I do know the P.O.s have used the boat with almost no Maint. and very few problems,how that can happen,i guess is testament to how well THIS boat was built and luck! Dave

 

[firehog6305]

Re: Newbie here.....

heck dave, put it back ,together, with new oil and run it, but I would be very gentle with it for a few hours just it case, you might want to put it a lub additive like slick 50m or somthing, and run it at very low idle for a while first. and if it starts making noise out test driving it, shut it down fast! its the same as a car, the more noise the more damage, and then rebuild it, you were going to anyways, you might have gotten luck. what I didnt read in this post, was anyone making sure to tell you , that you dont want to use car parts when you rebuild it, make sure you get marine parts, like the head gasket, freeze plugs, cam among other parts, good luck and keep us posted

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Newbie here.....

Thanks for your reply Firehog, I got the lube for the drive today ,had the carb rebuilt today,pick it up in the am. Will put the carb on and hook up water and start it, check oil pressure and temp. Local boat shop has a pond to back it into to test thee drive $5.00 Will do that after engine run test ok's Dave. I'm learning something every day.