Old Motor & Sterndrive Change + Structural Support Advice To Boot

[cheryl LOUISE havard]

I have a 1987 shelby thundercraft 16'. I have tore all the rotten floor&transom out I had a 3.0 OMCmotor&a cobra sterndrive. I am replacing them with a 351 windsor mercruiser & a 888 sterndrive, can some one tell me if I have to renforce the transom&stringers, and any other advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[cheryl LOUISE havard]

advice

how do you line up motor&sterndrive in mercruiser 351. had a 3.0 omc with a cobra sterndrive replacing with 351&888sterndrive mercruiser

 

[cheryl LOUISE havard]

advice&help

16' shelby thundercraft pleasure boau 1987 had a omc 3.0motor& a 3.0 omc cobra sterndrive in it. I am rebuilding floor,transom,stringers and replacing motor with a 351 winsor mercruiser& a 888 mercruiser sterndrive. Do i need any reinforcing in transom&stringers, and can some one tell me how to line it up? Also can you put the OMC cobra on thge 351. and if so what does it consist of

 

[achris]

The 351 Mercruiser/'888' drive is a VERY old package (circa 1973). You'd be much better off finding an old rotten out boat (plenty of bayliners out there fit that description) and yank the GM engine package out. Try to find something post 1992, that way you'll have the latest (and best) generation of the Mercruiser Alpha drive... And an engine with far more spares available than that old Ford.

Chris.......

 

[matt167]

confused.. 888 is an old 302 drive, and you can't get parts for it... I don't think it will work with a 351 because of the balance differences. you will need to change some things around and you can't find these parts anymore. Mercruiser dropped Ford in the 70's

 

[matt167]

16' is a little small for V8 power. Would recomend a 4.3L V6, or a 470/ 3.7L if your glutton for punishment... If you use the 888 Ford stern drive, your really glutton for punishment

The stringers and transom need to be rebuilt and sure you can build the stringer system stronger. you cannot build the transom thicker than Mercruiser specs

 

[Scott Danforth]

dropping the big ford lump into a 16' boat is adding way too much weight. not to mention, is a combination of parts that has minimal parts support.

a 1996 and newer 4.3 will have more power than the 351 did and weigh 220# less. getting an Alpha 1 gen 2 will literally be 3 generations newer on the drive than the 888 drive

 

[Rick Stephens]

Doing a little search shows the 16' Thundercraft came with either a 2.3L or a 3.0L motor. Not sure it ever came with anything larger. In some locales it may not be legal to triple the horsepower. May not be safe in that hull to put twice as big a motor in. And you may have trouble getting insurance unless you can show the boat was designed for that much motor.

That said, like anything, it can be done. Add to the stringers, rebuild the transom with a new cutout. Add side motor mounts. I surely wouldn't do that with a motor outdrive older than the boat. The biggest expense is restoring and rebuilding the hull. Cheaping out on the motor and drive would be ill advised.

 

[Scott Danforth]

why are there two threads of the same topic

 

[cheryl LOUISE havard]

sorry it does have 302 heads

 

[Lancer76]

888 drive will work with a 351 Windsor. I just mated one up to my boat. Also, parts for the 888 outdrive are available.

 

[Bondo]

how do you line up motor&sterndrive in mercruiser 351. had a 3.0 omc with a cobra sterndrive replacing with 351&888sterndrive mercruiser

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,....... You need an alignment bar,......

Instructions can be found up in Don'S Adults Only section,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

You have now opened 4 threads on the same topic. Putting an old Ford v8 in your 16 foot boat is not a wise move

 

[Fun Times]

cheryl LOUISE havard , Just letting you know we took the liberty of combining your threads that contained nearly the same subject form multiple sub-forums, 'Then altered the thread title to fit both narratives but feel due to the nature of subject, it seems this question would fit best up here in the Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair sub-forum in hands of iboats highly experienced retro team members to help guide you to a safer feeling type of solution for your project at hand.
Thanks and good luck to you.:tea:

+ thanks Scott.