OMC 3.8 motor

peacekeeper6

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 25, 2005
Messages
765
Can this motor be bolted to any other type of outdrive besides the OMC drive? i beleive its from the 70's era.
 

firehog6305

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Messages
283
Re: OMC 3.8 motor

you either have a chev or a ford engine, these motors came in serveral boats with differant outdrives, the bell housing on the back of the motor is what makes the motor bolt on to specific outdrives, if you replaced the bell housing then yes it is possible, but a lot of work
 

peacekeeper6

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 25, 2005
Messages
765
Re: OMC 3.8 motor

o no no, i dont have it yet, i am looking at a stamas hull that i want to redo and the guy had 3.8L OMCs on it. if i can use the blocks and convert the 3.8's to something that has better parts availability and they bolt to a more commong sterndrive then i would take the engines off his hands. the boat is gutted right now, so no housings. But if the engines have the infamous OMC invisible parts than i will stay away from the motors.
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: OMC 3.8 motor


The 3.8 is a buick engine.......'78 to '85......
There are a few posters with them, so I will l defer to their expertise....;)
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: OMC 3.8 motor

The 3.8 is a buick engine.......'78 to '85......
There are a few posters with them, so I will l defer to their expertise....;)

WRONG!
Early 70's it was a Buick 231 cui. Then there was a period of no use.

80-to mid 85 OMC used the 3.8L 229 cui Chevy motor. Mid 85 they started using the 4.3L.
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: OMC 3.8 motor


See, I told ya someone would know about them relics!......;)
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: OMC 3.8 motor

You cannot "covert" the 3.8 block to something else. It is what it is. You can replace the 3.8 with a vintage 4.3 if you have the mind and the wallet to do so. The exhaust manifolds are one of several items not compatible with the 4.3.
 
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