Hello,
I thought I was pretty good at removing these things even when they are stuck but I have met my match. I have removed several OMC Cobra outdrives, even ones with locked up gimbal bearings but this one is something else. It is a 1987 4.3L. All six nuts were removed and after a little effort I was able to get a small gap at the top of the housing. It seems that the bottom two studs are completely corroded to the outdrive housing itself. I gave up on removing it where the six studs attach it and moved forward to the two pivot bolts. After removing them and disconnecting the clamps on the bellows as well as the shift cable, the whole thing came right off. The outdrive is off now but the pivot section from the gimbal housing is still attached. I tried the razor blade between the two as well as a little heat with no luck at all. I even tried putting one of the lower nuts half way on so I could tap on the end of the stud with a punch but there is no movement at all. My last idea is to sacrifice the piece where the lower two studs are threaded in. I have been spraying PB Blaster down the small gap I have and aroung the two lower studs. I hope someone has some good advice. Thanks.
I thought I was pretty good at removing these things even when they are stuck but I have met my match. I have removed several OMC Cobra outdrives, even ones with locked up gimbal bearings but this one is something else. It is a 1987 4.3L. All six nuts were removed and after a little effort I was able to get a small gap at the top of the housing. It seems that the bottom two studs are completely corroded to the outdrive housing itself. I gave up on removing it where the six studs attach it and moved forward to the two pivot bolts. After removing them and disconnecting the clamps on the bellows as well as the shift cable, the whole thing came right off. The outdrive is off now but the pivot section from the gimbal housing is still attached. I tried the razor blade between the two as well as a little heat with no luck at all. I even tried putting one of the lower nuts half way on so I could tap on the end of the stud with a punch but there is no movement at all. My last idea is to sacrifice the piece where the lower two studs are threaded in. I have been spraying PB Blaster down the small gap I have and aroung the two lower studs. I hope someone has some good advice. Thanks.