OMC mid 70's outdrive

B

Bob1944

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
216
I have a mid 70's outdrive. I need to replace the upper housing because the tilt gear broke off. this attaced to a GM straight 6 engine of the same era. Is there a difference in Cobra outdrives and the older one I have?

bob
 
Howard Sterndrive

Howard Sterndrive

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2008
Messages
4,603
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

cobra is totally different.

You'll need to find an exact match. There should be a part number, or even better, a tag with model numbers on that housing.
 
B

Bob1944

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
216
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

it looks like the first one. The part the broke is the section that the three bolts go through to fasten it to the housing.

bb
 
Gary H NC

Gary H NC

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
8,972
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

man,thats a bummer...Ebay may be your best friend on that one...:(
 
chiefalen

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

E-bay has them right now. You could buy the whole drive right now cheap.

First thing get a manual.

Second thing, and don't think i'm getting smart with you, do you really want to keep this drive setup ??
 
B

Bob1944

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
216
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

Not necessarily. Thats just what is in there now. I am open to suggestions.

bob
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,089
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

I am open to suggestions.
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... 1st off,... There ain't no Easy answers....

If you truely Love the Hull,....

Go buy a Donor boat with the driveline you'd like to have,...
Gut it,... And,.. Gut your boat of All the driveline...

Then refit the donor driveline to the hull you Love....

I've done several,+ have several more in various stages of the refits....
 
chiefalen

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

Can you post a pic of it. I have a 85 omc drive. See where i'm going ?

What you have is the worst of the worst, what i have is the best of the worst.

I have told people before what Bond-o has just posted.

However you could get a boat with a 83-85 stringer drive and a bad motor, if your motor is good enlarge the hole a little on the bottom, and take off the intermediate, and drive on the boat you have and transfer over the intermediate and drive from the donor boat.

This might be the cheapest way to go. Least amount of work also.

The donor boat will give you the shift cable and steering cable.

The drive should be from a straight six like you have for the gearing.

Just a suggestion.

But i do NOT recommend keeping the drive you have now.

Sorry but it's my own opinion.
 
CheapboatKev

CheapboatKev

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
5,813
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

Bond-o said:
Ayuh,... 1st off,... There ain't no Easy answers....

If you truely Love the Hull,....

Go buy a Donor boat with the driveline you'd like to have,...
Gut it,... And,.. Gut your boat of All the driveline...

Then refit the donor driveline to the hull you Love....

I've done several,+ have several more in various stages of the refits....
Click to expand...

Maybe I am asking out of curiosity, but Bond-O, what have you seen that were the best swaps? the 4 cyl mercs? seems going from a L6 to L4 would be more in line (?) no pun intended, but funny nonetheless!
 
chiefalen

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

Only Bond-o can reply.

Makes no sense to go from a 6 to a 4.

If the six is in there stay with it different gearing.

4 in there stay with a 4.
 
B

Bob1944

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
216
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

this gives me a lot to think about.

Thanks everyone.

bob
 
B

Bob1944

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
216
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

chiefalen said:
Only Bond-o can reply.

Makes no sense to go from a 6 to a 4.

If the six is in there stay with it different gearing.

4 in there stay with a 4.
Click to expand...

So are you guys saying I can use the L 6 GM which is running good, and put a different outdrive on that?

bob
 
chiefalen

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

Yes bob. Stick with the motor you have if running well, and stick the intermediate and drive from a donor boat 83-85 that had a l6 motor in it.

Now i might get jumped on but you maybe could get away with a 4 cyl drive and make it up with the pitch of the prop.

You didn't post anything about the boat Bob what size and such.
 
B

Bob1944

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
216
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

it is a mid 70s 24' Crestliner Nordsman II.
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,089
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

Maybe I am asking out of curiosity, but Bond-O, what have you seen that were the best swaps? the 4 cyl mercs? seems going from a L6 to L4 would be more in line (?) no pun intended, but funny nonetheless!
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... The Best Swaps are the 1s that just fall into place,....

So far,... I've always gone with V8s, or Bigger V8s.....

So are you guys saying I can use the L 6 GM which is running good, and put a different outdrive on that?

bob
Click to expand...

Just to be careful here,... There are 2 conversations going on....

Chef's comments will get you some other copy of the drive that is Now in/ on your boat....
Another Stringer Drive....

For a Refit,...

Everything there is Gutted,+ Sold....
The Donor driveline is refitted to the Hull...
 
chiefalen

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: OMC mid 70's outdrive

Wow a L6 pushing a 24 footer and a nice boat also, worthy of keeping...

I can't speak for Bond-o, but i would think he would suggest going with a merc drive. Volvo would be even better i would hope he would say. Merc a little cheaper to up keep. Will be around for support, and parts are easy to get.

And that boat could do with more power, so lets explore this a little further.

That L6 will not push that boat very well, why it was put in there is beyond me.

So to cut to the quick best bet is to buy a boat that has a bad hull, in some way but with a V8 Merc package in good shape, pull your motor and drive. Then fix the transom to accept the merc package.

And you would have everything that would nickle and dime you to death on the donor boat.

In turn you can sell the good running L6 that people would pay dearly for. And the drive people would pay dearly for also.

This would mitigate the cost to you of the purchase of the donor boat.

I hope i was clear and if you have any more questions please post them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top