omc stringer

[hardlearner]

Okay, Okay, I know and I have one alpha and one 888 mercruiser. That being said, I bought a 75 crestliner. Its 17 feet and I love the hull. It came with a 5 litre chevy and a 800 omc stringer outdrive. I have a new boot for the boat and lots of spare parts. I have two intermediate housings and three complete lower units and one parts unit that I have accumulated along with some new bearings and shafts. The only thing I have not found is a coupler. My question is, does anyone have any reccomendations on what to check and service before I do the install? I will change the fluids and impellar but would like anyones input and knowledge as to any particular preventitive steps I can take before I do the install. Any trouble spots ect..
Thanks!!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: omc stringer

it's late in the day but I read that 3 or 4 times and I have no idea what you are "install"ing.

 

[hardlearner]

Re: omc stringer

The boat I have has what I believe to be a good intermediate housing and 800 series stringer outdrive. I have a new boot or seal for the unit and would like to install a rebuilt 305 gm engine. Was just wondering if there are trouble spots to look for before I put the thing together. just put the mercruiser stuff in as I knew everyone would tell me to junk the stringer!!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: omc stringer

ok that makes more sense, but a 75 would have an electric shift drive. The 800 series was introduced in 1978.
What engine was in the Crestliner? Chevy bellhousing? I think all OMC V8's in 1975 were Ford.

 

[hardlearner]

Re: omc stringer

It had a small block chevy. Outdrive says 5.0 litre on top of it. I assumed it was a 305. Came with no motor but I am installing a 1978 omc 305 chevy. The motor I got with extra stringer outdrives and intermediates from a guy who changed over to outboard. It is a electric shift!! Not sure where I got the 800 from. Thought there was a 400 and 800 depending on v6 or v8.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: omc stringer

5.0 could be 302 Ford - might be a bellhousing issue if it is Ford pattern.

some of the Ford intermediates had an adapter plate that could be removed to reveal the Chevy pattern, but then they had a different length ball gear shaft to take up the extra length

hard to say what you have there, as nothing went by displacement in 1975 - they all said HP on the drives.... you might have a 5.0 exhaust cover on top of a 6 cylinder upper bolted to a 4 cylinder electric shift lower..... need to do some number googling and gear teeth counting if you really think it's all worth it
I suspect it isn't

You can probably get a near mint OMC 800 series powered boat in running, water testable condition for less than you'll spend on parts to piece that unknown quantity together..

earlier this summer, a guy near me was selling a 76 Apollo with a 351 omc stringer, beautiful brown metalflake - very 70's, barely been out of its boathouse. less than 200 hours on the boat since new. upholstery was showroom. maintained perfectly -$1500

 

[hardlearner]

Re: omc stringer

I understand. I have the boat, and have enough parts to build three of these stringer drives. I am reasonably sure that the boat had a gm engine as the exhaust manifolds are gm mercruiser through hull exhaust. It looked like an easy way to do the job. I also have a set of the old log style omc manifolds that fit the gm motor. Everything is there for the boat. I was just wondering if there were some trouble spots to examine before I put this thing together. I know there are not many fans of the old electric shift stringer but thought someone who still used one would have some reccomendations. Since I have the exhaust manifolds for the boat and the guy I got it from told me it was a v8 gm motor I am reasonably sure it was in fact gm. The spare parts and drives I have are all gm and are for the 305 motor I have. As the boat sits I have 700 in it with the motor, and tons of used and new stringer drives, props, shafts, trim motors (at least I think that is what they are) and so on. I have ordered a manual for the drives but just thought I could get some first hand advice. I am putting the small block on the engine stand today to inspect its condition and plan on installing it soon after. When I do that I will make sure the housing I have in the boat is in fact a gm bolt pattern. If not I have two intermediate housings that I know are indeed for the gm bolt pattern. Thanks for your time and any further advice you may have.

 

[hardlearner]

Re: omc stringer

I may be nuts but it looks like the bellhousing has two different bolt patterns. A gm will fit but there are other holes and bosses in the housing. Weird looking. Maybe small block ford?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: omc stringer

Pictures of what you have would sure answer a lot of questions.