OMC to Merc Conversion

Robert4Winns

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Joined
Oct 28, 2009
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146
I have a 1989 Four Winns Freedom in which I am currently replacing all of the rotten wood. It has a 3.0L OMC Cobra. The engine and drive work fine and there is no reason to replace them other than they are OMC.

But as it turns out I can get a donor boat with a Mercruiser drive and straight 6 engine. I don?t have a lot of details on the engine and drive, but I am reasonably sure I can get it running, and would do so before pulling it from the donor boat. I don?t know the exact year of the engine and drive but believe they are mid 70?s.

My question is would the fact that I would have a straight 6 Merc, as opposed to a 4 cylinder OMC make it a worthwhile swap even though it is a much older engine and drive?

I am not concerned about the difference in the front motor mount since mine was rotten already and I have to build a new one. I just replaced the transom and cut the drive hole to fit the OMC and I don?t want to have to redo that part. But I saw somewhere here that the drive hole is the same. Is that true?

Here is a photo of the drive I would be installing. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
 

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Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Re: OMC to Merc Conversion

The cutout for the Cobra and your Merc are identical. Go for it.
 

Robert4Winns

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Thread starter
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
146
Re: OMC to Merc Conversion

Thanks Don.

Can I use the same controls and steering or do I have to take those from the donor boat as well?
 
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