OMC to Mercruiser conv. Do i need to purchase new throttle and P/S cables

[happyhitter]

Hi everyone, its springtime! I have a 1988 Fourwinns 245 Vista powered by a chevy 350 that i rebuilt and still sits on a stand. Im in the process of replacing trans core wood, mtr mount boxes and both floatation boxes and foam. I wont be able to splash it for sure this year cuz my daughter is getting married this July. One of the many questions i have is.. will it be necassary to buy new Mercruiser type shift cables and a new Merc style steering cable?

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC to Mercruiser conv. Do i need to purchase new throttle and P/S cables

Steering cable will be the same.
Shift and throttle are different ends on a Merc than OMC. The OMC control also works backwards of what Merc needs. Some can be reversed, some can't.

 

[happyhitter]

OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng. unit

OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng. unit

Sorry for addittional questions but if i take too much time with posts i get kicked off site for some reason. MY NEXT QUESTION IS... does anybody know if the shift inerupter switches are nec for the new Sterndrive Engineering outdrive that i plan on purchasing in future. They seem to be the way to go for my conversion as it is new and comes with a nice warranty. The price seems realistic when i consider buying used as i got bitten real hard when i bought my "used" boat. I paid $4000. for boat and 2001 galvanized trailer. Nice cabin w/aft cabin and head. Got an inheritance for $4500 from a relative i never met! So boat didn't really cost me anything. The wife absolutely loves it and continues to encourage me to keep working on it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng.

Re: OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng.

Sorry for addittional questions but if i take too much time with posts i get kicked off site for some reason. MY NEXT QUESTION IS... does anybody know if the shift inerupter switches are nec for the new Sterndrive Engineering outdrive that i plan on purchasing in future. They seem to be the way to go for my conversion as it is new and comes with a nice warranty. The price seems realistic when i consider buying used as i got bitten real hard when i bought my "used" boat. I paid $4000. for boat and 2001 galvanized trailer. Nice cabin w/aft cabin and head. Got an inheritance for $4500 from a relative i never met! So boat didn't really cost me anything. The wife absolutely loves it and continues to encourage me to keep working on it.

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... How 'bout ya tell Us more about this boat,...

How much of the OMC are ya plannin' to keep,..??
It might be better, 'n cheaper to swap Everything out to Mercruiser, insteada the SEI conversation, donno...

If yer goin' to the SEI Alpha drive, Yes, it needs a shift interrupt switch...

Oh,... 'n keep postin' in This thread, insteada startin' all kinds of new threads,...
It keeps All yer Info together,....

 

[happyhitter]

Re: OMC to Mercruiser conv. Do i need to purchase new throttle and P/S cables

Thanks Don for replying. I have heard and /or read about this being a possibility. It was just the thought of buying all new cables is just going to add more and more $ to project. I'm sure i'll be able to sort it out with even the possibilty of buying a used one or two.

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC to Mercruiser conv. Do i need to purchase new throttle and P/S cables

Originally Posted by happyhitter
Does anybody know of a source to purchase inflatable air bags in leu of floatation foam? I really like the idea of this as i can ensure proper drainback to builge if it does get wet in there with a properly designed tube to help devert water out of floatation boxes. Im thinking if cost is nearly the same then why not. Will design top of box to gain access to inspect bags from time to time along with proper resealing in mind. BTW... Ive been around boats foe a long time with lots of memories and lots of fun and not so fun times crossing Lake Ontario when i was a kid. My dad had a 1956 Owens 31 ft cruiser for my whole childhood chapter.

Ayuh,.... I moved this post to the restoration forum, where it belongs,...

Click here,...

 

[happyhitter]

Re: OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng.

Re: OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng.

Well, its a 24.5 ft express cabin, has a fully enclosed head, small galley with 2 way powered fridge and 2 way powered stove, V berth and mid-ship sleeping cabin. Hull sides are of darker colored red gelcoat that i think needs repainting, has fade to it and i cant rub out fade by hand. Haven't yet taken a powered buffer to it. Boat is in winter dry storage now and every winter since 2009 when i bought it. When I bring it home, i keep it under my custom made canopy to keep the whole boat dry as i know how important it is to have fiberglass dry when it comes to new cloth and resin work. I certainly bought someone elses neglect for sure. I found badly rotted core wood and found rotted wood inside mtr mount boxes and lag screws rotted too, believe mtr could have been a little loose here. Also believe trans core wood to be very weak structurally and could in fact be the "root" cause of the OMC lower unit burning out the top set of pinion gears. I mean nothing left of those two gears. What do you think of my theory here? This is why i fear buying anything used as far as the lower unit is concerned. My budget will allow it and when i consider the caliber of whole project in mind, it seems to make more sense. I want to do it right and be done with it when it comes to certain items. I plan on replacing all componets from engine back with Merc pieces.

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC to Mercruiser conv. Do i need to purchase new throttle and P/S cables

Ayuh,.... I'd spend the effort makin' Sure yer hull has a Solid Backbone, before I spent any money on the drive...

In the mean time, a solid Cobra might come along, if not the SEI option will be there, then...

Btw,... The top gears in outdrives get to lookin' like that, when the oil is low, or missin' altogether....
Rotten transoms wear out/ tear up the gimbel bearin's, 'n couplers...

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC to Mercruiser conv. Do i need to purchase new throttle and P/S cables

Sorry for addittional questions but if i take too much time with posts i get kicked off site for some reason

When you log in the next time, click the little "Remember Me" box and it won't kick you off anymore for taking too long.

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng.

Re: OMC to MERC convert; are shift interupter switches nec. for a new Sterdrive Eng.

Also believe trans core wood to be very weak structurally and could in fact be the "root" cause of the OMC lower unit burning out the top set of pinion gears.

Nope, transom wood has nothing to do with gear inside the drive. You might have had leaks in the drive and the oil got out and fried the drive, but it wasn't because of the wood in the transom or water leaks into the boat.

It was just the thought of buying all new cables is just going to add more and more $ to project.

When you start changing systems from one manufacturer to another, it's always going to get expensive and things aren't always going to work together, actually it seldom does.'
But then again, buying old boats isn't something one should do thinking it's going to be cheap to fix. It's almost always cheaper to buy a good boat to start with. Just doesn't seem like that at the time.