Opinions Please

[Captain Vis]

Hello everyone. I am looking for opinions on this motor and drive....1995 OMC Cobra 5.8 EFI MPI with cobra SX drive. Any comments would be appreciated. This is my first boat and I am trying to gather as much information re : maintenance problems, the good the bad and the ugly. Thanx

 

[moderator1]

Re: Opinions Please

Captain Vis,<br /><br />I have moved your topic to the I/O section of the board. I think you will get a much better response there, from I/O experts.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: Opinions Please

Not familiar with a 5.8L, many boats have the 5.7L which is a 350 Chevy...hard to find a more common engine & if this is what you have it is easy to get parts for and work on. The OMC outdrive may be harder and more expensive to get parts for than a MerCruiser but is certainly OK if properly cared for.<br />What kind of boat is it & how do you intend to use it? Have you already bought it?<br />Whatever you have, if you intend to service it yourself...get the factory manual.<br />Let us know for sure exactly what you have and what you want to know.

 

[Captain Vis]

Re: Opinions Please

Relentless....The boat is a 1995 Four Winns 258 Vista. The engine is a Ford 5.8 Litre Cobra EFI MFI. 350 ci<br />I have been told the drive is a OMC Cobra SX and this is almost identical to the Volvo SX drive. That is about all the information I know about the motor. I will be using the boat on the lakes quite frequently say every weekend and as I said earlier want to get as many opinions as possible. <br />Thanx.

 

[magster65]

Re: Opinions Please

A buddy of mine had the same set-up in his boat. It was good, no problems at all during the time he had it. I'm a Chevy fan but there's nothing wrong with the 351 Ford. Another friend has a 25' Mirage with a hot-rodded 460 hooked up to that same drive and it hasn't popped yet so I think those are a fairly durable unit as well. Maintenance as per owners manual. Nice boat!

 

[Trevor]

Re: Opinions Please

This motor will be problem free <br />The drive is bullit proof just remember when filling it fill it from the middel hole not the bottom one you will get an ugly air pocket also the water pump should be checked on a reguler basis it is located behind the cover on the rear of the leg it is held on with 3 3/8 bolts and it looks like the entire back half of the leg comes of but it it just a cover. the o-ring and base gasket should replaced when ever you change the impellor.Sierra aftermarket parts has all the w/p parts available. Good luck.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: Opinions Please

Had chevy small blocks on the brain I guess...just couldn't think of where that extra tenth of a liter was coming from As others have pointed out the 351 Ford is an excellent power plant. Looks like you have a good setup...I like the Four Winns.

 

[Captain Vis]

Re: Opinions Please

Thanks to all for the quick replies. I appreciate all the comments.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and Safe Boating to all.

 

[geriksen]

Re: Opinions Please

Trevor is right about the engine but confused on the drive. That engine is almost trouble free. It is a shame they quit using it. The only down side is that if you have an EFI problem with it most marine mechanics will scratch their heads. Many are trained on them but they just don't break. It' like being the Maytag Repairman.<br />The drive unit, if it is as you say an SX model, is amost excatly like the current Volvo SX and service procedures are the same. What Trevor is talking about holds true for the Cobra Drive which is not what you have. The Impeller is acturally on the engine on yours. I would replace it every year. You don't want to overheat that engine.