Replacing 95 OMC 7.4L

[soonerbred1969]

I am getting ready to replace my now trashed 95 OMC 7.4L engine (Model #744DPHUB, Casting #10114182). My drive is the King Cobra Cone Clutch #3868211. Must I replace the engine with an identical 300HP 7.4L or can I upgrade the engine to something with more power/torque? I am considering a 420HP 7.4L engine. Can my KC CC drive handle the additional torque/HP?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Replacing 95 OMC 7.4L

Howdy,

If I'm not mistaken, you have an "INTERIM" NON-Volvo Penta OMC Cone Clutch drive.

Interim, meaning it's the Drives that OMC developed (1990-1995) before the joint venture with Volvo which resulted in the generally excellent Cobra SX/Volvo SX drives that came in the following years.


This means that it is rather a dinosaur.

If it is in otherwise good operating condition, I would NOT put any more power to it than absolutely necessary because if you break it, you're "DONE".


The other side of coin is, if you need to repower, now would be the time to replace the whole mess with that new ( and higher power engine) and maybe a Volvo Penta DPS (Duo-prop) drive or if you cannot find one a Mercruiser Bravo III.


Because your 95 OMC (cone clutch) King Cobra is pretty much impossible to find, it's probably worth a fair amount of money to someone else who has busted theirs!

I parted out my previous 460, OMC King Cobra (dog-clutch) engine/drive, and associated parts for about $3400 so far with a few parts still left over..... I paid $5000 for a complete 97 454 Bravo III package. There's always stuff out there for sale.


I would NOT put any more power on that OMC drive than it came with.....just because if you break it, you'll have a fairly hard time getting it fixed (if it's even possible)


Good luck.


Rick

 

[soonerbred1969]

Re: Replacing 95 OMC 7.4L

Rick, thank you for the information. The engine is from my 97 Four Winns 220H. The sales data for the boat indicates the engine type as 7.4GL/SX.

I noted the engine as a 95 because the casting number from the block indicates the engine is a 1995 Gen V chevy 7.4L. How do I tell if the drive is the Cobra SX or the interim CC?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Replacing 95 OMC 7.4L

Rick, thank you for the information. The engine is from my 97 Four Winns 220H. The sales data for the boat indicates the engine type as 7.4GL/SX.

I noted the engine as a 95 because the casting number from the block indicates the engine is a 1995 Gen V chevy 7.4L. How do I tell if the drive is the Cobra SX or the interim CC?

If your drive is indeed an SX, I don't think you'll have no problem with a newer higher HP engine.

The model number of the engine you indicated IS a 95 model year designation.

I have found that boat manufacturers frequently use last years model engines and drives. (I don't know if they would go 2 years back)

Did Four Winns put a 95 model year engine and a 97 model year gimbal/drive on that boat or did someone else?


I am under the impression that ANY OMC badged Stern drive from 1996 ON IS a Volvo Penta SX.



If yours is a VP, pat yourself on the back! andconsider yourself lucky that you don't have one of the OMC dinosaurs!!


I will have to defer to the VP expert(s) on here to determine if yours it in fact an SX though.........


I have never played with one........ Don?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Replacing 95 OMC 7.4L

the SX shift cable is on the stbd side and retained with a strap.uses a 33 series cable.
the cone clutch king cobra the shift cable was on the port side.
the dog clutch cobra the shift cable was low on the stbd side and threaded into the bellhousing.
we see many SX drives behind the 420HP 8.1L.
the 6.0 L small block is lighter and about 375 HP.