Swapping issues... Newbie... Help!

[master bowman]

Okay, so here are my particulars.

1963 mirrocraft 16ft aluminum fishing boat. Has a 1974 evinrude 18hp fast twin

1988 Mercedes 19ft fiberglass boat. Has 1991-93 150 hp mercury black max.

I want to take the control box(ignition, gear shift, throttle box), and electric tilt from Mercedes and put it on my mirrocraft. I imagine that the tilt for a motor that big would be overkill for my little 18hp. But another option I may have is to sell both motors and pick up a newer, maybe new. 15-25hp motor.

I have essentially no experience or knowledge base, so any words of advise or opinions would be appreciated

 

[saumon]

Re: Swapping issues... Newbie... Help!

Hi,

the entire "control box" is connected to the engine via the shift cables and won't work with another brand of engine. Also, the tilt and trim unit on your bigger boat is incorporated into the mid-section of the Mercury 150hp, it's only a switch in the control box to activate it so no, it can't be swapped.

To sell both and get a new one look like a good idea.

 

[master bowman]

Re: Swapping issues... Newbie... Help!

So, upon your information and much more from other internet sources. I now know I have a Evinrude 18hp 18003c. Evinrude seems to be a pretty popular brand and it seems as though parts are still fairly available. I have been wanting to learn all about outboards and motors.

I think I'm going to find a parts manual and service manual and try to get it going myself. It ran a couple years ago for a short trip to be sure it ran. I literally knew nothing about motors.

From what I learned is, taking a motor that hadn't ran in probably 10 years or better, the way I got it running and running it without anything preventative maintenance. Could have done a lot of damage to the motor.

So I want to go through it and teach myself.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Swapping issues... Newbie... Help!

Won't work.

Sell both motors, and buy a 50-60 hp with tilt and trim. You will get decent performance out of it, fuel costs won't break the bank, and you can get a good reliable engine with money left over.

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Swapping issues... Newbie... Help!

Well, for a learning experiance you couldn't have a better outboard. That era OMC (Johnson/Evinrude) outboards were great motors.
Not a hole lot of maintenance to them. If you have fresh gear oil, fresh gas with quality 2-cycle engine oil mixed at the proper mix ratio, and a couple fresh spark plugs your good to go. When it's running you should see "some" water coming out of the idle relief hole in the back of the motor. The idle relief is the exhaust port above the water line.

That being said, if you have no idea the last time the water pump has been changed, you will want to change that. It's pretty easy on those motors.

For used parts, possibly even a set of remote controls for that motor, check out Twin City Outboard here in Shokopee Minnesota. They have TONS of stuff for vintage outboards. Caution: they can be kinda pricy. But then again, if you need it and they are the only ones that have it it's not really an issue.