Advice on '69 OMC electric shift outdrive : Can I swap in newer Mercruiser gen 1

[Mark42]

I found a 69 MFG Caprice Express (18' 2" deep v day cruiser) with a Chevy 120hp and OMC electric shift outdrive. The seller says everying works, and has reciently changed the needle bearing and seal behind the prop because it was leaking water in.Before getting too excited with this find, and having no experience with this engind/outdrive I thought it wise to ask for opinions. Is this a "good" motor/outdrive or a problematic motor/outdrive. I'm pretty sure the Chevy 4 banger motor is sound and if not, can easily be rebuilt. How about the OMC electric shift? Anything to look out for?BTW, before posting, I did use the search button, but didn't find any "ratings" so to say.

[DukesFin]

I've got a '73 OMC outdrive, and while I can say it's built like a tank, many parts are getting harder and harder to find.I just got done working on my intermediate housing and was impressed at the simplicity that went into the manufacturing and function of the unit.I am not a professional and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express either, but I like mine. Kind of reminds me of my old VW engines. Very simple and when well maintained, should outlast many others.Yours is even older than mine, but mine is also elec. shift.It has been suggested to me that if I do not want to do a new transom and go with another type of outdrive in the next 5 years, go buy any/all "spare" parts I might need now... while I can.Again, I'm no pro and I'm new here, but that's my 2 cents worth. (might not even be worth 2 cents).I can also say that as a "newbie" here with an old OMC outdrive, the expertise, help and consideration from "real" pros on here has been astounding. I think it's already saved me a few hundred bucks!Good luck and safe boating!

[b.gagnon]

I would pass on it! I owned a 71 stringer electric shift and it was a piece of junk. Parts are getting tough to find, and are very expensive.You can not even use the trim function while in motion! It is hard to believe that the same company that gave us some of the best outboards ever, made them.

[Laddies]

THE ONLY HAPPY DAY WITH A ELECTRIC SHIFT STRINGER IS THE DAY SOME ONE HAULS IT AWAY

[Mark42]

thanks everyone for your input!Mark

[DHPMARINE]

NO DON'T buy a stringer drive.The dam things haven't been built since 1985.Why would you want such a creature ?Think of ALL those other sweet deals in the past.The price was right,but the sweet went down the drain.I'll bet none were stringers.So why start ?DHP

[Lou C]

Agree with that, it is hard enough to get someone to work on the last sterndrive they made, the Cobra, which was actually pretty good once they worked out the shifting problems. On smaller boats like that OBs are the way to go, when you want to repower it is much easier, sterndrives are nice and quiet but have so many specialized parts that once they go out of production they can be a headache to keep going.

[Mark42]

I am interested in the boat. It fits all my requirements for a nice day cruiser (sink, table, head, two bunks, 4 cylinder) all in a 18' 2" package. What I would consider doing is replacing the entire outdrive with a new unit. I realize that may require some modification to the transom to match the new outdrive mounting pattern. That I can handle. But will newer Mercruiser outdrives bolt up to that 1969 Chevy 4 cyl? Can a Mercruiser Gen 1 unit be fitted?BTW, the owner claims it does 40mph, but I seriously doubt that with 120hp, right?This is what I'm looking at:

[Don S]

To put the Merc drive on, EVERYTHING but the engine longblock would have to be replaced, including the intake/exhaust manifold just so you could get the exhaust elbow to lineup with the exhaust tube that goes to the transom shield.The transom of the boat would have to be rebuilt, the hole is WAY to big for a Mercruiser, and just patching would not give you the strength needed. The stringer drives did not use the transom for support like the Mercs do.Personally, I think you would be a lot better off looking for a newer boat with a Mercruiser or Volvo drive already installed.

[KaGee]

Mark,Though not impossible, it is highly impractical to convert from the Stringer setup to the Merc. In a Stringer, all of the weight is distributed to the stringers. In a Mercruiser, the transom shares some of the weight load of the drive. You would be looking at a major transom rebuild over and beyond the hole cutout. You could however, consider replacing that old electric shift with a later mechanical shift. It all depends on what you are willing to go through to restore that old classic.PS... Boomyal and myself would be glad to have you as a fellow "White Anchor" Iboater!

[Mark42]

Oh, brother. I was hoping it would be a more or less a bit of wrench work. I need to have a boat that is reliable out on the water. Wife really likes the boat because of the cabin for the kids. But if I need to redesign the entire stern to put in a new drive, it's not worth it.Of course, I could remove the transom, build a new one and hang an outboard on it. Would give me extra deck space too. On second thought, I think I'll just pass on it.

[Boomyal]

Aw Heck Mark. Kagee and I thought we were going to get another convert. ...and Kagee, as white is the opposite of black, OMC is the opposite of 'anchor'! Got it?

[Bond-o]

I've Done,... Or been Involved with several of these Refits,....If you're Soo In Love with the Hull,............Buy It.........When you get it home,..... Remove EveryThing ..... Engine,.. Drive,... Wiring,.. Controls,.. Ya might as well pull the Fuel Tank,+ Inspect it.......Now either $ell or Junk Out the Pile of Stuff you've got in the garage..............In the mean time you'll become an Epoxy Expert getting the Transom Built for it.........Then,..... Go Buy a Donor Boat that has the Running Driveline that You want for Your Hull..............When you get the Donor Boat home,........ Gut It,.... Move EveryThing over to your new Hull...............Then all you have to do is Find a way to get Rid of What's Left.............BTW,........I Think a 4.3l/Alpha would Really make that hull a Nice Boat..........

[THE BEEF]

Boom&Gee: I have to say when I bought my 22' skiffcraft Ireally didn't know about the WHITE ANCHOR legacy.I fell in love with the boat.I started reading about the OMC stringer and got worried.Then I read what KAGEE and others said about them and felt better.REMEMBER what they said "MAINTENANCE" is the life blood of any outdrive WHITE OR BLACK ANCHORS!When I got my boat in the spring I went through the drive.Tuneup,changed all gear lubes , oil and filters. I only ran it for about 15HR this year but it ran GREAT. Also when I drained all the driveslast week I found no water in any of the components including the tilt clutch housing.I guess my point is if you don't take care of them ,they won't take care of you.Hey KAGEE,do you make house calls? Im thinking about changing the lower water pump in my 800 stringer. I never done this before and might need some hands on advice. I live in Delta,about 25 miles from Toledo.Thank'sBEEF HEY Mark,Thats a nice boat!

[KaGee]

Piece of cake Beef.Email me kagee108@cs.com

[Mark42]

I've been doing some searching for stringer drive parts on the net and found none (other than used/salvage). Boomer and Kagee, where do you guys get your parts?

[DukesFin]

http://www.sterndrive.info/id4.html That's one source. I used them for the intermediate housing seal kit. All was fine with my interaction with them... There are even new outdrives to be had out there. You just need to keep looking. I google all the time for "OMC Outdrive". That's how I've found a lot of them.Good luck!PS - Before I got my 800, the "clique" I fish with all warned me against it. A few (who had some experience with them) told me the same thing..."Maintain it and it will sustain you."

[Bond-o]

"Maintain it and it will sustain you."

Ayuh,.......Or,....Actually,... You're putting off the Enviable............There's No Doubt those Old Stringers Are going to get Extremely Expensive to keep Running,.............It's Only a Question of When your going to Need to Replace It...........If you Don't own 1 Now,........ DON'T Buy It........If you Do own 1,......... Good Luck,..... You're going to Need It..........

[Lou C]

Keep looking for the same hull with an outboard, if they ever made it that way. I agree it looks like a cool little boat, but re-building the transom to swap in a Merc power package is a BIG project, you'd never be able to sell it for what you had into it.

[THE BEEF]

I'll remember that next time I tow a black anchor in. ........... Just kidding.It's really good to see some of those stringers out there yet. Ya...... you might have to hunt parts, but if everybody bought brand new, where would people learn there mechanical skills at. Today I would say 75% of people under the age of 35 don't know how to turn a wrench. Do you remember working on your old car? Going to the salvage yard for parts? I would rather dive in a old OMC anyday rather then bolt a new Honda on back.

[whywhyzed]

Stringer Parts are available and cheap if you are patient. I have a complete electric drive for an OMC 4 cyl. Approx. 50 hours on it since new...paid $100. I recently bought a complete 4 cylinder engine with the 400 series mechanical drive - whole boat running well, but rotten hull - $120...Just keep your eyes peeled for spares...

[KaGee]

Mark, if you go the GLM website, you can download a catalog. You can purchase the parts at the place above or at Ebasicpower.com.

[rodbolt]

you freshwater guys are killin me try to take a mid sixties stinger apart in my area. if your not good heating and beating and drilling and tapping when ya start ya will be when your done. I wont touch a stringer anymore and have not in some years. used to own one though, two if you say its my first and last. was a 19"jonson ebb tide, 1968 4 cyl 2 1bbl carters and a world of fun. worked on it about as much as we ran it. I actually did get pretty good at chaning the fwd shift coil. and the stub shaft, 2 sets of ball gears, a coupler and a whole stack of other parts. had it almost 10 years though and had a ball with it. but ill never own another stringer unit.

[THE BEEF]

Ya,but you learned alot and had fun.