powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

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gregr1971

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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i need to now if this powerhead E88MSLEIM (1991 88spl) will bolt onto a '78 140 mid. model # 140843C .
Thanks in advance.

Also, if anyone needs, i have all the parts off the 140, back in the day, everyone wanted the bubble back, and the 1-3/8 carbs.
 
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emdsapmgr

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11,551
Re: powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

The powerhead will bolt right on. The shifter mechanism under the bottom carb is different between the two engines. You may/may not have to swap the intake manifolds. The shift rods are a different part number: you may have to verify the factory service manual shift rod heights to make sure it will shift correctly. You will have to transfer the fuel primer system as the 88 carbs don't have choke butterflys. The power pack setup in the engine wiring harness is different-the 88 only has one power pack. The 88 normally did not come with power trim, so the older 3 wire system with the remote box on the 140 midsection should work fine.
 
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gregr1971

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Re: powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

My plans are to just unbolt the 88 powerhead complete from the mid, it was hit from behind and busted the mid.
My concerns would be if the exhaust adapter is bigger on the 140, it is a '77 or '78, and it WAS a hot little motor untill the crank broke.
Would I need to re jet for the 140 tuner?
Also the guy I bought the 88 from hooked up the battery cables backwards and now won't fire, will the 78 model electronics work on the '91??
Thanks.
 
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emdsapmgr

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Re: powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

The midsection exhaust adapters are the same. The midsection tuners need not be changed. The bubble back exhaust on the 140 won't work on the 88, unless you install the exhaust filler blocks into the 88 exhaust chest first. (If you do install the exhaust fillers, the back of the block must be milled flat again.) You should be able to use the earlier ignition system. Personally, I prefer the earlier ignition system, as the 1988 single power packs were rpm limiting at 5800, whereas the original 140 dual pack systems were unlimited.
 
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gregr1971

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147
Re: powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

Ok, just for kicks, i replaced the switchbox on the 88 with a cdi unit with no limiter, still wont fire.
What all could be burnt up due to reversing the battery cables?
 
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emdsapmgr

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Re: powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

When you say it won't fire, do you mean the starter turns the engine over, or that the engine is completely dead?
 
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emdsapmgr

Supreme Mariner
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Messages
11,551
Re: powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

You have two other major components in the ignition system, the stator and the timer base. I'd look in the factory service manual and follow their troubleshooting on both components. Check the stator output first.
 
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gregr1971

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
147
Re: powerhead swap- 88spl t0 140 mid.

i'm just going to swap it all with the earlier 2-pack system.
 
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