Hi all..
Not sure if this is the correct place for this -- mods, please move it if I guessed wrong
thanks!
Well, I am working on restoring my '74 Thompson runabout (18').
It had a 120hp OMC electric stringer.
Despite the bad rep it seems to have on this and other boards, I like both the stringer concept and the electric shift and intend to stick with both....
I am upgrading the stringers while I have the drive out anyway...
My question is, I am thinking about upgrading to a 6 cyl engine.
I know, I will have to either swap the upper unit or regear it for the 6 cyl... Already looked into the lower unit -- same model number lower used all the way up to v-8...
That said, which engine is considered to be a better engine? The I-6 (which is a native swap -- its just an I-4 with two more cylinders added on) or the v-6?
So far my list of pros and cons are such:
I-6
-Native swap. engine adapter, exhaust connection, engine mounts, etc... are all the same...
-requires engine compartment to be made longer to accommodate the longer engine.
-with proper care will outlast the boat...
-mechanically similar to the 120/135/140 I-4's and therefore learning curve much less steep...
-most replacement parts are interchangeable with the I-4 parts (except for 6 cylinder specific parts like dizzy caps and etc...) which means most of my current spare parts will fit....
V-6 (i.e. 4.3 or similar)
-Short and compact -- will fit in my existing engine compartment
-Requires stbd exhaust port on bell / intermediate housing to be opened (it's there, just sealed off -- already checked on this...)
-requires change to v-8 style front engine mount(s)
-requires different engine adapter (possibly custom engine adapter? All I have found online so far is adapters for cobra drives -- cobra adapters don't fit stringer drives...)
-v-6 never originally used with electric stringer (v-6 WAS used with the later 400/800 stringer, though -- which used the same bell housing)
-v-8 was used with electric stringer -- engine adapter and other v-8 parts should be interchangeable with v-6 (4.3 is supposed to be same as 350 - 2 cylinders, right?)
Just looking for advise on which swap (i-6 or v-6) makes the most sense
Thanks!!
Not sure if this is the correct place for this -- mods, please move it if I guessed wrong
thanks!Well, I am working on restoring my '74 Thompson runabout (18').
It had a 120hp OMC electric stringer.
Despite the bad rep it seems to have on this and other boards, I like both the stringer concept and the electric shift and intend to stick with both....
I am upgrading the stringers while I have the drive out anyway...
My question is, I am thinking about upgrading to a 6 cyl engine.
I know, I will have to either swap the upper unit or regear it for the 6 cyl... Already looked into the lower unit -- same model number lower used all the way up to v-8...
That said, which engine is considered to be a better engine? The I-6 (which is a native swap -- its just an I-4 with two more cylinders added on) or the v-6?
So far my list of pros and cons are such:
I-6
-Native swap. engine adapter, exhaust connection, engine mounts, etc... are all the same...
-requires engine compartment to be made longer to accommodate the longer engine.
-with proper care will outlast the boat...
-mechanically similar to the 120/135/140 I-4's and therefore learning curve much less steep...
-most replacement parts are interchangeable with the I-4 parts (except for 6 cylinder specific parts like dizzy caps and etc...) which means most of my current spare parts will fit....
V-6 (i.e. 4.3 or similar)
-Short and compact -- will fit in my existing engine compartment
-Requires stbd exhaust port on bell / intermediate housing to be opened (it's there, just sealed off -- already checked on this...)
-requires change to v-8 style front engine mount(s)
-requires different engine adapter (possibly custom engine adapter? All I have found online so far is adapters for cobra drives -- cobra adapters don't fit stringer drives...)
-v-6 never originally used with electric stringer (v-6 WAS used with the later 400/800 stringer, though -- which used the same bell housing)
-v-8 was used with electric stringer -- engine adapter and other v-8 parts should be interchangeable with v-6 (4.3 is supposed to be same as 350 - 2 cylinders, right?)
Just looking for advise on which swap (i-6 or v-6) makes the most sense
Thanks!!
