Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

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mcarty

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I have a 91 Four Winns 225 Sundowner with a 5.7 King Cobra,my cone clutch outdrive is trashed and can't find another one.I pondering swapping to a Mercruiser and was wondering how hard a swap it would be? I realize I would need to pull the engine , swap the transom plates, exhaust and shifting but is there more? a 350 is a 350 , right? Is there anything easier to swap too? Thanks for any help !!!
 
86 century

86 century

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

You will need the bell housing and coupler
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

86 century said:
You will need the bell housing and coupler
Click to expand...

You need a lot more than that with the King Cobra (cone clutch) you need a complete transom shield and drive assembly.
 
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mcarty

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

My motor can still be used, right? Has anyone ever done this?
 
H

HT32BSX115

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

mcarty said:
My motor can still be used, right? Has anyone ever done this?
Click to expand...
Yes it can be used. You just need to find another complete Mercruiser engine, drive, transom mount, and accessories from a possibly damaged/rotten boat or boat with a freeze cracked engine etc........

Strip your engine down to the long block and install the Mercruiser specific "stuff" on your long block and reassemble in your boat.


Piece of cake!
 
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mcarty

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

Thanks guys, I guess the hunt is on !!!
 
Bondo

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

HT32BSX115 said:
Yes it can be used. You just need to find another complete Mercruiser engine, drive, transom mount, and accessories from a possibly damaged/rotten boat or boat with a freeze cracked engine etc........

Strip your engine down to the long block and install the Mercruiser specific "stuff" on your long block and reassemble in your boat.


Piece of cake!
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... says the voice of experience,... ;)
 
Scott Danforth

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

thanks Don, learned something new today.
 
86 century

86 century

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

Don S said:
You need a lot more than that with the King Cobra (cone clutch) you need a complete transom shield and drive assembly.
Click to expand...

Sorry he had every thing else listed
 
Lou C

Lou C

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

Yep basically the whole thing from the coupler to the prop...don't forget you need the Merc exhaust Y tube too, and I'd get the merc exhaust to make sure it all lines up, unless the OMC manifolds and risers line up with the rubber exhaust hoses.
 
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mcarty

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

I may have found a 5.7 Alpha one set up out of a donor boat at a local shop, I can get the whole boat for 2600 ( boat has a bad transom) may have to tackle this conversion to save the ol' girl cause she's served us well. Never did much work on boats but I am a mechanically inclined gear head whose built several race cars. There's still the issue of pulling the motor, I have an engine lift but don't see how that's gonna work.
 
Nivekt

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

mcarty said:
I may have found a 5.7 Alpha one set up out of a donor boat at a local shop, I can get the whole boat for 2600 ( boat has a bad transom) may have to tackle this conversion to save the ol' girl cause she's served us well. Never did much work on boats but I am a mechanically inclined gear head whose built several race cars. There's still the issue of pulling the motor, I have an engine lift but don't see how that's gonna work.
Click to expand...


Build a wooden gantry using 4 x 4's and 2 x 6's and then pick up a 2 ton chain hoist from Harbor Freight($60)
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

your local rental house may have a tall engine picker, if not, there should be a boom truck that you can hire.

I did the gantry deal over the winter using 2x4's and 2x8's in my storage unit. when I was done, I built shelves with the material.

 
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MasterGoa

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

Since we are on the subject, which years have the cone clutch?

Where there cone clutches on the Cobra as well?
If so, what years?

Thanks.
 
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bigike

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

90/91-96/98 for the Big Daddy KC

The 90 sx was cone also. They are still made, they just moved the pump to the engine... Love the outdrive pump.
 
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HT32BSX115

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Re: Swapping a 91 King Cobra to Mercrusier

MasterGoa said:
Since we are on the subject, which years have the cone clutch?

Where there cone clutches on the Cobra as well?
If so, what years?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

There were 2 models of cone clutch Cobra from 1990-to about 1995/1996 or so....... You can go to http://epc.brp.com to view parts breakdowns for all the models of OMC sterndrives.

The early model was developed before the Volvo Penta partnership and eventual buyout and the later one is essentially the (excellent) Volvo SX drive and is fully supported (still) by Volvo.

You want the latter and you want to generally avoid the former since you have to become an EBAY/Craigslist/classified "search-monster" or a dumpster-jumpster at your local boat wrecking yard to find some of the no longer available parts.

Otherwise I have no strong feelings on the subject!!:rolleyes:
 
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