1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

[dannieboiz]

I'm looking at a boat with a 5.0l ford and OMC Cobra out drive. I've always had Mecruiser in the past so I have no idea what I'm getting myself into. What's the reliability of these motors and outdrive?

Are they more or less expensive/easier, harder to work on than the Mercs?

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

Thats the drive I've got. It should be a OMC/Volvo Penta joint venture drive. It is basically a Volvo Penta SX drive powered by a Ford 302 engine. The Ford part is the only real negative in that package (since Ford no longer supports marine apps.)

My Ford does fine, but I'm sure parts and service may be a little harder to find if needed. The Chevys have upgrades, that the Fords don't have. (Vortec heads for one)

Volvo Penta SX drives are really reliable, if properly maintained. Supposedly they are beefier built than the Mercruiser Alpha's. I like the design better on the bellows (ease of installation) and shift cable design (no bellows).

 

[dannieboiz]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

It does look much more beefier than my alpha one gen II outdrive. So are you saying I can use Volvo SX parts on the OMC?

My main concern is that the boat doesn't have a closed cooling system and it spent all of its life running in salt water. But it does look like the owner flushed properly after each run cause there are very minimal external rust on the engine. The only places that have the most rust are the two riser manifold.

What are my engine option of I do have to replace it? I plan on doing some long range fishing and safety is on my #1 list but protecting my saving is equally important, so would a complete rebuild be just as good as a new crate engine? Possibly much cheaper as well?

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

If you can get the model and serial numbers on the engine and drive, post them up to make sure that is indeed what you are looking at. Somebody on here can verify exactly which drive it is.

The older Cobra (OMC specific) drive is smooth on top and kind of squared off, but the joint venture drive has a 'hump' on the back. That is one way to tell them apart.

The 5.0 came as a carb or fuel injected. I've got the FL model (carbed). Other than routine maintenance items, I've never had any problems with mine.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

The joint venture supports VP parts, yes.

The joint venture also has the raw water pump mounted beside the engine and is belt driven. Did you happen to notice where it was?

 

[dannieboiz]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

this is good to know. It's the newer 95 OMC SX with the hump in grey color. One concern is the skeg chipped off by about 3 inches.

 

[dannieboiz]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

The joint venture supports VP parts, yes.

The joint venture also has the raw water pump mounted beside the engine and is belt driven. Did you happen to notice where it was?

Yes there are two of them that are mounted to the side of the engine and this is where it shows the most rust.

He did say that the carb gets water build up in there after awhile. Is that normal?

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

There should only be one. Maybe you saw the alternator or power steering pump.

As far as water in the carb, maybe a climate thing. I run mine in freshwater only and don't have any trouble. I run mine regularly as well.

As far as crate engines, not sure how many of them are marine specific.

Not sure how populated of an area you live, but I'd just make sure that VPenta are supported (shops and mechs) in your area. Mercruiser mechs are pretty popular, but VP aren't so much.

 

[dannieboiz]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

What's reading around and saw some said that I can use none marine engine and swap out the marine parts...

Wouldn't that mean I can buy a new car engine say a 351 and get more bite?

I'm in the SF Bay and there are plenty of boat mechanics around here. Finding a mechanic from shore is not the problem, I'm just concern about finding one 40 miles out.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

What's reading around and saw some said that I can use none marine engine and swap out the marine parts...

Wouldn't that mean I can buy a new car engine say a 351 and get more bite?

I'm in the SF Bay and there are plenty of boat mechanics around here. Finding a mechanic from shore is not the problem, I'm just concern about finding one 40 miles out.

I hear you on the 40 miles out.

You could swap out a 351, but it's not as easy as the Chevy 305 to 350 swap. A lot of the parts wouldn't swap because the blocks are different. Don't think the manifolds, cam, or intake would swap. Although you could find aftermarket products to do the job, it would just be an initial cost issue that would deter the swap. I'm pretty sure the 351 block is taller, but not sure if it is longer.

The crate engine would need to be a truck engine to ensure the correct cam and also the core (freeze) plugs would need to be marine (brass?). Not sure what else it would entail.

 

[dannieboiz]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

thanks for all your help. The offer has been made, lets see if the owner bites. He's gotta go talk to the big boss.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

Small block Fords are dime a dozen, and plenty of upgrades are possible, and they are very reliable.

 

[Aloysius]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

Small block Fords are reliable as anvils. Having just rebuilt 2 302 "marine" engines, I'll tell you there's nothing special in them, except the cam and the reverse rotation crank. Fords cast iron is superior to Chevrolet in terms of corrosion resistance. A 305 Chevy has the same stroke as a 350 Chevy but smaller bore, while the ford 302 has the same bore as a Chevy 350 but shorter stroke.

 

[Lou C]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

Like othes said the drive should be fine, but the marine specific parts you want to check if they are still available, like starters, manifolds, risers, riser gaskets, fuel system parts, ignition parts. Anything that was used for only a few years you can run into NLA parts even on Mercrusiers....

 

[Lou C]

Re: 1995 OMC Cobra 5.0 reliability

Like othes said the drive should be fine, but the marine specific parts you want to check if they are still available, like starters, manifolds, risers, riser gaskets, fuel system parts, ignition parts. Anything that was used for only a few years you can run into NLA parts even on Mercrusiers....

And if a salt water run I/O raw water cooled if the manifolds were not done, well they for sure need to be looked at along with the risers and riser gaskets.

The water in the carb thing concerns me, do you have a lot of blow-by or actual water....