89" OMC Cobra upper locked up should I fix it or do the Alpha 1 conversion?

[huggyb1972]

I though I was golden this year took the boat out of moth balls fixed my charging troubles new alternator and 60amp circuit breaker. I launched the boat at the lake told the wife lets go on a sunset cruise and shake down the charging system on the water where my troubles were before. The boat started and was running flawlessly Volt meter steady above 13v the newly rebuilt 2.3 back there just singing its song and I got a little power drop thing not volts but motor power rather. I 'm looking at the gages like a hawk since I'm just coming on line this year temp (good) oil pressure (good) volts (good). Turn the boat around and high tail it for shore find out what that was then about 3 mintues later the motor stops I'm talking hardly a sign just it don't run and it won't restart but the steering wheel turns a little when you hit the key. right away I'm sure it a outdrive problem then comes the trolling motor to the rescue thing.

The motor runs perfect it starts nearly as soon as it cranks over everything in it is new and I'm running the truck cam so I just want a outdrive that can take me to and from reliably.

The boat is home the drive is off the small bearing in the upper on the horz. shaft disintegrated and all the rollers fell out and locked up the bottom/vertical shaft gear. The gears look to be in good condition there is some peening of the housing here and there but no immediate heavy damage. The lower shifts fine still. I am here faced with a choice now buy another used drive hope for the best, knock this one apart replace all the bearings and seals (hope for the best), or buy one of these OMC to Mercruiser conversions And Hope for the best. I have read so many bad things and good things about both drive systems I have no real fondness of either. No marine place around my area has laid eyes on a conversion, OMC parts are attainable but seam dicey I just want this thing right and tight in 2 weeks for my next days off.

I found a 88' drive will that fit my 89 with no issues used drives are anywhere from $300 - 500
parts the one I have to repair are gonna cost $300 - 500
conversion kit is 2k after shipping

I can do all the work so labor means just my time.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I know where there are a few ford powered cobra parts.

You already reduilt the obsolete motor, may as well fix the obsolete drive

 

[huggyb1972]

Yeah that's the spirit.

After I buy the parts which it looks like I need a carrier and very possibly a upper housing. I know I'll be better off with later 2 options. If I go for the OMC I think I'd be better tearing it down and going through it top to bottom new seals and bearings.


I really would like to buy one of these kits or rebuilt jobs, but then I hear the horror stories and think I'm sure I could rebuild a good unit and keep that extra cash for some booze, steak, and gasoline.

 

[Ficchi1]

I had the lower unit go out on mine and I installed the alpha conversion. It was not a difficult job and I have a very sound outdrive now. The only thing that will cause some headaches is getting the shift linkage adjusted correctly.

 

[huggyb1972]

Ficchi did you buy Sterndrive Engineerings outdrive? how much time do you have on it?

 

[huggyb1972]

The upper is to far gone at this point to try and rebuild. I have a fix on a couple complete units as long as the upper gear set looks like it's fine in either I'm going to try and eek another year out of this setup. I ordered the gasket and seal kits for both upper and lower. From what could tell from disassembly on the original it appears the small bearing on the input shaft failed first, it could have been oil related but there was lube up in the cavity at least over the bottom gear. Seeing that makes me wonder if maybe the seal between the water pump and that bearing was leaking a little and contributed to the failure..

 

[huggyb1972]

Today I picked up a 88' 2.3 outdrive to replace the one I damaged last outing. I was able to spin the input shaft and shift the lower both directions and I got the back of the boat it came with. Before I handed the guy the cash I popped the top cover it was full of oil and no death metal spinkled everywhere. So already it's in better condition than my old one.

I drained the oil after I got it home and there was no water in it just dark colored oil neither of the plugs had any significant metal accumulation.

I suspected the small bearing at the water pump failed first on my old one. This drive was headed in the same direction. I have seal kits coming now it looks like I need a bearing or 2. I am not giving up on the OMC yet it seems like a okay system with some quirks. Has anyone ever tried moving the water pump on these? I was looking at the Volvo SX conversion and noticed they use a engine mounted water pump. If I were to lop off the water pump drive and install a plug where the shaft seal is and pull water through the old housing. The other thought could be install a second seal facing the other direction and keep the water pump as is.

 

[huggyb1972]

Surprise I don't need to think about the extra seal on the water pump shaft the new gasket kit addresses it with a better seal. Now I'm just waiting on bearings and I should be golden.

 

[Wkd179]

How was gear oil filled? Its critical to fill from the middle screw hole