Conversion advice

[Bondo]

I I'm new to boats what's that mean as far as restoration or modifying looking to only spend 6k maybe 7

Ayuh,.... Find a '91 or newer boat with a rotten hull, but solid motor, 'n outdrive, preferably a Mercriser Alpha 1, gen.II, then swap the entire driveline into yer boat,....

 

[Scott Danforth]

I I'm new to boats what's that mean as far as restoration or modifying looking to only spend 6k maybe 7

unfortuneately, fiberglass boats older than 15 years old should be considered projects. all will need work.

a boat restoration is iffy at under 10k

as Bondo stated, find a junk boat with a good motor. (mid 90's forewinns bayliners, searays, etc.) and get the whole thing for $2k or less, scrap the hull

 

[irieman]

Ok so this motor in boat is useless what about outboards for this boat how do I go about that if feasibly all info is valuable and thanks in advance

 

[Scott Danforth]

There have been about a hundred outboard conversions started on iBoats. About a dozen completed, about 1 or 2 that came out well.

The transom must be reinforced to use a pod

As for your existing motor, other than the short block, there is nothing that could be used if you convert to an SEI drive, or a Mercruiser setup.

 

[irieman]

Can I pull a 2001 chevy blazer motor and use that it's a 4.3

 

[irieman]

Update I called the previous owner and he has the stringer drive and all parts but says the hydro mech shift cable is streched he says it's a double cable and he has old 1 question can I get this part

 

[Scott Danforth]

The OMC shift cable is about $1000

 

[Scott Danforth]

Can I pull a 2001 chevy blazer motor and use that it's a 4.3

You can use the block and heads. You need a whole bunch of marine bits to make it work.

You are no further ahead than your 1984 block and heads

 

[irieman]

Did u read my ipdate

 

[irieman]

I understand about motor now it would need marine starter manifolds alt wiring ect

 

[Scott Danforth]

And marine head gaskets, brass core plugs, marine distributor, marine front accessories. Plus a manual transmission flywheel

The only thing you can use from the blazer is the block and heads

You still need a Mercruiser transom shield, all the accessories, the Mercruiser wiring, and shift interrupt

Doing it piece meal will cost you 2-3 times it would cost to buy a donor boat

 

[irieman]

It's this hydro mechanical shift cable thing hard to find I'm going to get the outdrive monday

 

[matt167]

If the owner glassed over the transom keyhole, you could convert to Mercruiser.. makes me wonder what he was doing if the motor is still in there

It's this hydro mechanical shift cable thing hard to find I'm going to get the outdrive monday

Basically not available… an un installed stringer drive is worth parts to someone who needs them, or scrap to those that don’t. You have parts and pieces it sounds like. Better off throwing money out the window if that’s what you want to do… it would be different if you had a boat you we’re trying to keep on the water with a stringer

 

[irieman]

I'm gonna put stringer together see what's wrong he says that hydro is only thing wrong but the whole is filled now I'm thinking I should cut my loses and buy different boat any suggestions

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your vintage is a mechanical shift (1981-1984), not the earlier hydro-mechanical shift (1978-1980)

If you want to look at the stringer, look at the following problem areas:
Raw water housing leaks
3-piece vertical drive shaft splines
Ball gears
Tilt motor and hammer coupling

The only source that I know of for parts and service for them is www sterndrive info

 

[irieman]

Thank u for ur info I'll b posting on monday

 

[irieman]

Update it's is stringer 800 I put it on a big truck hoist the cable that is a double cable I can pull it and it will engage reverse but pull other cable it won't go into forward unless I keep tension pulled on it but it will go in forward but I'm had to pull hard

 

[Scott Danforth]

the cable does a big u-turn in the drive. both cables are under spring tension in the ESA module.

drive must be turning to shift. or you risk damaging the cable.

 

[irieman]

I have friend turn while I pull goes easy in reverse I have to pull hard for it to go in forward

 

[irieman]

I have friend turn while I pull goes easy in reverse I have to pull hard for it to go in forward

It's not in the eda pulley thing it's a cable and drive not hooked up doing this manually