Easy on me....im still learning.

[john crowe]

I have a glassmaster running OMC 3.0 and a Model 400 stern drive.

Im trying to figure out this whole motor/boat/outdrive thing. IF...thats a big IF....i wanted to repower it...what options do i have. what will work in place of current set up with least amount of trouble? If my education thus far from here is correct ide need to replace the out drive as well as the engine.

options?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

Ayuh,............

It's Pretty Simple,...... Really...... I've Done/ am Doing several of the OMC Stringer conversions,......
Some Really Nice hulls were powered by them in the 60s,+ 70s.......

You Strip the Hull,....... Bare Bones Stripped........
Repair any Rot found,+ Glass in the Big Hole in the transom......
Then you cut out a New Hole,+ Drop in the Driveline of your Choice..........

Junking out a Donor Boat is the Cheapest,+ Easiest way to pull it off..........

 

[john crowe]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

are there any that will go right in where mine came out? How would one know exactly where to cut the new hole? im sure its an axis thing.

thanks for answering. Im the type that if i have it....i want to know how it works. makes fixing it later easier.

the wife.....im still working on that one.

by the way.....what about the steering...how does that convert over? mines a cable system now

 

[Bondo]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

Go Look at some boats powered with Real Drivelines,.........

Like I said,.........
You Strip it to a BARE Hull,+ Start Over..............

As far as Where to cut the Hole,..........
That's Up the Learning Curve,.......
You haven't even Started taking it Apart........

Sharp Looking Boat,........................ Too Bad it's got a 400 Stringer Drive.......

 

[tic]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

At least removing your captains chair should be easy

 

[john crowe]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

thanks...heres where im at.

the boat im in process of redoing it.....and at present have made a pretty decent boat. It was a freebie. owner before me put in a new 3.0 engine (never got it running...i did that) and had the outdrive rebuilt. everything is suppose to be in great shape. Boat doesnt miss a beat. runs and works great!.

Im not sure of the issues or weaknesses with the model 400`s, but im wanting to plan ahead if anything should happen. If i had to swap anything out...ide honestly like to go with a 4.3 and a matching outdrive....but i dont know what that outdrive would be or needs to be.

my fear...building a really nice boat and then the outdrive takes a crap on me.

like i said...im just trying to learn and prepare in case of a situation.

 

[Don S]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

Here is a link to an installation manual for a 2000 Mercruiser V8 with an Alpha drive. It's a 3.18MB download.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Install/gas/86016900.pdf
It will give you some idea what it will take to install a Merc system. The hole in the transom for your present OMC stringer, is too big for the Merc transom shield. might have a look in the boat resoration & building forum for more details on rebuilding the transom for the smaller hole. I'm sure it's been covered a number of times there.

 

[john crowe]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

At least removing your captains chair should be easy

hey...easy now....those plastic chairs have been with me through thick and thin....wife has thrown them in the trash several times and ive "recovered" them. they are a monthly issue around here they are staying.

actually that is one of the inprocess pics.....was better then sitting on a 5 gallon bucket

started working on the interior yesterday actually....those pics to come soon

heres a before...

 

[john crowe]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

thanks...that should help me see how it all goes together.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

I would just drive it, enjoy it. Plenty of parts still around. There are still new old stock OMC outdrives available. Can get a rebuilt too. Drive it until it dies and put another in. A new or rebuilt one will probably out last the boat. A lot cheaper than a conversion. I would just buy another boat before I would go to all the trouble.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Easy on me....im still learning.

That's a nice looking boat!




I'll second that.........
That is, just run it! It's absolutely NOT worth it to completely rebuild the transom now that you already have it looking pretty good.

If you had a Cobra.....well, you could do something like I did.


But now that you have it looking pretty good.....your other option would be to sell it. It's looking good, running good etc. It will bring top price for what you have.

Then you can get yourself something newer with a drive system that is still being made. (Although I really don't think you'll have any problems finding parts for your boat for many years)


Oh.....I'm with the others......lose the cheesy capt chair!!


Now if you had a 460 King Cobra .....I'd be telling you to get rid of it!!!




Cheers,




Rick
Former OMC Driver