Four Winns=four losses? 93 Ford 5.0 OMC?

Drdob

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Wish I had checked this thread out first. For a 93 Four Winns 190, with a OMC Ford 5.0.
Bought it from a marina who mentioned that the bellows was bad.

After researching (after the fact) it seems like though this boat seemed super clean to me and well maintained, it might be one of the worst boats I could have bought?

Is it even worth it to get started to repair the bellows?

:(

Caveat emptor
 

matt167

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That may be a Volvo based omc. So not as bad. But even a Ford engine can run good. Just parts are hard to find
 

Drdob

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Thank you!

So just for a little more color, I want to mention I paid 2k for boat with the matching trailer both titled.

The marina new both the owners of the boat and it seems to be in really nice shape.

I want to love this boat so badly...
 

Lou C

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That might be the last year of the pure OMC Cobra. Post pix of the drive
 

Drdob

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There she is. Any insight super appreciated.

She starts up. I have not run her more than few seconds cause I don't have muffs yet.
 

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Scott Danforth

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well, the drive has to come apart. someone removed the "do-not-remove" screw and put in a drain plug.

20220614_151229-jpg.362942
 

Drdob

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And the bellows is shot to hell.

Why would they remove the "do not remove screw" tf?

Thanks so much.

Knew nothing about this. Clearly got a little over my skis :(
 

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Lou C

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Yep the last of the Pure OMC Cobras. They are actually pretty good if it was built right and the shift cable & shifting system are in good shape. I've had one for 20 years in salt water and no major drive/transom mount repairs in all that time. What's been done:
shift cable adjusted 2x once in 2004, next time in 2013 when I decided to learn for myself
bearing carrier and a few seals replaced 2005, along with trim hydraulic lines, gimble bearing & bellows
Bellows again in 2016
Other than drive R&R every year (what you should do with any sterndrive no matter who made it) only oil changes. That's it, except for the steering actuator (the original one) I changed this September. NLA but these can be rebuilt with Corvette/Ford unibody PS parts. Yes they used the same Bendix power assist unit.
You have a Ford engine that doesn't have the best parts availability but at least you have a common Holley carb instead of the EFI system for which you can't get parts for. I think you have a Prestolite BID electronic distributor, if the module goes bad they are NLA, but you could convert to a Petronix unit.
Find the best OMC mechanic there is, pay them well and learn how to maintain it, and it will last. That's what I did. Then I learned myself.
 

Lou C

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I suggest you head over to ebay and buy a genuine OMC shop manual and start reading....
 

Lou C

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you might be replacing this soon, the Cobra impeller, very easy to do....
mine's Chevy 4.3 4bbl Quadrajet....
here it is on the mooring.....
 

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nola mike

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@Scott Danforth , please elaborate on why anyone would install a "do not remove" screw. Much like a "don't press this button" button, it seems like a pretty predictable conclusion in the wrong hands...
 

Lou C

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Ok for some reason lost to the sands of time, OMC had a hole on that side of the Cobra upper gear housing (maybe for a flush system never sold) that is actually in the water passage from the impeller to the transom mount. So they plugged it with an oring and a screw and a retainer plate on the inside. It must be water tight or else the engine can overheat. The parts don't show up on the early parts diagrams but the do on the later ones.


parts 9-->14 in the diagram, the pic is actually reversed, the hole is on the port side.
 

Drdob

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Amazing, love the way you dudes just figure **** out. Love that ethic.

Maybe the right boat for me after all :)
 

Drdob

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you might be replacing this soon, the Cobra impeller, very easy to do....
mine's Chevy 4.3 4bbl Quadrajet....
here it is on the mooring.....
Tx, looks like an awesome boat btw.

Thank you.
 

Lou C

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thanks, when you own a Cobra powered boat, it's like a classic car. You have to learn things other people don't know, and know how to find parts, keep spares etc. I have a lot of spares, a complete spare drive and transom mount as well.
 

Scott Danforth

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Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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thanks, when you own a Cobra powered boat, it's like a classic car. You have to learn things other people don't know, and know how to find parts, keep spares etc. I have a lot of spares, a complete spare drive and transom mount as well.
its like owning a 1959 Edsel..... LOL
 
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