Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Whats up all,

i just found an old 86' Searay for sale...its a big 26 foot cabin cruiser and the owner says it has a 350cid Chevy with an OMC out drive. Right now the engine we have is a 454 Mag MPI with a Bravo I outdrive and its in a 24ft VIP Vindicator.

So ive learned a little bit about the 454 Mag MPI but was wondering thoughts on the 350cid...how good of a motor it is (this one has 550 hrs on it, is that a lot for an 86' boat?) how difficult standard repairs are like the impeller, outdrive oil change etc, is is fuel injected or carb. (im guessing carb.) and any other useful info.

Thanks everyone,

wills

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Howdy,


Well, let loose with a little more info ......

What do you want to do? buy the 86 Searay and junk the Vindicator? or buy the Searay for the engine and drive?

I don't remember what your problems with the Vindicator was.....


Now If your desire is the latter, (I.E. buy the Searay for the engine and drive and replace the 454/Bravo) Stop and think about that for a while.....

That would be like taking your late model Chevy pickup and pulling the engine/trans and replacing it with a 51 Packard engine and transmission.

Back in the 50's Packard made good engines they even made pretty good aircraft engines at one time..... (but they don't exist now!)

OMC has been out of business for more than 10 years. Certain parts are not available anymore as dealers sell the junk collecting dust on their shelves.....

Putting a 350 carbed engine in a boat that has a 454 in it will seriously disappoint you!!!

Around here, most of us pretty much suggest to anyone buying any used boat to RUN QUICKLY from a stern-drive boat that has the letters OMC any where near it!


YMMV,



Rick

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

but was wondering thoughts on the 350cid...how good of a motor it is (this one has 550 hrs on it, is that a lot for an 86' boat?)

A 350 is the epitome of reliability, and longevity. As long as the 350 you're looking at has been properly maintained, 550 hrs is in most cases about a 1/4 of the engines life expectancy.

how difficult standard repairs are like the impeller, outdrive oil change etc

The real question is how hard is it to get parts. As HT pointed out, the drive you are considering is an antique by most standards. And replacement parts can be few and far between. Impellers and oil changes are not that big a deal, but everything else may require endless searching, hunting (for good used replacements), and excessive money spent.

is is fuel injected or carb. wills

Unless someone has monkeyed with it, it will be carbureted.

Like HT suggested, if you are intending on buying this boat as a replacement drive train for your 454/Bravo, you would be back pedaling 30 years in technology, and an old 350 isn't going to compare to your 454.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Howdy,


Well, let loose with a little more info ......

What do you want to do? buy the 86 Searay and junk the Vindicator? or buy the Searay for the engine and drive?

I don't remember what your problems with the Vindicator was.....


Now If your desire is the latter, (I.E. buy the Searay for the engine and drive and replace the 454/Bravo) Stop and think about that for a while.....

That would be like taking your late model Chevy pickup and pulling the engine/trans and replacing it with a 51 Packard engine and transmission.

Back in the 50's Packard made good engines they even made pretty good aircraft engines at one time..... (but they don't exist now!)

OMC has been out of business for more than 10 years. Certain parts are not available anymore as dealers sell the junk collecting dust on their shelves.....

Putting a 350 carbed engine in a boat that has a 454 in it will seriously disappoint you!!!

Around here, most of us pretty much suggest to anyone buying any used boat to RUN QUICKLY from a stern-drive boat that has the letters OMC any where near it!


YMMV,



Rick

Hey Rick,

NO never even flirted with the idea of replacing the motor with this one. I KNOW the 454 mag mpi is a hell of a motor and as far as we know it has no damage. What happened was the guy who put the impeller in for us reveresed the hoses...the impeller burned up and the boat started to over heat.

We got a new impeller, put it in with new housing, tore apart all the water circulating hoses, flushed them all out...cleaned out the oil cooler and found allllll those damn impeller pieces (well MOST were wedged up in there...few smaller ones were in other hoses) and got it all put back together. Was gonna test it out today butweather got funky on us...so we'll do that someother day this week.

With this other boat, the 26ft Searay 225, its up for sale at a very good price and we were considering buying it as either a project boat or as a boat we could fit up and sell when boat season swing around and people start hunting for them again.

Since OMC is out of business, how hard (or expensive...or both, IF its possible) would it be to put a Volvo or Merc out drive in it instead? Not saying i'd do it but just want to know what options we have.

I really appreciate all the info, and really am trying to learn. 3 weeks ago i only knew what an impeller did, not what it looked like, where it was, how to get to it, etc. Now ive replaced it (and the housing), tore apart all the cooling hoses. cleaned them, learned what the oil cooler is, where its at, what it does etc. So im learning and i love it...i know im only on step 2 (maybe) of about a 20 step process lol...but i enjoy the journey and learning how to DO things myself.

So i apologize for the elementary questions but really do appreciate the info. I really want to do my homework before going to drop 3k or so on this boat...but my dad is a big fan of the old 80s Searays, with the teak wood (***** to maintain but looks so pretty) and the SPACE...he had one years ago and has always wanted to get another one, so thats why we're thinking about this as a project boat to KEEP, or just one to fix up and re-sell in a few months.

Hope that sheds a little light on my intentions and questions...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Since OMC is out of business, how hard (or expensive...or both, IF its possible) would it be to put a Volvo or Merc out drive in it instead? Not saying i'd do it but just want to know what options we have.

Well.....THAT"S DIFFERENT!!

Actually you could do either! I removed my previously installed 1987 OMG 460 King Kobra and replaced it with a complete FWF (firewall-forward) 1997 7/4L + Bravo III!


Since the cutout is the "same" you could install a Mercruiser Alpha, Bravo or Volvo Penta SX

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Well.....THAT"S DIFFERENT!!

Actually you could do either! I removed my previously installed 1987 OMG 460 King Kobra and replaced it with a complete FWF (firewall-forward) 1997 7/4L + Bravo III!


Since the cutout is the "same" you could install a Mercruiser Alpha, Bravo or Volvo Penta SX

lol you seem a little more excited about it now!

Maybe this should be a different thread but, what are the differences between a Merc Alpha, Bravo or a Volvo Penta (whats SX?) and what does "Firewall-forward" mean exactly?

We went and saw the boat....needs some love for sure. BIG SOB lol. Trailer is in awesome shape, custom built. Exterior is very oxidized BUT i do detailing so thats right up my alley to fix up. The hull was redone but was repainted a sort of ugly blue (rest of teh boat is white with red stripes)...might have to repaint that, its quite the eye sore...i just dont know how to go about getting it UP to paint the underside (suggestions?).

Interior in the cabin was decent. MOST of the wood was ok except a couple pieces on the swim platform that the sun just ate up but nothing some sanding and treating cant fix.

The seats for sure have to be re-upholstered, ive never done that so might have to contract that work out.

Engine is a little dirty but looks ok. 5.7 liter, outdrive needs paint in the worst way...might contract that out too since we're dealing with a MOTOR and i dont want to accidentally paint something i shouldn't. The "Boot" for the out drive (looks like a big rubber seal on the back of the outdrive connecting to the boat itself) is cracked, but he said he'd get it replaced and drop an extra $600 off the price.

But all in all it is in decent shape. Needs love for sure but thats something i dont mind working at . So for $3200 its not a bad deal...just not sure if our Chevy Express 1500 can haul it lol.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

The "Boot" for the out drive (looks like a big rubber seal on the back of the outdrive connecting to the boat itself) is cracked, but he said he'd get it replaced and drop an extra $600 off the price.

Hmm......BOOT?


If you mean the following:

That ain't no Cobra.

And if so, you cannot install any other drive without a MAJOR rebuild of the transom, engine mount stringers, and rear of the boat in general!!

AND $3200 might be a little high for a dinosaur like that......(Actually a LOT "high")

Maybe this should be a different thread but, what are the differences between a Merc Alpha, Bravo or a Volvo Penta (whats SX?) and what does "Firewall-forward" mean exactly?

FWF is an airplane term when you replace the engine, prop, everything............. (everything forward of the "Firewall".......)


A VP SX is Volvos drive after they bought the entire sterndrive operation of OMC right before they went out of business.


To get some additional perspective, read the following http://www.rbbi.com/folders/pat/isd.htm

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Hmm......BOOT?


If you mean the following:

That ain't no Cobra.

And if so, you cannot install any other drive without a MAJOR rebuild of the transom, engine mount stringers, and rear of the boat in general!!

AND $3200 might be a little high for a dinosaur like that......(Actually a LOT "high")





FWF is an airplane term when you replace the engine, prop, everything............. (everything forward of the "Firewall".......)


A VP SX is Volvos drive after they bought the entire sterndrive operation of OMC right before they went out of business.


To get some additional perspective, read the following http://www.rbbi.com/folders/pat/isd.htm

Gotcha on the firewall phrase...make sense now

View attachment 116774

The crack is at the top arrow...it looks like the image you linked..is that it?

Really think $3200 is high?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Gotcha on the firewall phrase...make sense now

View attachment 116774

The crack is at the top arrow...it looks like the image you linked..is that it?

Really think $3200 is high?

Well, I will have to defer to my "Stringer" colleagues I suppose.....

That drive is still supported for the most part..... But more of a dinosaur than the Cobra. 86 was the last year for them. And 86 was also the first year for the Cobras (and they're obsolete too).

A lot of parts are still being made for them but I think some parts (like the Cobra) are simply not available.

I think the following place will rebuild drives and has many common parts for the stringer (and the Cobra for that matter)


http://www.sterndrive.info/stringer_chart.html

You're not dead in the water by any means with them but I wouldn't buy any boat with OMC in the description.

Your picture didn't post by the way....

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Well, I will have to defer to my "Stringer" colleagues I suppose.....

That drive is still supported for the most part..... But more of a dinosaur than the Cobra. 86 was the last year for them. And 86 was also the first year for the Cobras (and they're obsolete too).

A lot of parts are still being made for them but I think some parts (like the Cobra) are simply not available.

I think the following place will rebuild drives and has many common parts for the stringer (and the Cobra for that matter)


http://www.sterndrive.info/stringer_chart.html

You're not dead in the water by any means with them but I wouldn't buy any boat with OMC in the description.

Your picture didn't post by the way....

Ok thanks for the help...now just concerned about the weight...we have a 1500 chevy express van...but this bad boy seems to be between 7500 and 8000 lbs :-\. View attachment 116893 did this pic work?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Ok thanks for the help...now just concerned about the weight...we have a 1500 chevy express van...but this bad boy seems to be between 7500 and 8000 lbs :-\. View attachment 116893 did this pic work?

That attachment didn't work either.

Your 1/2T van might be a little light for an 8000 boat. Look up the GCVW for it. The owners manuals usually indicate it someplace. If not,a Chev dealer can probably tell you.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

That attachment didn't work either.

Your 1/2T van might be a little light for an 8000 boat. Look up the GCVW for it. The owners manuals usually indicate it someplace. If not,a Chev dealer can probably tell you.

Yeah looks like 7000 lbs would be really pushing it for a 1500....and not completely sure about what the model of the boat is ...all the owner knows is that if you measure from the back to the front its 26 feet lol...no # or anything...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

Yeah looks like 7000 lbs would be really pushing it for a 1500....and not completely sure about what the model of the boat is ...all the owner knows is that if you measure from the back to the front its 26 feet lol...no # or anything...

That's a big heavy boat!! Regardless of what you're going to tow it behind, make sure the brakes work well!

 

[jeffcoservices2009]

Re: Info/Thoughts about a 350cid with OMC Out drive

i read that...pretty interesting