inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

[rpeter46]

I'm getting ready to take my 1969 mc160 out of my '69 Thunderbird Formula 233, and replace the entire lock, stock and barrel from a 1982 donor mc165. I'm tired of seeing 'obsolete' beside everything on my shopping lists, and this seems like a logical next step. Please point out any concerns or considerations you might foresee. My first big question is will I need to fill or drill any new holes for the newer transom plate?

Thanks!

 

[Will Fish]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

I know the feeling, and recently did the same.

Which outdrive/housing assembly did you have and plan on installing? I assume you are going back with an alpha 1 Gen 1. If that is the case, make sure you have the room in the engine compartment. The exhaust on the pre alpha routes in between the transom mounts, where as the Alpha 1 Gen 1 mounts are about 5" narrower and the exhaust is off-set to the outside of the mount. Your riser elbow will also need to be changed to offset the dump to mate to the exhaust.

To answer your question will the holes in the transom line up with the newer plate, the answer is no. You will need to fill in the existing and drill new holes. When I did the upgrade, 2 holes lines up, but had to fill in the others and re-drill new holes.

Your front mount may also have to be adjusted. The Gen 1 rear mounts are pushed off the transom about 1/2"-3/4". I had to unbolt the front mount, replace the cross member of the wood, glass it in, and re-drill new holes to mount the frount engine mount.

 

[rpeter46]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

REALLY?? It seems like the 1969 mercruiser 160 and 1982 Mercruiser 165 have A LOT in common. Same block, same head, interchangeable drives, etc... So the transom plate for the same I-drive series has almost nothing in common from 1969 to 1982? The 1982 is NOT an alpha one, but the last iteration of the same I-drive.

 

[Will Fish]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

REALLY?? It seems like the 1969 mercruiser 160 and 1982 Mercruiser 165 have A LOT in common. Same block, same head, interchangeable drives, etc... So the transom plate for the same I-drive series has almost nothing in common from 1969 to 1982? The 1982 is NOT an alpha one, but the last iteration of the same I-drive.

If you are replacing the transom plate gimbal housing out drive etc with like and kind, then it should all line right up. But you mentioned you were upgrading? Wouldn't the upgrade of the pre-alpha be the alpha 1 Gen1? If so, my prior post mentions some of the issues I ran into.

 

[achris]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

If he's using the entire power plant from the 82, then he has a little work to do on the transom. The middle 2 bolt holes don't line up. Just fill the existing holes with dowel and drill the new ones (it's about 1" but I can't remember if it's up or down). Also the centre section of the cut-out needs to be opened up slightly (about 1/2" on each side). Download a drilling template from somewhere (I might have one. If so I'll add it later as an edit... Stay tuned to this page ) and put it up against the hull. It become obvious what needs to be done. Other than that, it should just drop straight in... You will probably need to change the instrument panel and harness because the wiring IS quite different...

Chris.......
P.S. Will-fish. 1982 is still an MC-1, not an Alpha One.... Alpha One was 1986-1990..

 

[Don S]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

I don't know if this is the same template used for the MC-1 drives, but it does work for the Alpha I, R and MR drives.
A few measurements will confirm before any drilling or cutting takes place.
You can also order the full size template from here at iboat for under $5.

Here is the .pdf file for the Volvo template. You do not use the the 2 top holes.

View attachment SX Transom shield cutout template.pdf

 

[achris]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

When Merc changed the trim senders to the gimbal ring they also changed the cutout, slightly. Apart from the 2 holes at the very top (Alpha Gen II and Bravo), from 1976 to current is the same. When Volvo released the SX drives, they set them up to use the same cutout as the Mercruiser, so that cutout is the same (it was to make it easier for Mercruiser owners to become ex-Mercruiser owners )... Thanks Don.

 

[rpeter46]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

Achris-
Thank you for offering the MC-1 transon template. This is exactly the info I am looking for. I also don't know if Don's Alpha template will apply to my 'later' MC-1 cutout. I will use the approach you suggested, and epoxy some dowels in, pop 2 new holes in, and it's not too hard to make the cutout bigger-please don't ask me to make it smaller, though!
In regards to gauges, I was intending to splice the newer wiring harness into my old gauges. When looking at the wiring diagrams side by side, it appears that they only added to the original cluster and wiring harness, so the old wiring harness is still intact. I didn't want the mess of screwing with the motor side of the diagram because of all the changes on THAT end of it.

 

[achris]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

As for gauges, it's likely your planned approach won't work. The earlier instrument cluster had an ammeter. That was replaced later by a voltmeter. The harnesses for each cluster is different, and not interchangeable. If both clusters run the same gauges, then yes, you can just plug and pray, but if one has the ammeter and the other has the voltmeter... You're SOL....

Chris.............

 

[rpeter46]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

As for gauges, it's likely your planned approach won't work. The earlier instrument cluster had an ammeter. That was replaced later by a voltmeter. The harnesses for each cluster is different, and not interchangeable. If both clusters run the same gauges, then yes, you can just plug and pray, but if one has the ammeter and the other has the voltmeter... You're SOL....

Chris.............

Chris,
Already been through the entire gauge cluster for a total rewire due to old wiring, previous hack-jobs, and 2 shorts. I did forget all about the ammeter until you mentioned it. I will be just fine with replacing it with a voltmeter. Fortunately, the Teleflex HD line is a perfect match replacement for my original SW gauges. I'm not expecting a plug-n-play, but will do a cut and solder, feed for feed.

 

[achris]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

Chris,
Already been through the entire gauge cluster for a total rewire due to old wiring, previous hack-jobs, and 2 shorts. I did forget all about the ammeter until you mentioned it. I will be just fine with replacing it with a voltmeter. Fortunately, the Teleflex HD line is a perfect match replacement for my original SW gauges. I'm not expecting a plug-n-play, but will do a cut and solder, feed for feed.

Ok.. you seem to have that side in hand. (Quite a lot of people get flustered when dealing with the electrical aspect of engines)...

BTW, I didn't say plug and play, I said 'plug and pray'....

Chris......

 

[rpeter46]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

n-play, but will do a cut and solder, feed for feed.
Ok.. you seem to have that side in hand. (Quite a lot of people get flustered when dealing with the electrical aspect of engines)...

BTW, I didn't say plug and play, I said 'plug and pray'....


Chris,
I liked the 'plug and pray' comment!

Yeah, most of my concerns are related to the mechanical/physical questions pertaining to removal and reinstallation. THAT is where I'm looking for the most guidance. Thanks for all the insight and please keep it coming!:clap2:

 

[achris]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

If you're transplanting the entire engine, drive and transom assemblies, then the only issue you'll encounter will be the transom hole, already detailed to you earlier. You have the instrument cluster sorted... Time to get ya hands dirty...

 

[rpeter46]

Re: inline 6 transplant from 1969 to 1982

Thanks. Planning on going in guns blazing this weekend. I pulled the entire donor driveline 2 weekends ago, and am ready to start tearing up the Formula now.