Inline 6

mandm

Cadet
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
16
I need a little help. I have an old hard top Aristo Craft with a GM inline six.
Im thinking late sixties early seventies. Before unleaded gas.What outdrives can I bolt up to this engine? Will one that is off a 1979 chevy 350 work?They are both Mercury outdrives.
Thanks,
Mike
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Inline 6

If you find a doner boat with drive, transom shield, exhaust system, engine, and all that goes with it, it will be fairly easy after you build stringers for your engine mount.
It's not an easy pull and engine and swap it out type change. Lots of things change.
 

ziggy

Admiral
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Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Inline 6

and to top it off, aristocrafts don't have stringers....

generally speaking i believe aristocrafts had a max uscg hp rating of 165. though i believe i've seen one with a 470 in it which might have been 170hp.

so what wrong with the L6? mine gets up and goes. i blow both my buddies away for hole shot. and they got 190 and 220hp in newer boats. not sure i'd wanna go much faster than the 42mph gps i do anyways. yer holding on pretty good at that speed already in our hull designs...

so what color ya got?

i believe aristocraft nineteens were made from 69-79 (maybe some early 80's sales), eighteens from 67-68, and funliners before that (could be off a year or two in any direction)... if it's after 72 it'll have a hin on it. mines located above the drive molded into the glass on the transom, in the center. last two numbers are year.. ya might check this out too. www.aristocraftboats.com..

as far as yer unleaded goes. ya can always add aftermarket lead additive if ya want. or many would say don't even bother. something else will break long before there's ramifications from not using lead.. myself, i just use the lead additive..
 

mandm

Cadet
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
16
Re: Inline 6

Sorry I wasn't clear.The inline 6 stays.I am just going to swap outdrives.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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70,925
Re: Inline 6

Sorry I wasn't clear.The inline 6 stays.I am just going to swap outdrives.

Nope,... It'll bolt on,...
But, the Input shaft is too Long,+ the gear ratio is too High,... It'll Kill your motor...
 

zbnutcase

Commander
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Sep 19, 2009
Messages
2,055
Re: Inline 6

Yes one off 79 will work BUT gear ratio is different and you might have to switch to the short drive yoke. 'nutcase
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,925
Re: Inline 6

What outdrive will work?

Ayuh,... Any of the Pre-Alphas, or Alpha 1s, but Not the Gen.IIs,...
With the Short input shaft,+ I believe the 1.84:1 gear set,...
It might work with the 1.65:1s.....
 

ziggy

Admiral
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Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Inline 6

It might work with the 1.65:1s.....
i beleive this is the correct gear ratio. mine is for sure. i've got hash marks on my gear teeth in the upper, drive and driven gear. only the 1.65:1's have the hash marks best i understand..
 

rockyman

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
148
Re: Inline 6

why do you want to change from 1.65 outdrive ,i have a 1981 galaxy 19 1/2 ft. L6 with 1.65 outdrive and it runs great ,like mentioned before 4200 or 4300 rpms im moving real good across the water,you have to hold on to ya hat lol.
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Inline 6

why do you want to change from 1.65 outdrive
i don't think the op wants to change ratios. he just wants to know if the outdrive he's found will bolt up. which it will. the ratio will be wrong and likely be cost prohibitive to change to the proper ratio. he'll need to get the gears + do the proper shimming to set it up proper + the short shaft. my guess would be before it'd be all said and done, a sei drive could have been have been obtained. w/o looking, i think they offer a 1.62:1 which i would think would be close enough to get ya hip...
 

mandm

Cadet
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
16
Re: Inline 6

Thanks.
Great info.How did people make it without the internet!Love this Website
 
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