Motor swap and missing chrome marks the beginning

[ab59]

I have decided to repower and fish until winter when I will get serious about restoring this boat. I think that using it for a while will help me identify the problems that need to be addressed. The 1986 Mercury 90 hp inline 6 outboard has some shift problems but has a good top end. I have two more lowers from my last inline 115 hp motors, so I have a little backup if I can't salvage the lower that is on it. Any ideas? I have a couple of youtube clips that I will list.

 

[SHSU]

Not sure what the ask is here, can you clarify what you need help with?

SHSU

 

[ab59]

To clarify, I am asking about welding the cracks in the spillwell and if anyone has any chrome trim for the back of a 18' 1975 Starcraft SS. The lower problems I already got some advice on and will address it in the outboard section of the forum.

 

[SHSU]

Gotcha

For the stress cracks, you can weld if you want but it will happen again. Not uncommon on these splashwells. Best bet is to rivet a patch to hold it together.

When you go to resecure to the transom, I would double check the wood. Can't tell in the video the condition of it. Probably worth just taking it out and making a new one. Not difficult to do.

Finally for the end caps, as others have said there as rare as a live dinosaur if you want genuine. I had to have mine custom made. There is someone that manufactures and sells replicas on ebay if you want to go that route.

Hope that helps

SHSU

 

[jdvasher]

+1 for riveting. Buy good quality rivets from a reputable source. Much stronger, and likely, easier fix as well.

 

[ab59]

Thanks for your replies guys. SHSU maybe I can figure out some kind of design pieces to cover the cracks and rivet them in. I crawled up into the stern and had a good look at the transom while tightening up the screws in the spillwell and to my surprise, it is in really good condition! Saves me a little time anyway.
jdvasher-- I restored a 1988 Starcraft SS a couple of years ago and still have many rivets leftover from that job. They seem to be of good quality.
I got my tractor out and picked the old Evinrude 140 off the back 9 with the loader ) a day or two ago and yesterday I hung the 1986 90 Hp Mercury inline 6 outboard on the back, can't believe that the mounting holes lined up!!! And then I started trying to figure out the rigging. Hope to get the motor started tomorrow if the rain will let up a little. Thanks----