OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

[rino]

My '77 or '76 OMC 800 Stringer went out a few months ago and needs a complete replacement including intermediate housing.<br /><br />A guy I talked to has an OMC 225 drive with tru-course steering off a Chevy 305 or 350 everything from the prop to bell housing including the boot for $200.<br /><br />Will his drive work with my motor?<br /><br />Will his intermediate housing fit?<br /><br />Are there other parts that will be needed?<br /><br />If his drive also has a boot, then my transom opening should be a usable size, right?<br /><br />I don't mind buying a new intermediate housing, steering, new shift cables, different prop, etc if necessary.<br /><br />I just want to get my boat off blocks and back in the water before winter; but I can't afford $5,000 for a rebuilt 800 outdrive and labor.<br /><br />Was there really a model 225 or is it probably a different model with 225 HP? He said it came off a 305 of 350 Chevy V8.<br /><br />Thanks for any help.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

I don't believe there is such a thing as an OMC 225 outdrive. Secondly if your current outdrive is a 76 or 77 it is an electric shift model and I don't believe they were called model 800's. 400's and 800's started in '78 and were cable shift models.<br /><br />Which type is this model ????225?

 

[rino]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

He thought the model number was 225, but looking at my '64 to '84 Clymer manual it looks like he might be reading 225 HP and he is guessing it's close to 1974 "before they starting the model 800 drives".<br /><br />Are the outdrive connections to the intermediate housing a standard bolt patern with similar ball gears... <br /><br />Also would the intermediate housing from a Chevy 305 around 1972 fit on a '77 Ford 302 V8?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

The intermediate housing is like a bellhousing in a auto, no, they are not interchangeable between ford and chebby.<br /><br />DO NOT invest any large sums into your electric shift OMC. Where did you come up with the 5k for a rebuilt one? and how do you know that your need a new intermediate housing?

 

[rino]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

Bolts are broken off the intermediate housing; it's corroded to hell and back; the place the transom boot clamp connects is mostly gone so if reassembled it will surely develop another boot leak; there were other reasons I have since forgotten.<br /><br />My repair shop has a source for warranteed remanufactured drives (24 months) at about $2K for lower unit, $2K for upper unit, shift cables, steering cables, assembly, misc parts add up to about 5 K.<br /><br />All the parts I need inc new starter, transom seal, seal ring, used intermediate housing, tilt motor, etc push my repair bill to 8 K inc labor making my repair bill twice the cost of the boat.<br /><br />A merchant on eBay said he would give me a rebuilt drive with warranty for $2,500 fully assembled; but I haven't checked into his credibility yet but it could save me a few thousand for a rebuilt drive, but it's still too much for me to pay right now.<br /><br />If I can get a used outdrive for under $500 that will fit on my boat without any transom work I might be able to get my boat off blocks and back in the water before winter.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

Sounds to me like your boat is gonna sit out another season. There would be nothing to be had for $500 whether it required transom work or not. Even if you turned it into an outboard, you'd still have transom work to do. Sorry!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

hello<br /> best advice I can give you with any of the old OMC ball gear units is to buy another boat.<br /> its just not woth it to repair them anymore.<br /> sorry but that is advice.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[rino]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

Rodbolt thanks for the advice; If it comes down to having to buy a rebuilt unit I'll compare the cost of putting in a much newer outdrive and transom a rebuild. I'd like to get rid of the boot and go with a newer drive if I can afford it.<br /><br />Don't forget my important technical question nobody answered was:<br /><br />Will a 1974 (+- 2 years) out drive bolt onto my boat or do I need to check a whole bunch of things before I can tell if it will bolt on?<br /><br />I am replacing steering and shift cables, boot, and intermediate housing anyway.<br /><br />Are there differences between the models that I need to worry about like the bolt pattern, high/low profile, shoft/long shaft, or anything else that I should check to make sure the drive will fit on my boat?<br /><br />pics of my transom are at<br /> http://www.hyperfrogs.com/pictures click on omc800<br /><br />As a reminder, this outdrive is $200, has a boot (stringer?), not sure of the year buy he thinks it's 1974, has everything from bellhousing to prop.<br /><br />This guy is 2 hours away, so I'd like to avoid a 2-hour drive if there are some simple questions to ask like: "does it have 5 bolts on the top or 4) or "what is the height from the top cover to the prop shaft?<br /><br />There are a lot of other OMC 800 drives around used, (eBay, boat yards, junk) but I don't want to buy one without knowing if it will fit on my boat and most "reputable" places want at least $1,500 for a used outdrive with no warranty.<br /><br />Thanks in advance.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

Rino,<br />If it's a 74 it's an electric shift "stringer" drive. OMC made those jewels from 73 thru 77. The 400 and 800s stringers came out in 78 and look similar, but the big difference is a shift cable with gear-to-gear shifting. Yes, a 74 is interchangable with your 77.<br /><br />Rodbolt has given you sound advice. These units are not real dependable, and OMC doesn't make parts for them anymore. If you love the boat consider a bracket and an outboard.

 

[rino]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

I got the outdrive for $200 It is well greased, shafts and steering turn good, it doesn't leak oil, and came with shift cables and a few spare props.<br /><br />I have an 800 model; does that mean the outdrive is newer than a 1977?<br /><br />I can't try it on the boat yet because it's in a boat yard and they have to transport and block it at my house. It's a 1978 26' Reinell C26 with a Ford 302 190 HP OMC 800 (corroded out drive and intermediate).<br /><br />Once I get access to the boat I'll see how this fits. His intermediate housing looks different but it looks like it might work. He said his was Electric shift with Tru-Course steering. It looks like the same steering mechanism as my boat but not sure if I have an electric or mechanical shift.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC 225 to OMC 800 conversion

If you have an 800, you have a 1978 or newer cable shift outdrive. Primary visual difference between an electric shift and a cable shift is thru the prop exhaust on the cable shift. Your post is confusing in regards to what you currently have and what you have aquired to repair.