Spare Stern Drive

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

lol yep, missed that. Well the one in the pix is from a 3.0 seeing as how the engine is right there, and here are the gear ratios from my old OMC manuals:
2.3 liter Ford: 2:1 overall, upper 21:21, lower 13:26
3.0 liter GM: 1.71:1 overall, upper 21:18, lower 13:26
so the question really is, would you be able to compensate for the taller gear ratio of the 3.0 drive, by changing props to make it work with the 2.3? That, I can't say for sure.

I'm glad that you posted this because I didn't realize there were two different ratios between the upper and lower units. Like my other reply, I will look for separate units.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

A quick way to tell the difference in lowers is to measure across the bottom hub.

Older inline = 3.75 inches
V6-V8 & newer 3L = 4.25
King Cobra obviously bigger at 5.75

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

lol yep, missed that. Well the one in the pix is from a 3.0 seeing as how the engine is right there, and here are the gear ratios from my old OMC manuals:
2.3 liter Ford: 2:1 overall, upper 21:21, lower 13:26
3.0 liter GM: 1.71:1 overall, upper 21:18, lower 13:26
so the question really is, would you be able to compensate for the taller gear ratio of the 3.0 drive, by changing props to make it work with the 2.3? That, I can't say for sure.

Is the lower unit for the 3.0 stronger than the one for the 2.3? Just asking to help my search. If not I know what to do

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Just a quick note. If you have trouble getting your drive off then it's not properly aligned.
When I first got the boat it fought be every fraction of an inch but this time since I aligned it before the reinstall last year it slid right out without any effort.
Just hope someone finds this useful.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

After all the work I have done and that the boat is perfect for my wife and I, is this a worthwhile investment? Pricing various scenarios if this is a good option it makes sense.

 

[Don't Panic!]

What's that unit do for shifting? If it replaced all the cobra shifting stuff it may be worth it!

Earlier this year I installed an SEI lower unit on my cobra and so far it's been fine. It's was cheaper than paying someone to rebuild my old lower unit.

But that conversion is a lot more involved than just bolting on a new unit.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

What's that unit do for shifting? If it replaced all the cobra shifting stuff it may be worth it!

Earlier this year I installed an SEI lower unit on my cobra and so far it's been fine. It's was cheaper than paying someone to rebuild my old lower unit.

But that conversion is a lot more involved than just bolting on a new unit.

I've learned nothing is easy with OMC but when pricing used units and potential parts to rebuild mine it was an interesting option when I ran across this. I'm doing more investigating.....
I did come across installation videos.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

After further consideration I've decided to tear into my drive over the winter and see what is going on. I've never tore into one before and really want to see how it works internally, if I'm lucky it's just a dog clutch in the lower and bearings, seals in all.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Well....
I disassembled the lower gear case and everything looks good other than it was way past time for seals.
I did this because I had horizontal play to an 1/8" maybe 3/16" and the prop could be rotated a good third of a turn when in gear.
I also had it jump out and back into gear once when on the lake.
I did come to find out that the shift rod is adjustable which I didn't think it was because there isn't a nut under the fork like some other models I have seen pictures of.
I did notice that the prop bearing housing may not have been seated all the way in by a paint line still visible before the embossed area on the prop housing.
Does anyone have any thoughts on any of this? I'm all ears! .

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

After further examination I found this in the cutout area in the lower, could it be from the upper or old damage?
Everything in there now is intact.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

Lucky it didn't get chewed in the gears!

Could it be from the shift mechanism that moves the dog between the gears? Part #313448

Could explain coming out of gear.

Gears look great, how are the bearings?

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

The bearings operate smoothly, the pins appears to be in good shape. I'm wondering if some work was done on it years ago and some shims are missing???
The popping out of gear could be the shift rod adjustment but I never looked into it because it didn't look like you could(I need to print out my manual ).
The pin I have pictured is much smaller, from a bearing I imagine but tells me there is or was an issue.
I haven't looked at the upper yet.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

My little experience is with electric shift.

It's hard to tell the size of that broken piece, but it sure looks like the pin that goes through the middle of the shifter dog.
Take the retainer spring off and inspect the one that's there.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

It's magnetic so I'm not sure lol.
Picture against prop cotter pin for reference.
I used a magnet to retrieve it but can't believe it transferred the magnetism that quickly.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Tip from a drain plug?
That is what it is, remove lower plug when disassembling!
Greenhorn moment
Well that' part is solved, thanks @salvageyard saviour for making me look deeper.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

I took the covers off the upper drive and will need an input shaft seal but can someone give me some input on the gears please in regards to the contact of them.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

Can you take a picture of the wear pattern on them?

 

[salvageyard saviour]

Oops, I forgot you have a Cobra. Was thinking it was an 800. (Edit 400)

Maybe someone else can help with the upper.
I know a little about old mercruiser and older OMC , but this is a different beast.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

I'll try to get better pictures tomorrow, I am curious because I could hear whining from the top and the lowers don't have any wear marks on them.

 

[froggy1150]

Those gears look shot. You should have a nice polished oval mid gear. The pitting you see is most likely from too much pressure on those spots. We have these custom 4 foot wide gear/bearing sets like what a crane rotates on and that looks exactly like what happens to the gearbox output pinion when it's not shimmed right