| Author |
Message |
    
Phil Benner
New member
Username: muddriver
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 01:35 am: | 
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I have an '84 Marlin with the OMC 3.8 engine and 800 outdrive. Boat has some serious floor issues plus the two stringers have both split (long ways) about 3 or 4 feet(why?).I have access to a solid '87 boat that originally came with an OMC 5.0 engine and Cobra outdrive but they are long gone. How difficult would it be to swap my 3.8, 800 combination into this boat? New to boating; thats why I bought a rotting boat. Thanks |
Fastjeff
Senior Member
Username: fastjeff
Post Number: 4329
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 07:19 am: |
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Not too bad, seeing you have everything.
Jeff |
Phil Benner
New member
Username: muddriver
Post Number: 2
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 09:20 am: |
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Would this be a straight bolt in operation or would I have to fabricate the transom to make it work? Is the outdrive hole the same for a Cobra as it is for my 800? Motor mounts might have to be dealt with, what else would have to be considered to make this swap possible? Thanks everybody |
Morten Ringvold
Senior Member
Username: haffiman37
Post Number: 2667
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 09:59 am: |
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It is a new cut-out of transom, make new engine mounts, a lot of fun with glass fiber, not to mention installation of the new engine.
This is most definitely not a plug-and-play job!
A floor and stringer job is probably less of a challenge unless You have done engine swaps and installations before. |
Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat
Post Number: 251
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 10:02 am: |
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you would have to fabricate the transom. Once you fab the transom you would be better off going mercruiser rather than a downgrade to Cobra. Sounds like it would be a good boat to trash and part out if the stringers are gone. |
Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat
Post Number: 253
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 12:51 pm: |
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Oh Hang on - just reread your post..... I had it backwards...What you want to do actually fairly easy as the stringer hole is much bigger.... Just a case of setting the engine and itermediate in place and cutting the hole -as long as the new hull will accomodate that big of a hole (not interfere with stringers etc..) just need to make sure the anti-ventilation plate sits at the same height relative to the bottom of the new hull as it did on the old boat. Very important or the prop will ventilate.
However, the cobra hole is the same as mercruiser, so repower the solid boat with mercruiser drivetrain. Then you will have something. |
Phil Benner
New member
Username: muddriver
Post Number: 3
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 07:13 pm: |
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Just got back from work; thanks for all the great info in the posts. What it looks like is my engine with a Mecruiser outdrive would be a fairly simple (relative)task, pretty much straight bolt in. I have worked on vehicles not vessels, am I diving into something i going to regret? |
Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat
Post Number: 254
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 11:10 pm: |
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well the transom cutout is the same on a cobra boat vs. mercruiser alpha... but you want a donor boat - ideally a similar boat with a damaged hull or maybe cracked block (same engine as yours within a model year or so), because you'll want the controls and maybe steering...not sure if cobra and alpha steering the same... |
