Re: [OMC-Boats] updating engine and outdrive?

From: Sam Kamphoefner <skamphoefner@...>
Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 12:00:50 -0500

It also depends on what engine you have. If you have the V4 2 stroke any stern drive from a Johnson Caprice or Evinrude Playmate will work. You can find junk boats for cheap. Maybe even small stern drives up to 1977. Others may know more. Many parts are still available.

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 12, 2015, at 11:10 PM, Jeff Dood <doodja100@...> wrote:
>
> My beloved ’65 Johnson Deluxe got beat to hell last season. On top of some major hull dings from a treacherous marina, I hit something at the end of the season and knocked out the lower unit.
>
> In my region there's literally about 1 guy I know of who can or is willing to work on such an old OMC stringer. The lower unit has to be replaced - can’t be “rebuilt” he says. Being vintage, that to me equates to waiting for something used yet decent to come up somewhere in the country on Ebay or Craigslist. And how will I know it will be “decent” until I pay big bucks, ship it to me, and try it out.
>
>
> I’ve put a ton of time and money into the rest of this boat. I’ve completely re-done nearly everything. Re-wired, dash, seats, paint, everything. The engine has been one big headache. Over maybe 7 years of ownership and toiling away, I’ve had about 1.5 good seasons of not having some engine issue to chase down and spend money on. It’s pretty good now, but still was having random crazy things happening last season. I’m kind of sick of it.
>
> I love the boat. But mainly for it’s cool look. It’s not a restore and never will be. I could honestly care less about keeping the engine and stringer original.
>
>
> So my question is this. Is it even possible to completely “update” the engine and outdrive in a Johnson Deluxe? In other words, i”m picturing some sort of retrofit of a “crate” motor and maybe a mercruiser outdrive or something? In other words something “new” that I know would start right up every year, not overheat, wouldn’t have a carb, etc etc. I would not be attempting to do it myself, I’d have to hire some place. Before I even ask around to boat places who will likely barely be familiar with a Johnson Deluxe, among the experts here - Is this even possible?
>
> Or is that something that would require major hull modifications - I’m thinking particularly at the transom hole and boot situation. And would I be swapping my engine reliability problems for transom leaking problems?
>
>
> thanks for any input. Maybe I’ll get lucky and someone on this list has actually done this already.
>
> I know I could maybe locate a lower unit and solve the outdrive problem. But again, I could do all that and have a season of engine problems anyway. I’m just kind of over it all.
>
>
> Thanks! Jeff
>
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Received on Wednesday, 13 May 2015

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