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

From: Jeff Dood <doodja100@...>
Date: Sun, 17 May 2015 10:03:16 -0700

wow - nice job! it looks like a brand new boat as well Yeah, i’d love to have that in my boat, but the modifications and the cost of that kind of scares me.

> On May 13, 2015, at 2:22 AM, Pedro Falcão <pedro-j-falcao@...> wrote:
>
> Hi
> Yes it is possible and I did it in my 69 Johnson Seasport with a new mercruiser 4.3 V6. But it costs a fortune to do it as you have to completely modify the transom hole, power steering and adapt all the electric stuff
> I did it because I love the boat. It drives like a new boat in a beautiful portuguese lake
> Regards
> Pedro
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> Enviado do meu iPhone
>
>> Em 13/05/2015, Ã s 00:10, Jeff Dood <doodja100@...> escreveu:
>>
>> 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 Sunday, 17 May 2015

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