1985 2.6 liter OMC SeaDrive options

[mtsinner7868]

It seems a newly developed issue has appeared along with electrical issues with this 1985 2.6 liter OMC SeaDrive, hyd steering, x-long. Got a dead cylinder 0, 90, 94, 90, 89, 90. And it appears there were past issues with #1 as the spark plug is sleeved !
Working on junk is not what I really want to be doing here in Daytona.... Fishing is ! I work on junk the other 8 months a year I'm at home. But I will if I have to to be able to go fishing. Now with that in mind, my questions now are:

1. What power head options do I have for swapping should I decide to just go that route ?
2. Being very mechanically inclined, and realizing that I don't know/remember what I don't know/forgotten....been 25 years since I tore one of these completely apart, what other options advice does anyone have so I can get back to fishing on this boat with the least amount of pain and wrenching?

Ya, I know.... $15K and a new Yamaha would solve this problem the quickest......

 

[racerone]

Well done in doing the compression test.-------Should have been done before you spent the coins on this boat.---Pull cylinder head as there is a chance ( slim ) it is a head gasket.--A rebuilt powerhead out of the box is one option.------Or a new 4 stroke ( may need a transom bracket ) will save you lots of coins over 10 years of operation.

 

[dingbat]

Do yourself a favor and go with a 4 stroke over a new power head.

Lost my power head to corrosion 2 weeks before a big tournament.
After not as much consideration as I should have, I went the short block route to save time and a couple of bucks, or so I thought.

Fast forward 5 years and I certainly would not do it again.

When all was said and done, I didn’t save as much as hoped over a low hour 4 stroke. I’m also stuck with a great running motor of no intrinsic value when it comes time to sell the boat.

 

[mtsinner7868]

Ya, she's toast..... no saving this one. Corrosions a mofo. #5 wasn't very far behind either, looked bad (if my numbering is correct). Didn't pull port head but I'm sure it looks the same.

I bought the boat for the solid boat it is and almost new trailer. Was a steel ! Planned on hanging a newer outboard on the bracket, but just got lucky with getting this one running good for a month with only a days time invested. Thought I might have been off the hook for a newer motor.... ya, I'm not that lucky !

So moving forward, it just doesn't make any sense investing in a rebuilt powerhead and electronics, I'd rather put those biger dollars into a newer 4 stroke or low hr 2 stroke which I have a couple great options for here. ALSO, I'm only looking for a couple few winters out of this setup, therefore I'm not apposed to swapping out a complete working powerhead if I run across one at the right price point. Just need to know what will swap out. And that might even be less work at the end of the day.... Thoughts ???

 

[Faztbullet]

If its a salty dog nuts/bolts/studs/ lower unit could be siezed and break off.. Best find a late model freshwater motor and replace.

 

[mtsinner7868]

If its a salty dog nuts/bolts/studs/ lower unit could be siezed and break off.. Best find a late model freshwater motor and replace.

SOLD ! Head bolts were a corroded mess. Lower unit probably worse. Great call.