Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

[talon8]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

I had the same fears as the OP and I went a different route and replaced my 1989 Cobra with an 1994 OMC Cobra SX. So far, I couldn't be happier. It shifts smooth as silk. I started the project a couple of years ago and the SEI conversion wasn't available yet.

 

[duke3478]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

The final part 4 is coming up. This swap was far easier than I expected. The instructions are good, not great, and if I es going just by what's in the book, I'd end up scratching my head a lot more. I did some things out of order with the manual that made more sense to me, and they worked out. Had to get out of the rain and wind before I could finish all the shift linkage adjustments and ESA modification, but the drive's on there and sure looks pretty.

My old drive is still for sale, too!

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

Excellent videos. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I always wondered how this conversion worked.

 

[duke3478]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

Excellent videos. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I always wondered how this conversion worked.

Thanks, buddy! It did make the install take twice as long, but there aren't any videos out there on it. It's easier than I thought.

Part 4 was shot after dark, so it's hard to see some parts. I'm gonna reshoot a little and repost.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

Sometime, somewhere there will be a person that is saved by the extra time you took to do these videos. Its a labor of love that's for sure.

I love the hull of my boat so much I may one day decide to pop off the cap and rebuild the transom so that I can convert to a Merc. setup. That is a pipe dream of course. It would make far more sense to part out my drive and various OMC parts while it still runs well and put the money towards something newer. I wish I didn't love it so much.

 

[sYnOnYx]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

Nice videos. Taking it to lake mead for the first test?

 

[shep247]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

I did this conversion 2 years ago. I had to cut a little extra off of the drive to get as much downward trim out of it as possible, and from lack of experience alone, I had some trouble getting the shifting right. After I got it dialed in, I haven't had a single problem with it. SEI did a great job with that conversion kit.

 

[subcrx]

Re: Biting the bullet- and converting to Merc!

Are you going to stick with that omc prop? Any possibily grinding that trim tab and being so close to the prop might cause cavitation?