Can this swap be done??

[dskel1122]

I have a Merc I/O 3.0L 180 and it was badly abused from previous owner in that it will probably be visiting a scrap yard soon and I have been offered a Chevy 292 inline 6 (not 100% on specs yet will post when I get them) and I was curious if the swap is doable....will be getting full setup motor and outdrive. Biggest concern is the mounting angles and motor mounts. Boat is an 88' Dixie 21ft cuddy cabin. Any help/info would be greatly appreciated.

Been searching all through the forums and cant seem to find info on it...if there is posts on this already please steer me in the right direction.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can this swap be done??

I was curious if the swap is doable....will be getting full setup motor and outdrive.

Ayuh,... An All for All swap should be a Piece of Cake....

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Can this swap be done??

Piece of cake as Bond-o said and the boat will like the extra poneys and torque too. 3.0 in a 21 ft boat is a little underpowered anyway. just my opinion

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

Next question.....

The gimbal setup from old outdrive (Alpha 1) i still in place and would I be able to use that of need to remove and hope that he saved that part? Probably a dumb question but gotta ask the dumb ones every once in a while

Sorry I have been in the middle of a resto of a lil 16' boat and my big baby has been sitting for a LONG time waiting on a engine donor (actually waiting on the lottery!!! ) then this motor kind of fell in my lap and wanted to make sure it was worth it to do the work.

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

alright went down and checked out setup and got the chevy 292 and a OMC 800 stringer thrown in since he was going full outboard. After reading through the site I am not sold on the OMC 800....my question is what are my options on replacing outdrive??

Should I run with the OMC 800 as it is already setup to accept this outdrive or what modifications/setup would I need to get to run with say an alpha outdrive (if that is an option) thanks in advance for the help as always.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can this swap be done??

Ayuh,... In your 1st post you Never mentioned it's an OMC 292.... That changes Everything...

You Can't go mixing Mercruiser parts with OMC parts.... It's 1,.. Or the Other...

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

not trying to question you Bondo but....

Again might be common sense and end of subject but could I pull the intermediate housing from the 292 that links into the 800 outdrive and swap in compatible alpha coupler? If it is out of the question that is fine but just trying to investigate all avenues.

 

[Don S]

Re: Can this swap be done??

In your first post, you called it a Merc I/O 3.0L 180 my guess, is that it's a 180 alright, but it's also a Merc 470 and NOT a 3.0L engine with is a 140hp engine.
After saying all that, your OMC 292 V6 is a Chevy engine with the standard bellhousing mounting pattern. The 180 Mercruiser is NOT a chevy bolt pattern. and the couplers are also not Chevy bolt pattern.

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

ok I will put the dunce cap on now....

I wasnt paying attention one first post; it is merc 470 and is out of boat and being parted out as we speak as well as the alpha drive that was on there....with that said I got a 292 i-l6 sitting in the back of my truck that is setup for a OMC 800 outdrive....I swear I found a site last night (might have been in a dream!!) that had an engine coupler to go from my 292 to accommodate an alpha using the spline connection instead of the ball connections. (Actually looking into SE 106 from sterndrive.cc)

 

[Don S]

Re: Can this swap be done??

Getting the right coupler for the engine is't a big deal, you still need the right flywheel cover, and exhaust Y pipe that will bolt to your transom shield. Then you will need Merc manifolds and risers to match up with the exhaust Y. The Stringer setup will never work with the Merc Y pipe and exhaust system.

Also, can I assume you also meant a 262 cu. in. V6 instead of 292?

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

pm sent

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

i checked the GM stamp on the side (352194) and charted out to be a 292 Chevy

I dont have plans to use the OMC 800 stringer outdrive either...that is on its being sold as well.

My big concern is that from what I have read about the OMC 800 outdrive here on the forum it doesnt seem to have a good reputation....plus cutting transom to make way for the new outdrive isnt something I want to do when the transom is already setup for an alpha drive (will do if I dont think it would be worth it to try to run an alpha outdrive). BUT on other hand I really think that the new motor is a better fit for my boat as well and seems to have a pretty good reputation over my POS 470.

I thank you for helping and I'm sure you are strangling me through the computer screen!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Can this swap be done??

I guess I missed the part where you said inline 6, I swore it said V6, thus the reason for my replies.

1 the inline 6 is 2 cylinders longer than even the 470's front motor mount. Then you still have the problem with the exhaust lining up. It will be necessary to fabricate an exhaust tube to line up the I6 engines with a 180 exhaust tube, since the I6 used a 1 drive and transom plate and the 180 used a newer Alpha transom shield.

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

so sounds like my sawzall will be getting some transom cutting time in.....

 

[Don S]

Re: Can this swap be done??

so sounds like my sawzall will be getting some transom cutting time in.....

WHY???? You still have the front mount problem.
To go from a 470 to a stringer........................

Well, isn't that like jumping out of the frying pan, into the fire?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can this swap be done??

Well, isn't that like jumping out of the frying pan, into the fire?

Ayuh,... More like stepping from St. Peter's Pearly Gates,.. Straight into the bowels of 'ell.....
Refitting a hull with a Stringer Drive is Total Insanity....

it is merc 470 and is out of boat and being parted out as we speak as well as the alpha drive that was on there....

I'm confused,... Is there Anything left in the hull, or is it Stripped,..??

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Can this swap be done??

We have an I.D. problem I think.
1. OMC never used the 292.
2. OMC never put an inline six in front of an 800 series drive.
3. The only 6 cyl I6 OMC used was the 250 and it was mated to an electric shift drive.

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

the area for the front mount that I currently have I have about 4" of play front and back....when they glassed in mounting wooden blocks seems like they left room for "upgrades"....unless I am not understanding what you are getting at about the mounts.

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

I'm confused,... Is there Anything left in the hull, or is it Stripped,..??

engine and outdrive sitting on carport...only thing left in is inner/outer transom plate at this time....

 

[dskel1122]

Re: Can this swap be done??

We have an I.D. problem I think.
1. OMC never used the 292.
2. OMC never put an inline six in front of an 800 series drive.
3. The only 6 cyl I6 OMC used was the 250 and it was mated to an electric shift drive.

I took the GM casting number on the side of the engine block (352194) and cross-referenced...which is where I was under the impression that it was a Chevy 292

http://www.speedprint.com/deves50/castingnos.php