How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

[frenchyboat]

Hello everyone,
I'm new on this forum, I live in France and i just buy a boat (Sea Ray 185 1969).
The boat is nice and ok.
The problem is that i buy it with an engine Chevrolet 230 3.8 L6 but i don't have all the mechanics of the outdrive Mercruiser.
I have the bell housing, the gimball housing, the transom plate and shift cable, the engine coupler is on the engine. I don't have the others parts.

Look at the pictures :
The engine :




The carburator :



The outdrive parts i have :


the transom plate :



Do you think it's possible to find the parts of the outdrive i don't have or to buy a new one or a used one which is adaptable for my engine?
What is the model of the outdrive i have?
Is it better to buy an outboard engine?

Thank you for your answers...

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: How can I do?

Re: How can I do?

It's going to be hard for any of us to say what you could find in France.

Does that engine run? Is it in excellent condition? If not, I would suggest a complete repower.

I don't see an exhaust riser on the engine.

Trying to find every little piece and ship from USA is going to be a long and tedious process.

places like dougrussell.com have online parts books, that could help you identify your model and make a list of every part you need.

The bellhousing would be easy to find, but lots of small parts could be tricky.

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do?

Re: How can I do?

Hello thank you for the answer, the engine looks good, we have opened it and it's all ok, we just wait to repair the starter to turn it on and see if it's ok.

I don't see an exhaust riser on the engine.

Is it what you talk about?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

no, that's the exhaust manifold. The riser is the piece between that and the exhaust horn of the transom plate.

That's an OMC manifold, btw. , not Mercruiser.... so you would have to figure out which OMC manifold that is and buy an OMC riser that fits it. And then try to use marine exhaust hose to make it somehow connect to the exhaust horn of the transom plate.

There's gonna be plenty of these scenarios. You will just have to print out all of the parts pages and start comparing what you have to the diagrams.
If your time is worth nothing, then it's probably worth persuing.

If you value your personal time at all, it's probably better to just sell everything and buy a complete repower package.

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

Ok ok

I think this is the riser


And the transom plate


If I don't manage to reinstall this engine do you think that the most economical way is to instal an outboard engine?

This is my fisrt boat and i don't want to spend more than 3000 dollar in this plan. Of course i will buy an used engine because of my budget.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

If I don't manage to reinstall this engine do you think that the most economical way is to instal an outboard engine?

That rarely works to anyone's satisfaction. Although, it can be done, and has been done successfully, the success or failure of any particular hull is not known until you try it.
Big risk to take.

A boat with an inboard engine is designed for it's specific weight balance.

Reliable 150HP outboard plus bracket fabrication and mounting/controls etc for under $3K... I can't see it happening.
Maybe $10,000

 

[cooter2506]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

Am I seeing mercruiser engine and outdrive parts and then OMC parts also? Seems like a mis match of parts

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

I think the outdrive is Mercruiser.
About the exhaust system all is OMC, and there are two mercruiser parts on the engine.
Is it possible?

 

[Bondo]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

Is it possible?

Ayuh,... Probably Not....

You're Missing more parts than you Have now......

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

So it looks very hard to manage....
I am going to try to start the engine in a first time.
I know that my boat was also available with an outboard engine, so I hope it will be ok to adaptate the bottom of the boat to plug an outboard engine.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

I know that my boat was also available with an outboard engine

The 180SRV Slickcraft was ONLY available with an outboard. If you have a 180 with an i/o someone has already done a lot of modifying.

EDIT -The 180 isn't the same hull as the 175,185 or 195. It's the same styling and interior.

model ends in 0 = outboard
model ends in 5 = i/o

they are different boats, although similar

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

Ho sorry i didn't see that it was the 180.
Mine is a 185 i/o.

First mechanic problem : the starter is dead

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

Hi every one,
some news about me, everybody is ok to say that this old engine won't be good to restaure.
so i'm going to see an used engine Volvo complete.
I will say you more about this in few hours.
Bye

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

So i buy a starter in order to try to start the old engine.
They propose me a complete engine with embase Volvo V6 (only 30hours) for 5 000 euros.
What do you think about it?
I think the price is negociable.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

for 5 000 euros.
What do you think about it?

Ayuh,... For 5 Grand, I'd think you could buy a Running Boat.....

 

[JustJason]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

I just did the math.... 5000EU is closer to 6600 US bucks.

And i'm with Bondo again... For 6600 bucks you should buy a running boat.

 

[frenchyboat]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

Hello,
I'm going to see this boat in some days, a Larson all american with outboard engine 70hp.
The price 5000 euros.
http://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/46355958.htm?ca=21_s
Do you think it's a good bargain?
Thanks

 

[meesh]

Re: How can I do? Engine Chevrolet 230 L6 with incomplete mercruiser outdrive

I dont know if it's worth 5000, but it's looking a lot better than what your working with now.