Identifying OMC drive

[swimmin' for shore]

I bought a used boat. It was a good deal, and I loved the hull. The motor and drive are unidentified. The previous owner had done something similar to what I did, buying it without knowing for sure what kind of condition the motor was in, and he couldn't recall any of the details after 5 years of having it sit in his yard. I know to get the numbers off of the engine block in order to identify the engine. The drive is some type of OMC, judging by the blue cannisters with OMC written all over them that are sitting to the left and right of the motor itself. The outdrive, though, is different than anything in my experience. Instead of the regular oval-like housing where it mounts to the transom, it's round, and larger than the oval unit. I don't know if this even matters, but I'm doing my best to learn. If anyone has any information on what this is, how to figure out what it is, or where I could go to find out, I'd really appreciate the help.

 

[Don S]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Can you post some pictures? Without even a year to start with, it's impossible to say what you have, or you may have a combination of engine from one manufacture and drive from another.<br />If the boat is on a trailer, perhaps you could take it to a marine dealer and they could identify it for you.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Hi Don. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm in the Navy, and currently floating the Pacific on another boat, so I can't post any pictures yet. The boat, though, is a 1967 Thunderbird. It's 21' according to the title. I know it's a cathedral hull, but that's all of the information that's there. Even the label plate back by the engine is gone. If all else fails, I'll take it in to the marina when I get back, but I'm trying to avoid them as much as possible. Government work and an angry ex have left me poor.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Does it resemble the one on this monster?<br />

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Boomar, Thanks for the reply. The housing, where it meets the boat looks just like this. I'm not home to compare point for point, but that round housing is exactly what I have. It's very possibly the same drive. What am I looking at now?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Unfortunately you cannot see the propeller in the above picture. It has a little plastic pointed tip on it. There are two varieties of 'stringer' mounted OMC outdrives. The one pictured above is an electric shift model, made thru 1977. You can see the exhaust port below the cavitation plate. <br /><br />The next generation, for larger boats, would have been the 800 hydro mechanical shifting model. It exhausted through a large port in the center of the propeller and did not have an exhaust port, as pictured above. They started in 1978 and remained (with mods) the form until some time in the mid '80's. <br /><br />The electric shift, as pictured, although nice in theory, is the least desirable of the lot.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

It the pic to the far right the plastic tip on the prop is visable.<br />Not very well, but it's there.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

LOL. Boomyal, you're everywhere. You're also in my area. If you want to make some money when I get back from sea, free up a weekend and you can come down and tell me what I'm looking at while I work on it. Just think, you can drink my beer, point, and swear at me and I'll do all the sweating. After it's said and done, we'll take it out salmon fishing in the sound. The only thing left will be to name you "dad"

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Someone is selling one on ebay that looks the same..maybe their pictures are clearer..<br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31270&item=4500571710&rd=1

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Yeah, JustMrWill, that shows the pre 78 electric shift unit clearly.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Again, the housing is just like the one on ebay there, but the difference is that mine has another hole just to the stbd side of the motor. The hole is smaller, and I believe it's the hydraulics for the outboard. A friend sent me a picture of another 67 thunderbird, and though it's smaller, it's the exact picture of what I have. I can't figure out how to post the doggone thing yet, though. The website is here. It's picture number 52, and I believe it's listed under 17-18 footers. As I said, this is a bit smaller. http://www.used-boats.net

 

[bomar76]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

As a service to a serviceman...here is the pic he referenced:<br /><br />

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Identifying OMC drive

Thanks bomar. Shoot me an email sometime and tell me how you did that. For that matter, teach me how to use the computer sometime. I hope I catch on to boatwork better than I caught on to this junkbox. Well, in my defense, I found all of you guys, so I must be doing something right!