Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

[otterby]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Well, I'm going to pass on the boat. I appreciate all the input, without you help I would have bought a real nightmare the way it sounds. Damn, that was a nice boat.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Unfortunately,


Some unsuspecting person WILL buy it.


Then they'll have what they think is a "minor" problem with it and/or they'll come here or some other boat board asking questions and someone will educate them REAL FAST!!!

 

[sethjon]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

But are they dependable? This boat looks to have been well maintained and has only 400 hrs on it. I know most everything eventually breaks, but with proper maintenance is this a dependible setup or am I going to have to swap in a mercruiser first thing. If so does anybody have a rough guess on the cost of swapping in a 454/Bravo setup? So far all I've learned is they have poor fuel consumption (it is a boat afterall), and a few people say not to buy because they have had bad experiences. What were the bad experiences?

If the motor was maintained it should be fine. The 460 has a bad rep but I believe its from people that abused or neglected it. Depending on price I'd go for it.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

If the motor was maintained it should be fine. The 460 has a bad rep but I believe its from people that abused or neglected it. Depending on price I'd go for it.

No, it has a bad rep 'cuz parts for it are non-existent. Some unsuspecting potential buyer like the original poster may buy this p.o.s. & be out of luck when something goes south on it.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

In case you are still considering it after what others said...DEAR GOD NO! NO! NO!

A king cobra, with the 460 engine, is the most obsolete of the obsoletes.

Don't know where you live but in CA the parts are readily available. Also, if this motor is maintained they run great.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

depends on what you buy the boat for and the replacement engine/drive.

It was worth it for me.

Amen!!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Don't know where you live but in CA the parts are readily available. Also, if this motor is maintained they run great.

Um..Try to buy 460 exhaust manifolds, coupler or electronic ignition module JUST to name 3 main SHOW-STOPPER parts............ They will be mysteriously back-ordered (FOREVER!)

 

[MPII]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

4.3 is a regular a cobra, which is more common and serviceable than the King Cobra. Also SEI at least sells the merc conversion for that! King Cobra is a dead end.

Not many people know this but OMC did make a 4.3 Kind Cobra Motor in 1988 and some other years. It was created to compete with the Merc. 4.3LX and, like the LX, it came with a 4 barrel carb rather than the 2. My dad had a 1988 Rinker 206 Captiva with a 4.3 OMC King Cobra and it ran great! In fact, our friend purchase an Merc Comparable in the exact same boat that year and the OMC was a faster motor by 8 MPH.

That being said, I'm not sure I would buy one today because of the same reasons a lot of other people have stated....out of business. I think they are just as reliable (i.e., things are always going to happen such as needing to replace impellers, etc) but when you need to find a part for a Merc., you can get it pretty easy. I have a 1992 Rinker 206 with the Merc. 4.2 LX and I've never had a problem finding a part.

 

[MPII]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Being the KING Cobra heck no! Run fast! It would have to be free for me to take it then i would part it out.
Just the water pump impeller that needs changed every couple years is about impossible to find.
I found one at a dealer that had one in old stock for one of my customers,150 bucks just for a 20 dollar part.
The 460 is a total pain to work on and REALLY no parts are available!

Please take our advice or it will end up costing you thousands...

Agreed here BUT all mercruiser manuals call for an impeller replacement every 2 years (actually, based on hours of use but....). Regardless, parts are hard to get, even on ebay.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Not many people know this but OMC did make a 4.3 Kind Cobra Motor in 1988 and some other years.

From 1987-1989 KING Cobra referred mainly to the drive. (The one that was behind a 460) The drive was bigger, heavier and held 108oz of drive oil. It was the only drive that big and it ONLY was available with the 460.


When they started offering the Interim (Pre-Volvo) cone-clutch drives, they started calling "other" stuff King Cobra (other than that related to the 460/454 BB engines).

It was just a marketing ploy for the most part. it didn't really mean much.

The key issue here is that the engine parts mentioned for the 460 BBF engine are just not available and will probably NEVER be available because as the years go on, there's less and less of them on the market as people get smart and get rid of them.

Even the "one-off" coupler mods and $3000 exhaust systems will be more and more scarce because the companies that will might currently make them now don't want them sitting on the shelf because it hurts the bottom line.

 

[MPII]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

From 1987-1989 KING Cobra referred mainly to the drive. (The one that was behind a 460) The drive was bigger, heavier and held 108oz of drive oil. It was the only drive that big and it ONLY was available with the 460.
QUOTE]

I agree that it was primiarly to the drive, however, OMC did offer what they called a "king cobra" becuase it came with upgraded options, i.e., carb, intake, etc.

Check this out, they even make a manual for it today:


http://www.selocmarine.com/product_finder.php?Engine=7080

Product Details
Online Subscriptions Available $38.95 (US)

(Consumer 3 Yr)
1989 OMC 262 King Cobra/4.3L (262), V6

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Seloc is probably not a very good example to use for "evidence".........

They FREQUENTLY have gross errors in their "service" manuals. It's the main reason most of the people that do this stuff for a living suggest not using them and only using the OEM Service manuals.

They are pretty good for starting your wood stove though........

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Seloc sucks.

I have one of they're manuals for my 5.7 Cobra and it really really sucks. It gives you half of whatever info you need. Most of the diagrams and pics are so blurry or distorted they are useless.

I have read a few times in there that "OMC reccomends to do this but we recommend not to, or to do it this way, or whatever".

I'm waiting on my oem omc manual to come in the mail.

It looks so nice. The wiring diagrams are in color. The illustrations are actually useable. Can't wait.

 

[MPII]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Seloc is probably not a very good example to use for "evidence".........

They FREQUENTLY have gross errors in their "service" manuals. It's the main reason most of the people that do this stuff for a living suggest not using them and only using the OEM Service manuals.

They are pretty good for starting your wood stove though........

Ha! Good One!!! But really, the reason I brought it up to begin with is becuase My dad had one, it was an 89' Rinker and it was a special order motor. I once went to the local marina to get an oil filter and some other parts, and they didn't belive that the motor existed. I actually went home, hitched it up, and brought it in. They couldn't believe it, they offered me cash money for the boat right there. Upon further investigation, it was determined that there were very few of these motors manufactured.