lower unit interchangeability

crang

Recruit
Joined
Mar 17, 2002
Messages
2
I have 1979 johnson 85hp V4 with cracked lower. I bought a used lower from a guy on ebay and he said it would fit any of the v4s from 1979-1990. Well, it didn't fit. Mine has a longer shift rod with threads on the end that goes into the lower while his has some kind of hydraulic shift. Also the bolt holes don't even line up. I would like to sell this thing but I don't know what it will fit. Can anyone please help me find out what this will fit on. P.S. My local marina was not very helpful. They won't even look at it.
 

CAPTBLACKSMARINE

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 26, 2002
Messages
198
Re: lower unit interchangeability

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE MUCH OF A LOCAL MARINA,HOPEFULLY THEY DO NOT HAVE GOOD REASON TO ACT THIS WAY,LIKE YOU WOULD NOT BUY ONE FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE A HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE THAN THE ONE ON THE INTERNET. ANY WAY WE NEED MORE INFO TO TELL YOU FOR SURE WHAT IT FITS. THE COVER THAT GOE'S ON THE GEARCASE THAT THE SHIFT ROD GOE'S THROUGH DOE'S IT HAVE 4 BOLTS HOLDING IT ON OR 6 IF IT HAS 4 IT IS DEFINETLY OLDER THAN A 1978 OR EITHER IT IS FOR A SMALLER MOTOR.WHAT DOE'S THE TOP OF THE SHIFT ROD LOOK LIKE? DOE'S THE GEARCASE HAVE A SPOT FOR A ZINC MADE IN IT? IF IT DOE'S IT WOULD BE LOCATED ABOVE THE SPOT WHERE THE TRIM TAB GOE'S. YOU SAID YOUR MOTOR IS A 1979 , ARE YOU SURE ? MAYBE YOU HAVE A GEARCASE FOR A 1979 AND YOUR MOTOR IS A YEAR OR SO OLDER . WHICH BOLT HOLES DON'T LINE UP? DO ANY OF THEM LINE UYP ? HOW MANY WATER TUBES COME OUT OF THE TOP OF THE WATER PUMP HOUSING? AND WHAT DOE'S THE KEY WAY LOOK LIKE THAT HOLDS THE IMPELLER IN PLACE ,IS IT METAL OR PLASTIC? AND HOW MANY SPLINES ARE ON THE DRIVE SHAFT?
 

crang

Recruit
Joined
Mar 17, 2002
Messages
2
Re: lower unit interchangeability

The cover for the shift rod has four bolt holes. The top of the shift rod has a small cylindrical end threaded on to it. I do not see a zinc. It didn't come with a water pump housing but it had the metal plate that the impeller rides on that looks identical to my 1979. It has a quarter moon key on the drive shaft(woodruff?) for the impeller. It has 20 splines on the drive shaft. None of the bolt holes line up and I measure the machined surface where the unit bolts up and it is 20". My old one is 22"
 

CAPTBLACKSMARINE

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 26, 2002
Messages
198
Re: lower unit interchangeability

FROM WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME THE GEARCASE YOU HAVE IS FOR A 1977 AND OLDER V-4 .IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY IT WILL FIT FROM 1975 -1977 I MAY BE OFF A YEAR IN EITHER DIRECTION ,BUT IT WILL NOT FIT ANYTHING NEWER THAN A 1978 FOR SURE .
 
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