Replacing upper unit

[dondduck]

Hi,
Three years ago, I blew the upper unit on my Great Lakes Special OMC 2.3L I/O. Unfortunately, I had a death in the family and I just put the boat in storage. I am just now getting around to trying to bring the beast back to life. I found a complete upper and lower unit on ebay for waaaaay less than the estimate I got to get this done at a marina. My questions are:
1) The unit is from a 89 OMC, mine is an 88. Should that matter?
2) Is there a seal kit that I need to mount it or is that only between the upper and lower?
3) Is it a big job putting this in or should I just take it to a marine mechanic?
4) What's the best way to test for leaks after installation but before I put it in the water (I hear sinking really sucks!).

thanks in advance...

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Replacing upper unit

If buying and using the complete drive from a 2.3 you should be ok. Bear in mind, the shift rod height setting for the lowers varies year to year, so some measuring and matching might be advisable, as well as reading the Stuart Cobra site stuff about lower shift cables and the importance of correct adjustment.

If wanting to just use the upper, some years of 2.3 used a 21:21 upper and a common 3.0 lower, other years used a unique 2.3 ratio Lower with a standard 3.0 upper (I forget the tooth count on that). I don't know when those changes took place, so I would recommend looking at the model number on the outdrive, or actually counting teeth if you just need the upper.

As far as not sinking, sounds like your boat has been neglected long enough that you should consider replacing the gimbal bearing and bellows and maybe the lower shift cable while you're in there.

 

[dondduck]

Re: Replacing upper unit

Thanks Howard. Yes, I know what you're talking about with the different gear ratios. Mine were the older style (I also can't remember the pitch) but I'm pretty sure that I replaced them. Hopefully, I didn't buy a lemon in purchasing this complete unit. You know how ebay buys can be. But, this guy had lots of transactions and a very high rating. Besides, for $440 including shipping, I HAD to buy it!