rookie boater needing information

[jasoutside]

Re: rookie boater needing information

IMP, how about you shoot up a few photos for us and we can check out what you have there. Pics sure help, eh!

Cheers!

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

sry bout not havin any photos yet but the boat and engine are at my dads bout 20 miles away i will take pics next time i go over there but till the i was seein how much infor i could get till then...the boat is a 1972 IMP cuddy cabin maybe INCA not sure yet.... the sterndrive is identical to the pic posted above ...me and my dad have been going back and forth on this project and we cant seem to find any problem with doing this because the engine will mount up perfectly ...the only thing we have to do is bock it up to where it will mount correctly ..i know that will b a little bit of precision wrk but all we have is time ...more time than money so tryin to wrk with what i got right now

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: rookie boater needing information

IMP's were good boats..Iona Molded Plastics I believe...heavy solid boats.

You may have an Inca indeed.I had an Aztec, a 18 ft tri-hull
..Before you go further, are you & dad sure the transom is solid, not rotten from water intrusion? Soft spots on the deck?

I do understand the time and money deal...I hardly have either it seems!

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

lol yea time is usually something i never have but ever since this boat stuff ive had all sorts of time for it...straight from work to the boat...weird huh? the transom is in great condition the whole boat is in awesome condition especially considering it is almost 40 yrs old..i am so anxious about getting it into the water but i am not goin to rush into that..if it takes me till next summer that is fine because i want the first run to run...not mess up and have to be towed to the dock ....once again thanks everyone for ur input ..it is greatly appreciated i am getting a better perspective on everything .....but i am still wanting to know if anyone has ever tackled this project or if it is even plausible ....

 

[jasoutside]

Re: rookie boater needing information

No photos, no sweat.

Basically, if you have one of these...

...and one of these...

...they do not work and play well with one another! Two entirely different systems.

What you will really need to do is find yourself one of these...

You'll also need to deal with this giant...

...which won't work at all with either one of those Merc items.

I hope at least some of that makes sense.


Moving forward with the project you have on your hands will likely take a lot of time and a lot of money. You'll probably spend less time and less money by going with that last option I outlined up there (so long as you play your cards right).

Though anything is possible given enough resources, eh!

All the best

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

ok pics awesome.....exactly what i have as far as engine and drive...but still noone has told me why i cant combine these 2 ...if they will bolt up why will it not wrk ????what are the consequences? i understand that mercruiser is built for mercruiser and omc is built for omc but if they bolt up the same why are they not compatible ?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: rookie boater needing information

I am certain one of the pros around here can give you the gist on that.

Cheers!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: rookie boater needing information

There's really no inherent reason a Mercruiser engine would not mate up with an OMC outdrive. I will say this however, I don't know enough about the old OMC sterndrives, other than to say my brother had one - an old electric shift that I worked on for him on occasion. It had a Ford 351 engine. It seems that most of the old OMC's that I have seen favored the Ford engines.

You say you bought yours with no engine at all. Are you sure the Chevy block with bolt up?

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

yes bolt patterns are the same ....i was jus wonderin if anyone had ever done this before..i guess im kinda on my own ...but i will keep evry thing i do posted on here and take pics to let every1 see and know if it works..

 

[Fishermark]

Re: rookie boater needing information

It's not just "bolting up" that you need to worry about. It is the exhaust, etc. as well. Do you have any components at all from the original set up? Unfortunately I don't know enough about the specifics of the swap to tell you what to watch out for. Just know you have a big (and probably expensive) project in front of you.

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

as far as the exhaust goes if it doesnt fit (which i think it will from takin a look at it) i have the tools and and experience to bend new pipes or do whatever i have to do... o yea n by the way i jus wanted to thank all u guys again for the info...this site is awesome

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: rookie boater needing information

For the lack of a better intro... Rookie mistakes do not make for a good boating experience.

OMC outdrives are notorious for problems and are spendy to fix. Mercs have their problems too but are generally more "backyard mechanic friendly".

You will need to determine what you have. Not "just parts" but if the 120 OMC drive matches up to a similar Merc 120/140 engine. Just because the Merc engine is the same does not mean a bolt up is all you need. Mounting is different in both. alignment is a far different picture and lastly electronics such as ignition may not be the same.

You might have bit off a hard steel bolt here my friend. Don't know about your marine engine experience but that you bought a Merc engine for an OMC outdrive does not bode well in the brilliance category. That has been skirted around in the posts before this.

ALL THAT SAID; the job is not impossible. Plan on spending LOTS of money to adapt and make shift the exchange. If your 120 OMC engine is replaced by a 120/140 Merc motor your chances are better but you are not out of the woods for trouble.

As said before... Good luck and please do us all a favor.... Don't get careless or unsafe with your retro job. You and your families lives may depend on your abilities. It's a serious matter!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: rookie boater needing information

For the lack of a better intro... Rookie mistakes do not make for a good boating experience.

OMC outdrives are notorious for problems and are spendy to fix. Mercs have their problems too but are generally more "backyard mechanic friendly".

You will need to determine what you have. Not "just parts" but if the 120 OMC drive matches up to a similar Merc 120/140 engine. Just because the Merc engine is the same does not mean a bolt up is all you need. Mounting is different in both. alignment is a far different picture and lastly electronics such as ignition may not be the same.

You might have bit off a hard steel bolt here my friend. Don't know about your marine engine experience but that you bought a Merc engine for an OMC outdrive does not bode well in the brilliance category. That has been skirted around in the posts before this.

ALL THAT SAID; the job is not impossible. Plan on spending LOTS of money to adapt and make shift the exchange. If your 120 OMC engine is replaced by a 120/140 Merc motor your chances are better but you are not out of the woods for trouble.

As said before... Good luck and please do us all a favor.... Don't get careless or unsafe with your retro job. You and your families lives may depend on your abilities. It's a serious matter!

Ummm backyard....

He bought a Merc 260 to replace (fill in the blank cuz we dont know) whatever was in there before...We dont know if it was a 4 banger 120/140 or a 351...THAT is the missing link

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

my guess would be that there wasnt a 4 banger in there before ...the plate on the boat says its rated for 245 hp ..now i know i have a 260 hp engine but i dont plan on beatin the hell out of this boat and race it or top it out or anything like ....i really hop this project works out so that people with omc sterndrives dont have to worry about tryin to find an omc engine because i cant find one for nothin...

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: rookie boater needing information

Is there ANY way of contacting the previous owner to find out what WAS in there??

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

previous owner had no clue and gave up on it because he was in this same situation......or should i say "in the same boat" lol

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: rookie boater needing information

previous owner had no clue and gave up on it because he was in this same situation......or should i say "in the same boat" lol

well...ya have gumption..lol...One mans heartache is another mans dream..

Can you take a pic maybe this weekend inside the boat showing the transom and everything you have back there coming through?

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

well most likely i will have pics up tomorrow because i wont end up having to work tomorrow ..so i am going to lower the engine down in there and see what im up against ......hope all goes well i will keep yall updated

 

[1972IMProokie]

Re: rookie boater needing information

well of coarse i couldnt get around to getting any pics of everything today...but i was thinking instead of bending pipe for my exhaust maybe jus cut some holes n do through the hull exhaust..does anyone have any objections to that ? what are the downsides to this? will there b enough back pressure with the exhaust being a little shorter???

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: rookie boater needing information

Since I am not versed enough on this I will offer this one bit of advice..

Ask a mod via PM to change your title on this thread to something like.

Want to mate Merc 260 to OMC OD


Theres guys that have done this that will chime right in..I think the title misleads some guys and they dont read enough to know the kind of help you need.