Re: Would this work?
I have a 1972 Johnson 65hp also. I wanted to do the same swap, so that my motor would have a built in tilt tube. I checked with my local OMC/BRP dealer and was told that it won't work.
After reviewing the parts on both motors, it looks to me like the key to doing this, would be an ability to use the arm and shaft assembly and the mounting bracket, from the older motor. This is true because those are the mounting points for the exhaust housing adapater (top) and the outer exhaust housing (bottom). As Chinewalker says, the issue is whether or not the shaft section of the arm & shaft assembly is the same as the one on the newer engine. It would have to be the same diameter, the same length, and it would have be constructed the same way, at the point where the mount bracket attaches to the bottom of the shaft. On the diameter and length issues, its not just a matter of fitting the basic dimensions of the swivel bracket - all of the seals and bushings for the newer motor have to fit correctly on the older shaft too.
To better visualize what I have just explained, you can look at the parts explosions provided at shop.evinrude.com.
While it would be nice to have T&T on the 65hp, there is one advantage of the older motor. Because the 65hp doesn't have a built in tilt tube, it requires an steering adapter that must be fastened to the transom. That being the case, if you ever hit something and break the swivel bracket, the motor can not drop low enought to submerge it, because the transom adapter and steering arm won't let it travel that far. Having actually had this happen to me, I am glad that I wasn't able to make the change, because it saved my motor!
