Re: [omc-boats] Re-powering Options

It was an 82 I believe. Just a simple carb no emissions. It was a 3.8 from a Buick regal. I didn't change anything behind the bellhousing.
I used a simple aluminum prop that had its share of abuse. If I remember correctly 32 or 34 sticks in my head as tops.
I sold it last year because I didn't have the time to enjoy it. I thought the power level was very appropriate for that hull.
Eric
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: lib1@...
  To: omc-boats@...
  Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 8:10 PM
  Subject: Re: [omc-boats] Re-powering Options

  Eric, just curious -- do you know what year and displacement your Buick v6 was? What was in your boat originally?
  Did you change the sterndrive?

  I realize putting more torque and power on the original electric stringer I/O will probably dramatically shorten its useful life. I'd be happy to get one or two gentle seasons out of it, then moving on to Phase II

  Re-Powering, Phase II would necessarily involve converting to a Volvo-Penta DP-S sterndrive to handle additional power. I think the classic lines of the boat could be well preserved with a Chevy V6/Volvo-Penta DP-S transplant, but it will entail glass work on the transom, conversion to mechanical steering, revised instrumention and wiring, and return fuel line for the EFI's electric fuel pump. It's a lot more work to re-power a boat than transplanting an car engine, for sure. Even though there's an endless supply of used Mecruiser Alpha's -- one will never push my OMC-built boat!

  I've got and tried wide range of props including the SST's (stainless-steel teflon-coated). I generally like to keep max RPM in the 4200 -4400 range.
  Most of the time I'm swinging a 14-inch dia x 15-in pitch stainless prop at the higher altitudes and loads I typically run. If I remember correctly, back in the midwest the E-rude boats arrived at the dealership where I worked with 18 or 20" pitch props on the V6 Sportsmans.
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Eric Graczkowski
    To: omc-boats@...
    Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 6:13 PM
    Subject: Re: [omc-boats] Re-powering Options

    Hi,
    I put a Buick V6 in my 66 sportsman. The bell housing and exhaust all bolted straight in.
    The consistency of EFI would be nice.
    Eric
    Oshkosh, WI
      ----- Original Message -----
      From: lib1@...
      To: omc-boats-digest@...
      Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 9:09 AM
      Subject: [omc-boats] Re-powering Options

      What's historically interesting is OMC/Evinrude/Johnson pioneered the now popular and common V6 engine in small boats. Looking back, now those I-6 stovebolt Chevy sixes that Mercrusier used sure wasted a lot of interior space!

      On the recent subject on Buick V6's.........
      I've been giving some thought to re-powering my 1966 Sportsman 150, 225 V6 and would welcome other's list members thoughts?

      I'm fairly confident the OMC stringer bellhousing will accomodate either the Buick - Olds - Ponitac bellhousing or the Chevy-style bolt pattern.

      This means the even-fire, counter-balanced, 90-degree Chevy 262 V6 should bolt in. A fresh Vortec 262 puts out 190 hp (carb) or 225 (efi). I think the biggest challenge will be routing the exhaust manifolds. I'm thinking I may route them thru the transom, rather than thru the sterndrive's underwater port.

      A small-block Chevy V8 305 or 350 would also no-doubt be an easy technical bolt in, but would intrude forward into the boat another 4-inches and require extensive fiberglass mods to the engine "doghouse."

      My other alternative is to take out the tired Buick 225 and rebuild the shortblock and heads or replace it with a 252 Buick even-fire V6. I'm not sure the exhaust manifold ports of the 225 match up with the 252's better flowing heads, anybody know?

      I know the whole idea of re-powering sounds crazy, but I like the idea of more power and the turn-key reliability of EFI. The odd-fire Buick sounds cool, but at 6500 - 7500 feet above sea level, it struggles a bit, especially with 4 - 6 adults on board.

      Any off-season, arm-chair captains, care to comment?

      Lee Shuster
      Salt Laker
Received on Tuesday, 25 January 2005