Just bought a 1978 Fiberform with a chev V8 and OMC outdrive. I've
owned several ocean boats in the past, but they always had either Merc
or Volvo outdrives. Is this OMC outdrive any good? I'm real insecure
with this thing and am considering changing over...but that is pretty
expensive so am looking for advice on keeping or getting rid of the OMC
outdrive.

dave wrote:
: Just bought a 1978 Fiberform with a chev V8 and OMC outdrive. I've
: owned several ocean boats in the past, but they always had either Merc
: or Volvo outdrives. Is this OMC outdrive any good? I'm real insecure
: with this thing and am considering changing over...but that is pretty
: expensive so am looking for advice on keeping or getting rid of the OMC
: outdrive.


With a 1978 boat, it'd cost you several times the boat's original cost to
replace the outdrive. The engine is pretty standard. The outdrive is old,
like the boat but if you take care of it, it should last (annual gear oil
changes for example). I have a 1982 OMC and it's been reasonably reliable
(one spun spline shaft after about 20 years). It's an old boat and it'd
be way too expensive to change out the outdrive.

Additionally, OMC outdrives of that year are stringer mounted vs. transom
mounted as Mercruiser would be. You'd have one helluva hole to cover up
if you change to Mercruiser.

b.

There's a reason you don't see any more omc stringer drives :-)

wrote in message
roups.com...
dave wrote:
: Just bought a 1978 Fiberform with a chev V8 and OMC outdrive. I've
: owned several ocean boats in the past, but they always had either Merc
: or Volvo outdrives. Is this OMC outdrive any good? I'm real insecure
: with this thing and am considering changing over...but that is pretty
: expensive so am looking for advice on keeping or getting rid of the OMC
: outdrive.


With a 1978 boat, it'd cost you several times the boat's original cost to
replace the outdrive. The engine is pretty standard. The outdrive is
old,
like the boat but if you take care of it, it should last (annual gear oil
changes for example). I have a 1982 OMC and it's been reasonably reliable
(one spun spline shaft after about 20 years). It's an old boat and it'd
be way too expensive to change out the outdrive.

Additionally, OMC outdrives of that year are stringer mounted vs. transom
mounted as Mercruiser would be. You'd have one helluva hole to cover up
if you change to Mercruiser.

b.

JamesgangNC wrote:
: There's a reason you don't see any more omc stringer drives :-)
Actually, the reason is that the Volvo Penta and Mercruiser patents expired
and allowed them to change the drive to a gimbal mount vs the ball gear mount.

See the article regarding "Trivia Question" for further explanation.

b.

Why did you buy this thing?
The tilt mechanism and tilt motor are prone to failure$$$$$. The transom
seal lasts only a few years$$$$$. You have to baby the ball gears or they
will wear out$$$$$. Internal spline shafts rust out$$$$$. It's hard to keep
these things sealed, but they dont seem to mind having a little water mixed
with the gear oil. Water pumps last a long time but when they go$$$$$. Some
of the steering systems are irreplaceable?????. Used replacement assemblies
are$$$$$$$. Intermediate housings rot out$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. There aren't too
many mechanics that will work on these things. OMC is out of business.
JIMinFL
"dave" wrote in message
oups.com...
Just bought a 1978 Fiberform with a chev V8 and OMC outdrive. I've
owned several ocean boats in the past, but they always had either Merc
or Volvo outdrives. Is this OMC outdrive any good? I'm real insecure
with this thing and am considering changing over...but that is pretty
expensive so am looking for advice on keeping or getting rid of the OMC
outdrive.

JIMinFL wrote:
: Why did you buy this thing?
: The tilt mechanism and tilt motor are prone to failure$$$$$. The transom
: seal lasts only a few years$$$$$. You have to baby the ball gears or they
: will wear out$$$$$. Internal spline shafts rust out$$$$$. It's hard to keep
: these things sealed, but they dont seem to mind having a little water mixed
: with the gear oil. Water pumps last a long time but when they go$$$$$. Some
: of the steering systems are irreplaceable?????. Used replacement assemblies
: are$$$$$$$. Intermediate housings rot out$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. There aren't too
: many mechanics that will work on these things. OMC is out of business.
: JIMinFL

I don't believe what you have stated above.
I have a 1983 OMC outdrive that is of a very similar design. The transom
seal has *never* been replaced and is still working. The ball gears have
*never* been replaced and work fine.

I've had one failure that required me to take it to a mechanic in the last
23 years.

barry

But they changed, didn't they? The thing is a fiasco and they abandoned it
as soon as they could..

wrote in message
roups.com...
JamesgangNC wrote:
: There's a reason you don't see any more omc stringer drives :-)
Actually, the reason is that the Volvo Penta and Mercruiser patents
expired
and allowed them to change the drive to a gimbal mount vs the ball gear
mount.

See the article regarding "Trivia Question" for further explanation.

b.