Repower I/O Qs.

Hammerhead

Hammerhead

Senior Member
My 165 inline 6 finally croaked. I dunno if it's just a head gasket or worse but since it's over 30 years old I figure it's time to repower. Question is..just replace the 6..go with a V-8 ??? or is there a inline 4 available? Any tho'ts?
Power wise the setup now is OK...I'd like better economy...would a inline 4 be any better?

I also figure a whole engine/outdrive package will what I'll end up doin;....anything other than dumpimng 40 Gs in a NEW boat.
 
It all kinda depends. I don't know if a V-8 will just bolt into your current configuration. It might if the stringers are the same width. The V-8 motor mounts bolt into the top of the stringers. I wouldn't recommend going with a 4 cyl engine, you wouldn't like it too much I don't think. V-8's are the best way to go IMO. Now about 8 guys on here will tell you to put a bracket on it and slap an OB on there. Now, a new 200 hp OB will run somewhere in the $14,000 + range, new Mercruiser engine is about $5,000 and a brand new outdrive from Sterndrive Engineering is about $1200, you are way ahead with just repowering.
 
the v8 repower is the cheapest for hp way to go, check with ebasicpower, call for their repower specials, it changes faster than their website. If you really want to do something different, Yanmar has some diesel packages that will bolt up to a Mercruisr. Mercruiser has soem new ones out that would work as well, but they are all going to be expensive.
 
350m will fit in there but you going to have to do some work to get it in there!!

There gear ratio will be different the the leg you have now which will mean a rebuild.

As for some here saying to add a bracket, I am one of them!! Best thing you can do!! I had the same set up as you befotre I converted.

as for it being $14K for a outboard, thats one figure that has been done here for a 07 200 ETec
That doesn't mean thats the only way to go and that all motors cost that much!!

There are left over 2 strokes out there and I am sure you can find one for about $7 or $8 k

Will cost more to convert and bracket, but will out last, with much lower maintance then any I/O out there.
Will extend the season if you are in a cold area also!! With todays motors even the gas in a OB isn't all that bad!

I/O if thats what you like go for it, but converting is only as expenive as you want it to be!

Good Luck with what ever you do!!
 
Can't be a 350. be careful though with the 2000 era EFI. Look on craigslist I see one at least once a month for $1000 or under.
 
generally on the repower market, the 4.3s are the most expensive engine per hp available, last time I checked, the 5.0L MPI's @ 260 hp were the best bang for the buck. Personnaly, i would be looking at the 6.2 EFI repower package from Mercruiser @ 330 HP, but thats just me
 
Just dropped it off at the wrench. He's gonna see how bad it is. I can get it to run but, it's awful noisy. Clanking, grinding....not good. I drained the oil ( water in it) and added kerosene and oil, ran it for a minute and drained that out trying to flush whatever water was still in it. I think the main berings are toast. The wrench is suggesting I replace with the same motor if he can find one cuz the outdrive won't work with any other motor....otherwise a 5.7 whole package if I wanna repower completley.
 
some of the older transom plates had a different spread between the rear motor mounts for the 4/6 and the v8s, you will have to replace the inner plate to accomadate the v6/8( can't remember when they changed it to all the same 1982?). the simplest thing is to go with the same engine(250 L6). Theyare good engines, just getting hard to find, if you want to do something different, a 292 truck motor will slide right in there, its the same dimesions except height, its about 3 " higher, Mercruiser used to offer them with a 4BBl( thats why your intake has a flange for a 4BBl, and an adapter to a 2 BBL), rated at 200 hp, they were marketed for comercial use infront of the TR drive. I've seen several people convert their 250's to 292's( just been a while, its coming back slowly), they make a little more torque and HP. Change out your carb to a Q-Jet, buy a new exhaust bellows to make up the height difference(assuming the engine box will clear) and your on the way, with something completely different
 
ThanX for all the info and links. being as how the icw speed limit is 25 mph and sea isn't hardly ever smooth nuff to do 50 in a 20' boat I'm gonna pass on goin' with a 300hp anything....<would be fun tho'>...What I found is a rebuilt inline 6 from Doug Russel Marine. Then I can make use of the exsisting outdrive and other thingys. Anyone ever deal with'm? TIA.

I'm tempted to just start from scratch and repower with a whole package but, the cheap bastid side of me sez...NOooooooo!!!
 
Problem solved, get you one of these packages when they become available. Increased milage and plenty of power and TORQUE!!!!! And there pretty lightweight.
http://marine.cummins.com/public_cummins/content.jhtml?tlaId=1&anchorId=444&marketId=13&menuId=1

QSD%202.0.jpg
 
The main thing I would be think about with a "rebuilt" I/B motor is the fact that a saltwater cooled motor block has a limited life spand. Even the best rebuild does not repair the damage to the cast iron if the block has been used for years in saltwater.
 
jasper engines used to offer good rebuilt marine engines that came with a 1 year warranty for marine applications, haven't used one in a while, but had good luck with them in the past
 
Wrench ( highly respected shop) found a rebuilt longblock for 1500.oo and will do all the labor for another grand. That's alot cheaper than I tho't it'd cost.
I should have it back in a week or so. ThanX guys.
 
do yourself a favor and replace the riser and manifold while its off( unless you know for a fact its been replaced recently), check with Barr Marine, Osco, Aqua Power/Sierra for an aftermarket replacement. Its good insurance against future failure. Your probably a good canidate for an electronic ignition conversion, pertronix makes agood one for under $100, check the weights and springs in the distributor while you have it apart
 
76GMC1500 said:
That motor has horrible torque.  220ftlbs at 2600 rpm?  Your oringinal engine made 350 ftlbs peak and would probably have been close to 300 ftlbs by the Cummins 2600 rpm peak rating.
Click to expand...

Sure is purty tho'. Tell yas, I was real tempted to have'm install a 5.7 package dealio. I'm just too ...cheap. :-[
 
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