New toy... Sunbird 170 with a 2.3

Ranchero5.0

Ranchero5.0

The Voice of Reason
Jan 1, 1999
5,306
0
76
Hagerstown MD
#1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4561003565&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1

It's a boat, 17' bowrider with a OMC cobra 2.3l carb motor I/O setup. Bid on it and the reserve never hit so I emailed the guy and I'm getting it for $3000. Not a spoof or scam (though I did get a second chance offer from another member with the eBay message stuff... Cockbiters)

Plans are to figure out what it has (rated at 128hp) and see about swapping a TC 2.3 in this winter (one in the local shopper for $300) or at least fuel injecting it. Suposed to go pick it up Wednesday.

Any comments or ideas appreciated. This combo was only offered for three years.

Jamie
 
#3
I've heard that it's not advisable to put a turbo 2.3L in a boat, but I don't remember why. Somebody was discussing it on Turboford awhile back. I guess a supercharger is a better option.

At the same time, I have to wonder because there are a lot of jet skis with turbocharged engines in them these days. So I don't know.
 
#4
Turbo heat is the biggest issue / reason on and enclosed motor. Already have that under consideration. Most likely a custom water jacket with an air gap to the turbo so the water jacket doesn't rob the turbo's heat.

The ideal with a turbo setup is it only uses it when it needs it vs a blower always shoving air into the throttle plates. That way I'll make the power I need at a certain RPM loaded or empty. With a tuber or skier on the back you use a lot of power to get them up, then lower it as the boat goes on plane. The turbo should make that easier.

BTW, the first bowrider I got to play with was a '92 19' with a carbed 302 in it.

Jamie
 
#6
I just looked up the OMC 2.30 on my PartSmart system and it is indeed a Ford 2.3 according to all the exploded view diagrams and such.

Oddly enough, I worked on a boat that looked identical to that a few years ago. Only difference was it didn't have a 4 cyl in it.
 
#7
Got it home the other night. Well worth the money, boat looks like new on the inside and has some minor smudges on the vinyl graphics. Already pulled the sterndrive apart and reset to linkage so it has reverse now. Hope to have it on the water by Friday.

Jamie
 
#9
Stinger, I'm learning the sterndrive stuff pretty quick. This setup uses the small prop 13 spline setup. The sterndrive is pretty trashed from freezing up and water damage on the gears. Will a V6-V8 15 spline prop Cobra sterndrive upper / lower bolt up and will the motor shaft convert over easily (IE, could I swap the yoke on the U joint and have a 2.3 yoke on a 5.0 U joint / drive)? I know I'll lose a lot of gear ratio (2.0-1 on the 2.3, 1.46-1 or so on the V8), but they are more plentiful and I shold be able to make up for it with the prop selection. My cases are split / repaired and the skeg is tweaked. The bevel gears are hurting too so I figured it would be cheaper to find a good used V8 drive and install it. Then I can play with the motor without worrying about the drive failing. Thanks for any help.

The boat is in remarkable shape except the drive issues.

Jamie
 
#10
Well, I looked up the drives and they all have a different part # but "appear" the same as in, they would bolt on.

Most of the part #'s within the drives are the same, some of them are different though like the water pump impeller.

I would say you could use one of the v6-v8 drives if you did a little part swapping...
 
#13
If I go reman I'm looking at a 350 or 460 drive to handle any repower I may do down the road. Seriously just looking at drive on eBay until I have the money to drop on one. As with most things in life I'll find a cheap one as soon as I buy an expensive one.

Jamie
 
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