Which motor to purchase – if any

[jerry-ahrens]

One thing I would do before buying any of those, is do a compression test. While the Big twin [Javelin] is a great motor, it could have been overheated and scored a cylinder. Same goes for the Mercs. It’s hard to beat any of the 30, 35, or 40 OMC engines. Parts are easy to come by and many parts are still readily available new. As Steve said, the inline Mercs are great runners too, especially the inline 4 cylinders. If you want speed, the Mercury motors will deliver. When properly tuned and set up, they are excellent running engines. Here is my 1961 Merc 500. I like it so much, it stays with me in the office at work!

---

Attachments:

[mas]

FYI The Javelin looks to be a 1956 30 HP if that makes any difference. NOte the script on the cowl chrome.

It should be easy to convert back to standard shaft length with used parts easily available.

What is the HP rating of your boat? Any tags on your boat?

Mas

[fleetwin]

yeah, each brand has its advantages. Do you homework before buying any of them….Compression, gear lube, checking for overheat, broken/bent castings and missing parts….

[frankr]

Assuming you will be running forward steering and controls, the Mercs will accept Push-Pull steering cables through the tilt tube, while the Johnson will be happier with cable/pulley steering systems. Either system will work on any of them, but are better as I just suggested.

[reivertom]

Personally, I would keep looking because you will eventually find a Johnson or Evinrude in better condition than these for sale. I see them all the time with a lot less work to be done than any of the motors you have pictured and some have controls and tanks with them. Just be patient and keep scanning the Craigslist and other semi-local web sources. Just a few days ago I saw several decent 35 hp motors for sale in a decent driving distance from me. I would rather have to drive 200 miles for a nice survivor motor than to have to totally rebuild one, if I wanted to get in the water this summer. Just my $.02.

[Casey Lynn]

Am a dyed in the wool Johnson and Evinrude fan. Having said that……any of these engines, properly brought back into service should be stellar performers on that hull and long lasting as well. Would pick up more than one with the Javelin being one of the engines purchased.
Once purchased the Javelin will also be your easiest engine to get your feet wet with. The Mercs will provide more horsepower and a different learning curve in bringing them back to service.
Do your basic checks to make sure they turn over, have compression and are as complete as possible.

[crosbyman]

Or you could raise the transom 2 inches… not to hard to do

just add a filler peice of wood (elm) , a cross plate inside the boat and a transom plate 3/4 marine plywood outside. Botlt everything up and you are done…esthetics aside

http://boatinfo.no/lib/johnson/manuals/ … on.html#/0

lots of RD experts also on AOMCI site 🙂

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[lindy46]

As stated before, the Javelin is easier to work on and with just normal tools. I had a 1961 Merc 45hp which was a great motor and always ran well. However, I had to buy special tools just to change the impeller and to get into the gearcase. So I would tend to stick with the OMC motors if you want to work on it yourself.

[jimaz]

Wow! Thanks everyone for all the insights and advice. The following is the text from the owners advertisement plus a few more pic’s. I am not interested in the 650, but thought someone out there might.

1956-58 Mk 55 Thunderbolt 40 hp, manual start only. Ser. 1096388.
1956-7? Johnson Javelin 35 hp. With controls and cool steering wheel.
1968 Merc 650, 65 hp. Ser. 2349336. Bought from a guy who had it stored in his living room and said it ran like a beast but who knows. I bet that it did so I bought it.
1961 Merc 500, elec and manual. Ser. 1555147.
1960-61 Mk 58A, elec and manual. Rebuilt carbs, transom clamp, Mag gone through and checked out. New recoil spring but needs tinkering, needs a couple of wires replaced or taped up, has lower end.

---

Attachments:

[jimaz]

I also thought the Javelin might be the way to go, even with it looking the roughest of the bunch and being a long shaft that could be converted back. But, if as opposedtwin noticed that it is actually a 30 hp 1956, I do not think it would be enough motor for me. My boat is set up for short shaft.

The plan for the boat ( Crestliner Sea Scout ) is to return it to something that looks fairly period, but with my own spin. It will be for weekend exploring/cruising in area lakes with friends and family. Maybe tow a tube here and there with the grandkids when they are a little older.

Will not be able to see these motors in person till the weekend. Opposedtwin, I can look into the 55 for you if you are interested. Let me know.

I am going to do all the work on this project that I can myself. I am, of course, a little intimidated at the prospect of tearing down and rebuilding an outboard. But feel if I take my time, work in a logical sequence and hopefully draw from all of the members knowledge, I can have a great outcome from this journey.

---

Attachments:

[Author]

Posts