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Are these good engines or ones to stay away from. Found one here that has never been in the water and would like to know if they are good motors and what something like this is worth.

Gary

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21 YEARS OLD AND IT'S NEVER BEEN IN THE WATER? RUN DONT WALK AWAY FROM THIS ONE!

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I have a1990 88 SPl and it is a great motor. Solid simple reliable and STRONG. Down side it sucks gas, but other than that I am very happy with it.

never been in water? Ever? really?

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Hello Ice Cop, Why do you say this? Please share more info... Every manufacturer has models that are not quite up to par but the OMC V4... was close to bullet proof. I have not owned one (except for a late 60's model long ago) but my brother does (a 120HP mid 90's version ) Please share more info. From what I understand these were stripped down basic engines with no VRO. That V4 block was made for many years and I see many of them still going strong. Please share more details for all of us.

thx

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Man, there are tons of guys here that have found an old Whaler tucked away in a barn or field that hasn't run in years. With a little work, they were able to get the old motor running and are still using it.

I'd get the motor checked out and then buy it. My buddy run s an 88 on his 16' bass boat and it does well for him.

Where was the motor stored for that long?

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My point was if an engine is 21 years old and has never been in the water, someone is not telling the truth about something. Never been run in salt water sure, not run for quite a number of years, I'll buy that one too but never been in the water is too hard to believe for a 21 year old motor, if that's the case i'd ask for a new engine warranty. that was my point, not to disparage the engine model itself, though the comment about them being a gas hog is right on.

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The motor was bought and installed on a boat back in 1989. The boat project never got finished and the boat never hit the water. Divorce! It has been in the garage since the day it was bought and never run.

I am going to look at it today and can buy the motor for $1500 with brand new controls.

I can't afford $8,000 + for a new motor but I can afford $1500 for an old one that is new and might need some minor updating.

What I need to know is if this is a good deal or not?

Gary

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Gary -- Yes, that is a very good and reliable engine. Quite robust as well.

For $1500, I would not waste time here chatting; do not walk...run over there and buy it!

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Agreed, great deal!

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I would already have it loaded in the back of my truck and on the way home before someone else comes along and gets it!

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Thanks to all. I just got back home and passed on the engine.

It is as he says. A bit dusty and dirty from sitting in a nasty garage all these years but it sure looks like it never hit the water.

Now for the bad part. He did some work for the Marina and the Marina mounted the new, left over 88 SPL back in 1990. It is hanging off the back of a very old and very wrecked MFG Tri Hull on a very nasty trailer. To get the motor I have to take it all. The boat won't float and is not worth the a dime. The trailer is in similar condition.

He might call me to sell just the motor but junking all the other garbage and getting it all out of where it is will be a major chore.

There is also some mouse damage under the cowl and I can see where they were living and chewing on wires. Nothing I can't repair but it is there.

Gary

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The trailer can't be moved?

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I would have to either buy new tires for it or hire someone with a car trailer big enough to haul it all. Trailer is a rust bucket and the boat would make a great piece of bottom structure.

I have no idea how much it would cost me to junk the boat and trailer but I will only get involved if the guy sells me the motor by itself.

Diamonds in the rough are great as long as you don't have to dig too deep for them.

Gary

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Just an idea.................many fire and rescue depts love to get their hands on old boats to use for training purposes. Won't help with the trailer problem, but may help dispose of the boat itself.
Another thing you can do is go back out and wave some green cash in front of the Seller......he'll have a chance to put cash money in his pocket for a yard ornament that has been there for years! That might make him see it your way.

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I agree w/Tom, ALWAYS "Bounce the Cabbage". Pull a huge wad of Cash out of your pocket (Ya know like a "Roofer" carry's) That'll do All the talkin !

The SPL series was a good motor (28,48,88), I had an '87 48 spl on my boat when I bought it, I wanted to buy another one when it was time to re-power but, they no longer made them in 2005. I saw an '88 SPL on a boat yesterday ( a "No-Frill's" 90 H.P.), there was nothing on them to break down, I loved them. My newer engine (2004 Johnson "plain Vanilla" 50 H.P.) is NOT an E-tech but, it's much quieter than my old 48 SPL, so it must have borrowed some of the newer quieter E-tech exhuast advancements.

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That was my impression of this 88 SPL. Almost the same motor as my 1984 EV, 90 VRO but with out all the added frills that I will be removing if I plan on updating it. The 1989 88 SPL is 5 years newer, has zero hours and would bolt right up to my project.

I just can't get involved in all the junk removal and disposal and hope he calls to sell me the motor alone.

Gary

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If that motor was in my area, i would be all over it. Too bad you can`t see through the dust and dirt, and the worthless boat and trailer. One point no one brought up. Can you turn the flywheel over by hand with the plugs removed. I hope someone on this sight gets it. they are great motors. They are just stripped down commercial versions, no VRO may or may not have Trim and tilt.

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I had the same problem once.
Took the motor and told the seller I'd be back in a few days for the boat and trailer.......

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Just got notified he sold the works today. Don't know if it was someone from here or not but I hope so.

The seller was decent enough to let me know so I am glad I missed out and kept my honor!

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I guess it just wasn't in the cards for you....there'll be another one out there....just be patient.

Good luck in your search!

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I just ordered the carb kits and impeller for my Ev 90 V4 and will play around with it this winter. I will have to change the fuel lines and filters and maybe the fuel pump but it should be good to go by this spring.
Does anyone know what the compression should be in each cylinder? I bought the service manual for my 1984 motor and it covers all the 1984 models so finding some of this info is difficult.

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When you change out your fuel lines, make sure they are Marine rated. Reason being is that they hold up better with the oil mixed fuel. Normal automotive fuel lines will become ghard over time due to the two stroke oil and gas mixture running through them.

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Thanks Cliff. I hope I can find lines rated for the ethanol as well.

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Gamalot,
As far as the compression on my 1992 88SPL they're all 125PSI. I think the more important thing is that they are all the same. Good luck.

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Thank you! 125 + or - 5 PSI sounds like a good starting point. I wore my eyes out reading the repair manual and never did find what the compression should be.

Gary