Eaton Outdrive

[mbohac]

I have an Original 1966 Eaton outdrive assembly off my Donzi 16. Is there any value on these or is it as good as a boat anchor?? I want to swap it with an Alpha 1 or something so that I at least have power trim. Any of you guys do any of this? Is there any real collectable value to the Eaton?? (Like in an old car with all "Original" parts??

[Rodger]

My 66 16' had the Eaton and I converted to an Alpha. I sold the Eaton for $500.00 to someone that wanted to have a spare unit.

[Magicallbill]

I'm interested to learn if it's the Eaton that kinda "folded-away" against the transom,or if it's the Eaton Interceptor model that existed when they were blending in with Volvo.
I've heard that there were some durability problems with the fold-away Eatons.

[BERTRAM BOY]

If it's a fold away Eaton, you have a VERY early 16.

Do you have any pics?

[mbohac]

Here are a couple of the drive...I think I did it right....they are uploaded at least...

[MOP]

Ok it is not the fold away, Edit: stand corrected Cliff has it right it is a swinger, we had a couple of black ones that looked a bit different. You can see the Volvo infuence in the latch and helmet. This was a better drive, it only real fault was the same as the early ones the uppers get hot if run hard, a shower cures that. Back then we did not call them showers, we just cut 3/4" copper tubing attached it to the transom with just the tip cut at a 45 facing forward brought the tube up and looped to shot water at the upper did a fine job.

Phil

[gcarter]

So in addition to white drives and black drives, at one time there were BROWN drives!!:eek!:

[BERTRAM BOY]

That's definetly a "swing away" type drive. If you are going to swap to an Alpha or Bravo, you are going to have a VERY hard time finding a bellhousing to fit the Ford engine, and you will have to move your exhaust. The steering ram from any Mercruiser gets in the way.
However, if you decide to do this project, let me just tell you that power trim is a wonderful thing, prop selection is easier, and parts for a SBC are much cheaper.

BTW, counter rotating(left hand) Alpha drives are available, so don't let anyone talk you into a right hand Alpha using trim tabs. The 16 does not need tabs.

Do you have any more pics?

[mbohac]

I do....any of you guys seen a hood tach like this?

Sounds like the conversion is a big job...I would imagine it is worth it though??

[BERTRAM BOY]

Here are some links to my little "weekend" project.



http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=36261


http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=25396

[mbohac]

DAMN!! I hope I don't have to go that deep! That is awesome though! I just got my boat and have only had it out for like 20 minutes!! Is that a Bravo drive or Alpha? It looks freakin awesome!

[Dredgeking]

the eaton drive looks cool old school. has to be more valuable than an anchor. might be able to make a cement mixer out of it.

[MOP]

Grab this Ford/Mercruiser bell housing while you can they are like "Hens Teeth" the rest of the parts are easy!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercrusier-Bellhousing-for-351-Ford-Windsor-Motor_W0QQitemZ280036384630QQihZ018QQcategoryZ5044 2QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[BigGrizzly]

Osco has them

[Magicallbill]

Grizz;
Would that Eaton in the pic take the HP that you and I have on our 16's?
Jason and I are discussing buying up two or three old drives for backups for our 16's.
Anyway, "Check's In The Mail" as they say. You should get it the end of this week, or 1st of next.
Did you get ahold of Bverd concerning our Solas 23?

Magic..

[mbohac]

Is the bellhousing the same on a Ford 289, 302, and 351?

[Rootsy]

early 289's had a 5 bolt bellhousing and block... the switch came about april 65 when the mustang was introduced...

JR - 5 bolt owner :)

[mbohac]

So if my 289 is a 1966 then it could work?

[BERTRAM BOY]

I would check an make sure your boat is a '66. There is a possibility that it's a '65.

[mbohac]

If it is a 5 bolt bellhousing and block, am I still able to find a mercruiser bellhousing or is this the type of thing that I should be doing a complete motor swap etc and update everything?

[Rodger]

Even though the boat is a 66 and it may have been manufactured after Ford made the update; I'll bet your 289 is a 5 bolt. I have seen several 66's and they all had the 5 bolt.

[SurfGreenTele]

I do....any of you guys seen a hood tach like this?
Sounds like the conversion is a big job...I would imagine it is worth it though??

Hey I remember looking at that boat on ebay over the summer. Very cool. It was in Ohio right?

[BigGrizzly]

Our 1966, we bough new had the later model drive. I'm betting that is a 260 not a 289 interseptor. which puts it 65 with the outside shift cble on top of the drive . Never saw a real 1966 with that drive on it, and i was a real Donzi freek back then and knew where every 16 and 18 Donzi on Barnigat Bay and from Sandy Hook to cape May was and what it looked like.

[mbohac]

Yeah, this boat was on Ebay over the summer. I got it from OH. Real nice boat and yes, the linkage is external on the drive. You might be right, it may be a 260. Any easy ways to tell the difference with the motor??

Thanks guys, I am having a lot of fun with this boat...

[BobinCovington]

Just so you have a reference, here is a series 16 Eaton from my 66 boat. It rotates to the up position for travel. (it really confuses people that see it on the road when its on the trailer). It locks in place in the up or down position. We have a bar with a plastic grip on one end to rotate the drive with (I guess it came with the boat)

Boat has the Hipo Ford 289 in it and my dad painted the Eaton black when he bought it in 66. The outdrive needs to be repainted, but it is in great shape. New rubber boot and all internals have been replaced with new (stronger shafts/gears) about 10 years ago. Just had the thing gone through and new grease / oil

I just hope it holds together for a long time and I plan to be gentle on it.