I can help you w/info on those motors if you like.

It would become chapters of typing though.

Let me know if interested and Ill PM you my # and Ill be happy to help you.

I like to be into a project like that for the $10 - $15K range if boat, interior and trailer are excellent.
Thats w/motors to sell, figuring their value based on condition.

I have carb'd versions of those same motors on my twin OB 25' Checkmate.

They came from two different fish boats w/terrible compression.

I rolled the dice on them (I know them very well) and got lucky.
After running a ton of Sea Foam through them, compression came back where they should be!

Another point of note is, a complete, carb'd, drop on powerhead will bolt right on that motor!

Well now I have the real story, went to look at the boat again with the owner. Long story short,the outboards were put on in 2001. They were installed on the boat using a custom Armstrong mounting box. This is actually the first time I was able to talk to him. I had been talking to his son. Both Johnsons were bought new in 2001. I've attached some pictures so now i can figure this mess out with the some help. I bought the boat. the starboard engine definately needs a power head. I believe these are E-tec;s. One of the pictures is of the Hull I.D. So I really have no idea what was originally on the boat for power.

So was the transom moved forward and the running surface shortened to accomplish the conversion to O/B's?

I do not believe so, but I will ask. Hopefully some one can decode the Hull I.D.

The HIN might go something like this......?..........( 27 foot ) ( production # 005 ) ( March 9th build date C9 ) ( year 89 )

Very hard to tell but it looks like that bracket is original equipment. Jay Ross did some crazy experiments back in the day. Possibly it was originally started out to be an I/O boat then either Jay or the original buyer changed their plan. You definitely bought a project and hopefully the price you paid reflects that. Unless you can do most of the work yourself you be upside down very quickly with the boat. Keep us posted but do not be discouraged by my comments. When finished it will be a solid performer.
Also like I mentioned early it is also possible the original GIL brackets rotted away thus the need for the Armstrong bracket. Look inside at the transom to see if there are many plugged holes from the “possible” GIL mounting.

I do know the guy I bought it from was the second owner. He had Armstrong build the outboard mounting box. He was trying to remember what type of power was in it. He thought it was some weird configuration, but whatever it was it was blown up, that's the reason for the outboards and Armstrong set-up. I can't seem to find anything on these boats that can tell me what the original make up was of the boat by the Hull I.D. I hate saying this but a car vin. number tells all about the build of it.
As far as price goes $5500. I really hope that wasn't to bad?
It seems to be a cool project and I now actually have the time to work on it. Mechsnically I'm down with what ever I have to do. spent many yesrs as a technician both in the automotive business and a few years in the marine trade.
That being said I really want to thank everyone so far for the help and if possible any suggestions and any more info are very appreciative.
Plan is to have it on the water next year. (fingers crossed),
I'll just keep updating this thread as I move forward.

So it was just left out in the elements uncovered.........geez what a mess......good luck with the project

I actually pulled the cover off of it, it was torn in a few spots anyways. just filthy, going over it with a power washer and blow everthing out of it, just need to get the hatch open, it's a power hatch (Ugh)