Hello Gang Id like to Introduce Myself I'm Chris & Below Is my 1980 Formula F233 5.7l w/a OMC Stringer 800 I've had the boat for a year now and still yet to drive her due to the 800 drive . I bought her from a farmer out of a barn in the St Louis area she's in great shape except for the 800 Stringer Drive. But through some great advice & encouragement from the members of Donzi.net board I did manage get the 800 drive book & 28 1/2 hours later (from Walk up to boat to finding Parts online) we did it I got the drive off & tore it down. Well the problem was in the upper gear case, the pinion gear w/bearing & upper horizontal shaft & gear w/ bearings looked like a bowl of granola inside the upper gear case housing. But every thing else below that looks good & operates good + quiet but we did take the rest of it down to check for metal shavings & what not but it was really nice so...Now I've located parts & I'm going to try it this weekend sure hope this works because a lot of blood, sweat, night jobs & tears have gone in to this thing so anyway I'll let yea know what happens but anyhu see my site & HELLO Everybody!!!!!!!!

http://www.thepirates.20m.com/photo5.html

Good luck with your project

I'm So Bummed The 800 drive craped out I didn't even get out of the marina. I'm so Mad not sure what happened but it said clunk clunk Blurb CRACK BOOOM & I thought I had droped the drive for real. When I pulled it apart a little it looked just like it did the first time. So I've had it I love the look & style of the boat but the OMC portion is Outa-There & going on E-bay !!!!

I've got the boat back at the house & as soon as I move in 3 weeks the upper deck is coming off & the hole is getting filled & I'm going for a frame off resto. I realize this will be no easy task but a year from now I'll have memorized every inch of Electrical, Engine, Outdrive, Decking, Hull etc!!!!

I will also have a practically new 1980 F233 that I'll know I can get crazy with & not have to worry about it falling apart due to crappy parts or neglect, Age etc. Plus it will last a lifetime & that to me is worth every second & dollar invested I should also stand to learn quite a bit!!!!

So my Q is what would you hook up to a 502 as soon as I get the engine I'm calling Stainless Marine and Moding the Heck out of it. So what do I need for durability & speed Maybe IMCO?, Berkley J/P?, Arneson?, what?????

I'd like to hear your Suggestions fellas If ya had it to do over what would you do or what have you had good luck with?

Secret F233

I would not go totally crazy on the engine. At some point you will hit a perverbial wall for making the boat go faster. I would just put a stock 454 420hp motor or 502 and call it a winner. I am not sure how that boat will handle that kind of power.

Jon

A 454 ought to do you on that boat. I'll tell you what; that thing is pretty dang cherry for being a 1980!

Gosh, I wonder why OMC sterndrives never caught on...

Well I know that my F233 is the same hull mold the company was founded on in 63 with the round bottom even though the upper deck changed a lot over the years the hull mold remained unchanged. Built by Don Aronow & Jim Wynne for racing success in 63 the F233 was pure artistic beauty built with one thing in mind Beating Dick Bertrams Moppie's in the Big seas. The design lasted formula from 1963-1980ish mainly becouse of the racing bloodlines. I think Don Aronow Ran it with a single vdrive in the 63 Miami to Nassau race & Allen Brown ran it with twins In the 64 race But a year or two later Jim Wynne came up with the Sterndrive. And when Don moved up to the 27 Donzi Jim & Allen ran it with twin 8's maybe 427 fords? for a few more years after that.. (Allen If your hearing this please correct me for I'm sure I messed something up there.

But the potential is there its just been toned down over the years & I think your right a nice stock as a rock 454 or 502 would run all day long @WOT where a moded engine would need breaks to cool down & what not good call.....

Ya boiler your right she is in great shape the photos are from the day I got it after only a bath the teak's all been pulled & reworked + more to come I'll get some new photos togeter.

But what I was amazed about was not a Stress crack, spider web, or blister anywhere & I mean anywhere on this ol'girl she's timeless & gonna make don proud one day, I hope!!!!!!

Some Sweet vintage racing links:

http://www.njppc.com/library.htm

http://freespace.virgin.net/john.moo...nt/class1/1960's.htm

might need to cut & past that last one^^^^


The Photo is Don A & The Beatles in the F233 in 1965!!!

We have an older performance setup you might be interested in for your boat. It is coupled to locked up 455 olds. We'll sell the drive, gimball trans. and stainless prop(prop needs work) for $2000. This drive would be the ultamate for hi-performance keeping to your origional year. Boat Services Unlimited, Havre de Grace, Md. 410-939-4795.