Old Formula
 

Just picked up my very first boat a few months shy of my 23rd birthday. A 1981 Formula Thunderbird 233LS. I will post up some pictures just as soon as I know how! 350 OMC with OMC outdrive. Aluminum 3 blade prop. Info and thoughts are very welcomed!!! I need to know everything thing there is to know. Also what props can I use? I'm in Syracuse NY for the CNY formula guys. Anyone have OMC hull tru pipes lying around???

Welcome to the forum. I think a 19" stainless will be a good all around prop for that boat. You might try a 21" but you'll loose some hole shot to pick up maybe 2~3 mph on the top. Good luck finding OMC props.

Thats exactly what I was afraid off... How hard is an alpha or bravo conversion?

Its not to hard of a conversion, but can get pricy!!!!!!! Thats not a bad boat. If u go to a bravo you might wanna upgrade the engine too. I know a person that has a MINT 223ss for sale if your interested.

I'd love too but now that the money is in this girl, I think I'll stick with her. Its a good motor and outdrive but I would love to convert at some point. blown 454 and bravo would make this a happy boat :drink:

If it is a cobra drive I think that the cut out is the same. Do some searching around there are a few threads on it.

thanks audiofn. What about a TRS drive? If I happened to pick up one in a trade mated to a 454. what kind of work am I looking at for the swap?

I would only go to a Bravo. TRS would be a lot of work. Different hole, transmision...... Move the motor forward....

OK...some advice here.

You just aquired a very nice boat that will give you a lot of fun and good times. I suggest that you spend a season with the OMC "Stringer" drive and familiarlize yourself with the boat. Take some time to plan what you want to do in the future but keep in mind that the OMC rig that you have now will surely fit your needs untill you do. When you do decide to make a change, know that there is always someone that will buy what you have in order to keep what they have running.

Meanwhile, think about long term plans that will include a Bravo set up. That will give you the flexability to go with some strong power down the road from either a big block or a strong 383.

The good thing about the stern drive set up via MerCruiser is the adaptability. With my boat ('79 Formula Liberator with twin 260's on MerCruiser No 1 drives) I plan to run what I have for a while with the first propulsion upgrade being the change to Bravo's. Even if I stay with my current 260's I can use them on the Bravos by utilizing a Bravo coupler, raw water cooling set up and a few other parts. when I'm ready to "power up" my choices will be very broad.

Right now I'm leaning toward a pair of 450 ft. lb 383's but I am also intrigued by this new GM LSA "marinized" Cadillac

//www.gm.com/experience/technology/gmpowertrain/engines/specialized/marine/2009_6200_LSA_Marine.pdf?exist=false.

You can find a bunch of good information on this forum and most of the folks here will be very helpful.

Have fun and keep us posted on your progress.

I think your right, but as you can imagine us young guns love the idea of more power and dreams often outrun the bank account :drink: I intend to stick with the OMC set up for this year. So with that in mind what are some things I need to be looking for? Its an OMC 260 and must be a chevy block based on the distributor placement. Other than normal plugs, wires, cap, rotor and oil change, what should I be looking for? I'm a pretty handy chevy mech but have zero experience in a marine set up. I intend to deliver the boat to a local tech as well and have the outdrive gone through and fluids changed. What else??

just paint outdrive black and use it till it breaks..save your money wax it and enjoy...just remember to BOAT(bring out another thousand)

Oh I know what Boat stand for and thats part of the reason I didn't blow a million on the boat!!! :o

So it looks like ton's of wax, tons of cleaning, a few performance parts and a lot of time on the water is the recipe. I've got an idea of a local shop to go through the outdrive, do ya'll have suggestions?

Just make sure you use Marine stuff in all your ignition, starter, alternator, needs. They are different then reagular car stuff.

Make sure they check the bellows on the drive.

Make sure they check the bellows on the drive.

+1

Nice classic Formula you got there! From the pics you may want to check the exhaust manifold riser gaskets and the condition of the mating parts for leaks. If leaking it can allow water to get into the engine.

4mula, I will do, should I just pull them off completely and replace the gaskets?
Audiofn, I was planning on having the whole out drive gone through. Is the bellow's not part of a routine inspection? And we'll find out soon enough if the starter and alternator are good. I'll probably pull the alternator and have it tested. Any more word's of advice?

When you get ready, look at the Arneson surface drives. They offer a Bravo conversion box along with tranny. I have the 7.4 JB in mine and I would be more seriously considering a swap except for 2 things.

My Bravo is fine and my swim ladder drops right over where the prop would be after conversion.

Enjoy what you have until you can really decide what you want to do. I am probably the only guy on here that has a PC.

Arneson would be amazing but I gotta be honest, this boat will never see one while I own her. Too pricey...