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    These answers come from our own technical team. Fitment on every drive and lower unit is confirmed by serial or model number — call or text 813-925-7127 and we will verify yours before you order.

    Cobra

    Do you make a replacement for an OMC Cobra / Stringer sterndrive?

    For the OMC Cobra, yes - we offer a direct lower-unit replacement (SE109/SE117) or a conversion kit to switch to a MerCruiser Alpha Gen II style drive. We do not make a replacement drive for the Stringer, though we do carry some Stringer seals and gaskets. Tell us your year and engine and we'll point you to the right path - the Cobra conversion is a common fix as OMC parts get scarce.

    Do you make a replacement for an OMC Cobra lower unit?

    Yes - we make a direct lower-half replacement for the OMC Cobra, which is the simpler option if your upper is sound. Two things to know: our unit uses a 1-1/4" propshaft, so you'll need the correct thrust washer for the prop, and the lower doesn't include install hardware, anodes or gear lube. It does come with the O-rings that sit between the upper and lower housing. Send us your year and engine and we'll confirm the right unit.

    Does the OMC Cobra conversion kit include the shift cable?

    Yes, the shift cable comes with the conversion kit, so you don't need to order it separately. You will still want the installation kit and an anode kit alongside the conversion kit and the drive itself.

    I want to convert my whole OMC Cobra boat to MerCruiser - what's involved?

    We sell the transom assembly and the drives, but a full conversion goes well beyond that - you'd potentially be changing the exhaust, flywheel cover, shift plate, possibly the intake and carburettor, and other engine-side items to match. For a whole-boat swap you may genuinely be better off sourcing a used complete package from a MerCruiser-powered boat. For a drive-only conversion, the Cobra conversion kit plus a MOD drive is the straightforward path.

    I'm replacing my whole King Cobra setup - what can you supply?

    We can supply the drive, the transom assembly and a complete trim pump. What we can't provide is the rest of the engine-side conversion: the bellhousing, manifolds, risers, exhaust Y-pipe and water pump housing would all need sourcing elsewhere. For a change of that scope it's worth pricing a used complete package from a MerCruiser-powered boat as an alternative.

    Is your OMC Cobra lower unit the same gear ratio as my original?

    Yes - our lower unit is a direct replacement for the OEM, so the ratio is the same. Your existing water pump in the upper unit will work with it as well, so there's nothing to change there. Tell us your year and engine and we'll confirm the right unit.

    My transom is already out - should I run the OMC transom, an Alpha transom, or go Bravo?

    With the transom out and reglassed you have all three options open. You can run the OMC transom with our conversion kit, move to an Alpha Gen II transom, or go full Bravo. Our best practical advice is to make or obtain a drilling template for the MerCruiser and see how it lays out on your transom first - the main opening is a standard size across manufacturers, so it's the bolt pattern that decides it. Call us at 813-925-7127 and we'll talk through the trade-offs.

    Should I replace my OMC Cobra lower unit or convert to a MerCruiser Gen II drive?

    Both work, and it mostly comes down to budget and how long you plan to keep the boat. A direct Cobra lower replacement is the cheaper route; the full conversion to an SE116 Gen II drive - drive, conversion kit, install kit and anode kit - costs meaningfully more. The conversion moves you onto a platform with far better long-term parts availability, which is why many customers choose it as OMC parts get scarcer. A third option worth considering is simply changing the transom assembly. Call us at 813-925-7127 and we'll itemise both ways for your boat with current pricing.

    What do I need to convert an OMC Cobra to a MerCruiser Alpha Gen II drive?

    Four things per engine: the complete Gen II sterndrive in your ratio, the Cobra conversion kit, an installation kit and an anode kit. On a twin-engine boat you'll need two of each, and one of the drives will be counter-rotation. Tell us your year, engine and ratio and we'll price the whole package for you - it's a common fix now that OMC parts are getting scarce.

    What does an OMC Cobra to MerCruiser Gen II conversion cost?

    Four items make up the job: the conversion kit, the modified Gen II drive, an installation kit and an anode kit, plus shipping. The drive has to be the "MOD" version - our SE116 Gen II sold with the conversion modification - and the 1.62 ratio was commonly used with the 5.0L engines in the MerCruiser lineup. Read the conversion kit page and the instruction PDF before committing. Call us at 813-925-7127 and we'll price your exact setup at current rates.

    Where can I find the OMC Cobra conversion instructions?

    We publish the installation instructions for the conversion as a PDF on our site, along with a page listing all the drive gear ratio options available for the conversion. Between those two you can work out exactly what your boat needs. If you'd rather talk it through, call us at 813-925-7127.

    Which years does the OMC Cobra conversion kit cover?

    The conversion kit covers OMC Cobra applications up to 1993. For those years you can use your existing OMC transom assembly and convert to an Alpha One Gen II drive - you'd need the conversion kit plus a MOD-version drive. For a 1994-and-later boat, we sell Alpha Gen II replacement transom assemblies and drives, but that route leaves you a considerably longer parts list.