Parts for a SRV 180 1973

[Berry Pitlo]

I try to bring back the boat to original.
For now it is 99% original I think. Pre owned by 1 owner for 46 years!
I am looking for an original speedometer, a fuel meter and some other small parts.
Anyone suggestions?

 

[Ike]

Extremely hard to find original parts. Sometimes you see them on ebay, or craigslist. As for gauges you can get look-a-likes since they are Faria. At least the ones on my 72 SRV 190 are. Best thing is to find a parts boat and salvage parts.

 

[Berry Pitlo]

Thanks Ike.
I can immagine its hard to find these original.
I was not familiar with craigslist.
Do you know where to find look-alikes? Can I buy these new?

 

[Berry Pitlo]

Can anyone show me a picture of an original speedometer for this type of classic boat?

 

[Ike]

This is the Speedo on my 1972 Sea Ray SRV 190. I've never taken it out so I don't have photos of it by itself. It's a typical boat speedo using a pitot tube on the transom and operating off of a vacuum created by the pitot pick up. Not very accurate by the way. GPS is far more accurate.

The big yellow instrument on the far right is the speedometer from the back

 

[Berry Pitlo]

Oke, thanks Ike.
Now I know what to look for, at least the style.
Maybe better to go for a GPS in old style.
Now I own the boat I learn more about the model and different types. Nice!
Didn't know anything before. Just fell for the looks of it .
Yours is a 190. 200 HP?? Must be great. Is the fuel price in USA still good?
Btw what fuel do you use. Me is recommendet 95 octane 5%methanol. Here so called Euro 96 E5.

 

[DaveKamp]

Hi Berry-

I don't recall who the original MANUFACTURER of the original gauges was, but I BELIEVE they were originally supplied to SeaRay through MerCruiser (if you have a MerCruiser drive) or Volvo-Penta (if you have a V-P). They BOTH had gauges made for them at some point in time, by Airguide and Teleflex, but as Ike's photo shows... there is no manufacturer's name ON them.

I MIGHT still have the gauges from my '70 SRV-170... it originally had the MerCruiser 120 (153ci 4cyl Chevy), and when I replaced the engine with 250ci inline 6, I also replaced all the gauges, as most of the originals did not work well... but if I still have them (and can figure out where they are after 25 years) I'd put them in a box and send them to wherever you are... ;-) I suspect you're in a European time-zone, so finding a 'parts boat' there, is unlikely...

In my area (USA- Eastern Iowa- the Mississippi River) gas docks here have 92, some have 89, both non-ethanol/non-methanol. Methanol isn't used in USA, especially not in boats, as our marine fuel tank and fuel-hose specifications do not tolerate methanol. Ethanol absorbs water from the air, so we don't use it in boats from fuel dock, but many who trailer their boats, fill up at street pumps. Gasoline at fuel dock is about 30% higher than at a local street gas station. Today's price at street station nearby sells 89 (no ethanol) for 2.97/gal, but 89 at the marina two blocks away sells same for 4.86/gal. Go 25 miles up the river, it's $3.29/gal... and they're all getting it from same company... (I know their delivery guy...)

 

[Ike]

190 refers to it's length which is a little over 18 Feet.. The engine is a Mercruiser 165, which again does not indicate the horsepower which is really about 135 at the prop. The reality is the engine is a General Motors 250 (GM250) a six cylinder inline engine. I was a very common engine in GM and Chevrolet pickup trucks from the late 1950's up until the early 1980's and used in a lot of boats. GM made millions of them. Very strong reliable engine. It has a two barrel Rochester Carburetor and runs on pretty much ordinary gasoline. I just use regular gas (about 10% ethanol) from the local gas station. They were marinized with large water passages, a higher capacity water pump and a water cooled manifold. But other than that they are the same engine as in the trucks. The only change I made was to put an electronic distributor on it which solved a lot of issues and made it easier to start and stay in time. The original 1972 engine was replaced about 3 years ago because the block rusted out in places, and water was leaking, and the block cracked. The current engine is a 1978 that came out of another boat. Unfortunately the drive destroyed itself a year and a half ago, and I haven't found a replacement for it yet. It's an MC1 which was Mercury's first sterndrive. I may have to get an alpha and adapt to fit. But I have other family concerns right now so it can wait.

By the way, the brand name on the tachometer, is a Faria, but it may have been replaced at some time past. But it matches the others in appearance. The Fuel gauge does say SW below the word FUEL. That's probably Stewart Warner. I looked up Stewart Warner and the brand is the same, just a large SW.

The engine hour meter is an Aqua Meter. All the rest appear to be original and I don't see any brand name on them. As stated above they may have been supplied with the engine and drive.

 

[DaveKamp]

Ike- you hit it- Stewart-Warner! Kiekhaefer contracted them heavily prior to about '75.

Your '72 165's drive is an R/1R, which is the easiest to find... they started production in '66, and stayed true to form through '83, they're easily interchanged with only TWO things being in any way 'special'...

1) the drive coupling distance for engines of 194, 250, and 292 is LONGER than the 153/181 four and ANY V8's... so you'll need your drive yoke...

2) The inline sixes ALL used 1.65:1 TIMED gearsets in the upper housing. The 1.65 ratio being a de-facto 'oddball'. The 'timed gears' is a different story- Initially, Kiekhaefer's process was to cut the blanks to ratio, then place them in a fixture, matchmark them, then bed them at slow speed with garnet, then heat-treat them for durability. Later (about the time the 4.3 appeared, and the inline left) they revised their ratios to 'elminate' even-order oscillation... in every set EXCEPT the 1.65 (no justification for the engineering cost). Some time later (around early-mid '80's) they changed alloy... and process... instead of induction heat-treat, they just cut the blanks, and specified a 'break-in' clearance, in which a new gearset would work-harden it's own tooth surfaces.

What you CAN do, is substitute any V8 drive (that's a 1.5:1 ratio), but use your 165 drive's coupler-yoke shaft on the cardan joint, and then switch to a prop pitch 2" LESS... it'll work great. It seems that MCM's choice of the 'odd ratio' was based on the target-market including heavier cruisers and houseboats with dual installations... they figured the six would be better off swinging a larger-surface no-rake prop, and giving it a 'bit more gear' would be a better match for heavier, slower loads.

Your note about prop horsepower is mostly accurate, but not as a primary fault of the engine- most often appears in small runabouts, and is that way as a result of small engine compartments with high air temperatures and insufficient incoming airflow. They'll easily put 300ft-lbs at the (1.65 ratio) propshaft at 4800rpm, as long as the compartment has plenty of cool, fresh air in. If you run the log-style exhaust, though, it'll drop off quick after that... because it's trying to shove big-block air-volumes through an inline-four tube... and static pressures at each port (from front to rear) become incrementally higher.

 

[Berry Pitlo]

Hello Dave, kind of you to offer your gauges, though I think they won't match the looks of a SRV 180.
Its realy nice to learn more about these boats. I love the vintage looks of it.
I am from Holland by the way, and its is nice to meet American enthousiasts .
Finding a spare boat indeed will be difficult here.
But I think I am lucky finding this boat in really original and good condition.

And Ike, sad your boat is not running at the moment. Better times ahead!

 

[DaveKamp]

Hi Berry!

The gauges used in your '72 SRV180 will be the same gauges used in just about EVERY Sea-Ray made between '68ish and '75. Over here, parts boats are not hard to find, I'm certain we could find a complete set.

 

[Berry Pitlo]

These gauges have this typical background.
Do you mean the same?
I seem to miss the oil pressure gauge.
I doubt the originality of my fuel gauge and speedometer.

 

[DaveKamp]

View attachment 106898
These gauges have this typical background.
Do you mean the same?
I seem to miss the oil pressure gauge.
I doubt the originality of my fuel gauge and speedometer.

yes, that's normal... vacuum guage always had color. Some of the other gauges did not, buy face style was same.

Here's what's in my 'second' SRV180...

 

[DaveKamp]

 

[Berry Pitlo]

Thanks for sharing Dave.
I compared yours with mine. Fuel gauge is the same as mine, only mine is rusted.
I already ordered an oil pressure gauge.
Only thing I need is a speedometer, and then its all back to original ;-).
Would you sell the speedometer + fuel gauge?

 

[DaveKamp]

I will look to see if I have the original speedometer and fuel gauge from my FIRST SRV180 before considering removing these from my 'second' SRV180. ;-) Give me some time to dig through my old parts 'store'.

 

[Berry Pitlo]

Appreciate. Take your time.
I imagine everything is big in America, also your backyard to stall 4 boats !! ;-).

 

[DaveKamp]

8... at the moment, but i may have found a loving home for the SRV240 flying bridge... and possibly one for the '62 Fabuglas...

There's four SeaRays... two Glastrons, a Mark Twain, and the Fabuglas.

Yes, a bit more open space available over here, but nature abhors a vacuum, so old boats congregate to return balance to the universe. Come to Iowa, bring a shipping container, i'll make you the Purveyor Premier des Bateax Classiques Amerique en Europe!

 

[linckeil]

I try to bring back the boat to original.
For now it is 99% original I think. Pre owned by 1 owner for 46 years!
I am looking for an original speedometer, a fuel meter and some other small parts.
Anyone suggestions?View attachment 106742

i just stripped a '73 SRV180 with a merc outboard. I owned the boat for 15 years. a tree fell across it last winter. it broke my heart - loved that boat. i have a ton of parts - some i am keeping for a '72 donzi build with a merc inline 6. what exactly do you need?

 

[JHornsby3]

Unfortunately the drive destroyed itself a year and a half ago, and I haven't found a replacement for it yet. It's an MC1 which was Mercury's first sterndrive. I may have to get an alpha and adapt to fit. But I have other family concerns right now so it can wait.

Where at in the PNW? I have a full 165 from a 75-77. The inner transom plate to prop. Sitting here collecting barn dust and I can't use any of it. This is the Pre Alpha drive.