Newbie Questions

Welcome, I hope you enjoy your boat as much as we do ours. You should be able to get electronic ignition conversion from SkiDIM(linked from this site, even get a discount). for the oil change, I have a hose connected to the drain plug that I drop thru the bilge drain hole. It makes for easy oil change with the boat on the trailer. I haven't messed with the shaft packing, so maybe someone else can help out.

to change the oil you will have to pump it out there are small electric pumps for around 30.00 or there are differnt vacum pumps available. any marine supply catalog or store would have these. If you ever pull the motor you could convert to the hose through the drain hole type. While your changing the oil it would be a good idea to change the transmission fluid as well. Good luck

Pump the oil out. Then, before refiling, install the drain hose kit in the place of the oil pan drain bolt. You do not need to pull the motor to do so.

Shaft packing: Cut safety wire (if present, but probably not), loosen jamb nut, remove packing cap. Using same size packing, cut three pieces that precisely fit the circumferance (sp) of the shaft. Wrap the packing around the shaft with joints staggered. Reinstall the packing cap and hand tighten. Then tighten some more with wrench...say half turn or a bit more. Tighten up the jamb nut. Do not safety wire until you water test. If too much water enters boat, tighten the cap a bit more. If no water, loosen. Your goal is a few drops/minute. Once you have it right, safety wire.

I agree with pumping the oil out. I know on my 302 in my '77 the dipstick tube went to the bottom of the pan.

Go to autoparts store and buy a had pump kit $15 dollars. Worth it's weight in gold, and worked like a charm. You just slip it over the tube and start pumping into your choice of catch cans. I thought about then putting one of those drain lines on the oil pan then, but didn't want to introduce any souce for any leaks.