OMC question

**2us70** · 05-18-2017, 04:34 PM

In 1966 I ran in the Orange Bowl 9 Hour race. The single engine class we were in was won by a European built v-bottom boat with a 90ci OMC.
This motor was equipped with a "speedmaster" style lower unit. There was a spare unit secured in a cradle in the boat as well. does anyone know what kind of lower units these might have been. I am not sure but this crew may have changed that unit during this race.

**milkdud** · 05-19-2017, 04:04 PM

was it a X-115?

**2us70** · 05-19-2017, 08:50 PM

I don't think so. The X-115 was not out yet and the unit had shape more like a "Speedmaster" with a sharp bullet nose.

**Mark75H** · 05-20-2017, 07:49 AM

Yes the X-115 wasn't out yet. I know the lower units you are asking about. No one has ever found out where they came from. There is a thread here about them with pictures but I can't find it or pictures I am certain I saved.

**swamppanther** · 05-20-2017, 08:47 AM

Peterson gearcase... Raceman had a couple NOS units at one time, it would bolt up to stock, X115, or KC13 mids.

**2us70** · 05-20-2017, 10:56 AM

I think the motor I saw the units on was a stock 90 ci. V-4. The drivers were a couple of brothers from West Palm Beach who had a dealership there. I don't recall seeing them or the boat at any other races. I also don't know the make of the boat but it looked like pictures of the boats Jackie Wilson back in those days.

**GENE LANHAM** · 05-20-2017, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

I don't think so. The X-115 was not out yet and the unit had shape more like a "Speedmaster" with a sharp bullet nose.

Jim--are you thinking -'Jeff and the 'Odd Job' at the Stadiun--1967?

**FUJIMO** · 05-20-2017, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

I think the motor I saw the units on was a stock 90 ci. V-4. The drivers were a couple of brothers from West Palm Beach who had a dealership there. I don't recall seeing them or the boat at any other races. I also don't know the make of the boat but it looked like pictures of the boats Jackie Wilson back in those days.

Gotta credit the South Florida racers of the day. More days to test new ideas & new innovative parts. The gearcases you "might" be referencing were overdrive, with speedmaster type looks, made right here in the Sunshine State. Not to be confused with the multiple OMC V-4 overdrive gearcases that were available in the 60's, that were not cresent shaped, from the factory. They were first available in 1964, from a company in Jacksonville, Florida. Universal Projects, Inc., 4845 River Basin Drive South. Standard ratio was 19:16, which was a 20% overdrive, but a couple other ratio's were available. So they were useless on any boat that wasn't light enough, and wasn't already capable of speeds in excess of 80 m.p.h. They were 3" shorter than a standard gearcase. Propshaft diameter was 3/4", so the Mercury SpeedMaster props of the day would slide right on, with minor adaptions. They utilized your existing factory OMC V-4 water pump housing & impeller. Maximum propeller diameter was 9 1/2". They all came fully polished, complete, to your door, for $296.00.

**2us70** · 05-20-2017, 02:42 PM

The boat I recall was not an 80 mph rig. They did however pass us several times during the race. We were in the Miami to New York record boat and probably not running much over 55. I spent most of the race repairing or working around various systems on our boat while my co-drivers drove the boat so I didn't get as good a look at this boat running as I would have liked. At that price with the right options that unit might be the one. I also think the crescent shape was right too.

**FUJIMO** · 05-20-2017, 06:24 PM

...Not to be confused with this Hubbell racing unit for Evinrudes/Johnsons...

**2us70** · 05-21-2017, 10:33 AM

That definitely was not the one. I recall seeing a few of those Hubbell units on hydros back in the day. I think they did not have water pumps and relied on forward motion to provide cooling to the motors.

**2us70** · 05-21-2017, 11:59 AM

I guess I should also ask if OMC offered a racing unit prior to the X-115?

**Mark75H** · 05-22-2017, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by 2us70

I guess I should also ask if OMC offered a racing unit prior to the X-115?

No, the X-115 was the first OMC racing unit since the 1940's.

And no, the units being discussed here weren't Petersons, Universals, Hubbells or Parkers either.