School me on OMC V8 Outboards

**NoLimits** · 08-04-2025, 10:38 AM

I'd like to learn more about the 2 stroke v8 OBs that OMC made, but strangely, there does not seem to be a website that covers them well. I would think there'd be a history, specs of different models, etc etc etc. I want to know more about them, are there any good resources? I've been googling and there are a lot of random threads on S&F but no real decent thick ones.

**WaterZebra** · 08-04-2025, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by NoLimits

I'd like to learn more about the 2 stroke v8 OBs that OMC made, but strangely, there does not seem to be a website that covers them well. I would think there'd be a history, specs of different models, etc etc etc. I want to know more about them, are there any good resources? I've been googling and there are a lot of random threads on S&F but no real decent thick ones.

Lars Strom would be your S&F OMC V8 expert. He's a retired Evinrude dealer and raced OMC V8s. He has a thread under Outboard and Racing history dedicated to OMC stuff.

**NoLimits** · 08-04-2025, 05:53 PM

So there is not a website or general FAQ about them anywhere?

**WaterZebra** · 08-05-2025, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by NoLimits

So there is not a website or general FAQ about them anywhere?

If you searched the internet and came up with nothing, you have your answer. OMC,dealers and parts suppliers are long gone. Racing V8s are owned by collectors and production versions are seldom seen on water. Bombardier Canada scrapped what was left of the OMC V8 program. The V8 package reached its peak in the late 80s. OMC had to "stock" dealer inventories themselves as they were not selling and dealers wouldn't finance engines that buyers didn't want.

**FUJIMO** · 08-05-2025, 10:36 AM

...yup...what zebra said...

**billybob** · 08-05-2025, 01:31 PM

Forget the V-8 Go with a modified OMC V-6. You can modify one & make 250+hp. at over 7,000 Rpm minimal.

**LakeFever** · 08-05-2025, 01:44 PM

The V8 omc is a motor of legendary status make no mistake about that. It holds two titles that appear to be unbeatable at this point. One is the outboard speed record set in the mid 80’s. Here’s the documentary about it

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bLDM1k...xwkBhyohjO8%3D

the second title the big OMC V8 holds is the best sounding outboard ever made. A full song v8 rude is an incredible experience. During the manufacturing period in the 80’s a division or corporate sideways outfit whatever structure was born called second effort racing. These guys made racing lower units and other racing parts for the v8 motors. Most of this stuff was run in salt water and if you find any of it most of it is junky used up stuff.

That’s the romantic side of it. The reality of them today is good ones are hard to come by and parts to repair them are even scarcer. If your serious about getting one of these together for a true hi performance application Monty is who you want to speak to at Monty racing dot com.

id love to see a fresh top tier v8 omc rig. Go for it

**powerabout** · 08-05-2025, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by NoLimits

I'd like to learn more about the 2 stroke v8 OBs that OMC made, but strangely, there does not seem to be a website that covers them well. I would think there'd be a history, specs of different models, etc etc etc. I want to know more about them, are there any good resources? I've been googling and there are a lot of random threads on S&F but no real decent thick ones.

Ask away on here, many people have lots of experience including OMC factory engineers on both the production 3.6 4.0 and the custom race engines 3.5 then 3.0 carby and injected.

**Instigator** · 08-06-2025, 10:27 AM

There were two basic designs, and totally different.

The recreational version came in 3.6 and 4 liter version in power from 250 - 300 hp.

These hand standard shiftable gear cases.

Many people think the race version started there but did not.

They were 3 - 3.5 liters and 390 - 400+ HPs.

These had direct drive race gear cases on them.

**powerabout** · 08-06-2025, 09:20 PM

Race motors came before the production engines

**powerabout** · 08-08-2025, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Instigator

There were two basic designs, and totally different.

The recreational version came in 3.6 and 4 liter version in power from 250 - 300 hp.

These hand standard shiftable gear cases.

Many people think the race version started there but did not.

They were 3 - 3.5 liters and 390 - 400+ HPs.

These had direct drive race gear cases on them.

Hi Instigator
Can you post the link to you rlong thread on V8's
Lots of info there

**Instigator** · 08-09-2025, 06:53 AM

i’ll have to see if I can find it.

Last time I used the search feature I finally got pissed off and gave up!

Never has worked very well.

Originally Posted by powerabout

Hi Instigator
Can you post the link to you rlong thread on V8's
Lots of info there

**Instigator** · 08-09-2025, 06:58 AM

Hah, hah, hah!

I just searched:

V-8, by Instigator, any thread and here is the result.

**FUJIMO** · 08-09-2025, 03:06 PM

**FUJIMO** · 08-09-2025, 03:13 PM

...on a side note gator...i had no idea you could put a v-6 johnrude block in a gas BBQ grill to heat it up to pull the sleeves & push in new ones! the things you can learn by going to OMC tech school are amazing. lol (just mess'n with ya gator)