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Ford 351 King Cobra engine & Cobra stern drive

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137734
Printed Date: 07 Jun 2026 at 6:46pm


Topic: Ford 351 King Cobra engine & Cobra stern drive
Posted By: Haularse
Subject: Ford 351 King Cobra engine & Cobra stern drive
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2023 at 2:43pm
Hello,
Looking at a boat early 90's that has a 351 King Cobra engine and Cobra stern drive.
Can anyone share thoughts on what these combinations are like in terms of reliability, any know issues with them, parts availability, and ease of servicing ( and who services them) them etc.

Thanks in advance.


Replies:
Posted By: Telecaster
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2023 at 8:03am
Sounds like the engines are OK but the sterndrive has mixed reviews and may be difficult to get parts for:
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/351-omc-king-cobra-with-king-cobra-outdrive.416095/" rel="nofollow - https://forums.iboats.com/threads/351-omc-king-cobra-with-king-cobra-outdrive.416095/


Posted By: Haularse
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2023 at 8:52am
Originally posted by Telecaster Telecaster wrote:

Sounds like the engines are OK but the sterndrive has mixed reviews and may be difficult to get parts for:
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/351-omc-king-cobra-with-king-cobra-outdrive.416095/" rel="nofollow - https://forums.iboats.com/threads/351-omc-king-cobra-with-king-cobra-outdrive.416095/


Thanks for you input, from what I can see there is a bit of risk in looking at these engine/drive combinations. Parts, and people who can work on them. The boat is 30 years old, so the cost of a possible repower needs to be considered. 
Think will leave this off the potential list to look at.

Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2023 at 6:58pm
Originally posted by Haularse Haularse wrote:

Originally posted by Telecaster Telecaster wrote:

Sounds like the engines are OK but the sterndrive has mixed reviews and may be difficult to get parts for:
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/351-omc-king-cobra-with-king-cobra-outdrive.416095/" rel="nofollow - https://forums.iboats.com/threads/351-omc-king-cobra-with-king-cobra-outdrive.416095/


Thanks for you input, from what I can see there is a bit of risk in looking at these engine/drive combinations. Parts, and people who can work on them. The boat is 30 years old, so the cost of a possible repower needs to be considered. 
Think will leave this off the potential list to look at.


I don't know anything about this engine and stern drive. It sounds expensive to keep.


-------------
Best gurnard fisherman in my street


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