Futura 500 Discussion

[Glastronauticus]

Is it normal for the outdrive to lift the engine cover on this model?

1965 Glasstron futura 500 - $800 (Tehachapi)
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/boa/4276832983.html

[OleRed]

Is it normal for the outdrive to lift the engine cover on this model?

1965 Glasstron futura 500 - $800 (Tehachapi)
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/boa/4276832983.html

Only with that OMC outboard/outdrive model, thats an outboard motor incorperated with an outdrive, I'd think it was a dealer instalation by customer request, thats not the way they were designed.
I couldn't access the factory brochures on the national site, it's been hacked or Todd has changed the link, anyway, here's a pic of the brochure I found on the boat.

[Carlson_from_Germany]

Is it normal for the outdrive to lift the engine cover on this model?

1965 Glasstron futura 500 - $800 (Tehachapi)
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/boa/4276832983.html

I've always wanted one of those. Ever since I saw that brochure with that thing sitting next to the aircraft.

[Rich_V174SS]

That '65 Futura 500 V164 did have OMC Sterndrive power as an option using an outboard V4 powerhead, it just might not have been indicated in the brochure. Here's pictures of another one. The finish on both shown used to be metal flake red.

[Jason]

That '65 Futura 500 V164 did have OMC Sterndrive power as an option using an outboard V4 powerhead, it just might not have been indicated in the brochure. Here's pictures of another one. The finish on both shown used to be metal flake red.

Hey Rich,
Was that V4 powerhead tied into the stringers like the newer OMC drives? Almost looks like that power head is hanging off the transom. Such a crazy design!

[Rich_V174SS]

That '65 Futura 500 V164 did have OMC Sterndrive power as an option using an outboard V4 powerhead, it just might not have been indicated in the brochure. Here's pictures of another one. The finish on both shown used to be metal flake red.

Hey Rich,
Was that V4 powerhead tied into the stringers like the newer OMC drives? Almost looks like that power head is hanging off the transom. Such a crazy design!

Bolted directly to the transom and suspended in the air. OMC had this engine arrangement for only a few years, I think from 1965 to 1968 or '69 and I think were rated from 90 to 110 hp.

[dorelse]

That '65 Futura 500 V164 did have OMC Sterndrive power as an option using an outboard V4 powerhead, it just might not have been indicated in the brochure. Here's pictures of another one. The finish on both shown used to be metal flake red.

Hey Rich,
Was that V4 powerhead tied into the stringers like the newer OMC drives? Almost looks like that power head is hanging off the transom. Such a crazy design!

Bolted directly to the transom and suspended in the air. OMC had this engine arrangement for only a few years, I think from 1965 to 1968 or '69 and I think were rated from 90 to 110 hp.

And then Force brought it back in the late 80's...I'm assuming it didn't work in the 60's just as it didn't work in 88-92...

[aquamaniac]

The OMC V4 Sterndrive was offered from 1962 thru 1968. It was a "stringer" drive. The photo of the one in the Futura is not the mounting that OMC designed and doesn't really look like Glastron workmanship either.

There were 2 different 1965 Glastron Brochures and this model is different in the two brochures. One brochure has the 164 as the "Futura" in metallic red and white, the other brochure has the 164 Sportster in Red and white (Not metallic) and lists the OMC 490 as a power choice

[Rich_V174SS]

The OMC V4 Sterndrive was offered from 1962 thru 1968. It was a "stringer" drive. The photo of the one in the Futura is not the mounting that OMC designed and doesn't really look like Glastron workmanship either.

There were 2 different 1965 Glastron Brochures and this model is different in the two brochures. One brochure has the 164 as the "Futura" in metallic red and white, the other brochure has the 164 Sportster in Red and white (Not metallic) and lists the OMC 490 as a power choice

Here are pics of the non-metalic "Sportster" version, this one with a Mercruiser 120. It probably flew with that package.

[Jason]

The OMC V4 Sterndrive was offered from 1962 thru 1968. It was a "stringer" drive. The photo of the one in the Futura is not the mounting that OMC designed and doesn't really look like Glastron workmanship either.

There were 2 different 1965 Glastron Brochures and this model is different in the two brochures. One brochure has the 164 as the "Futura" in metallic red and white, the other brochure has the 164 Sportster in Red and white (Not metallic) and lists the OMC 490 as a power choice

Now this is getting interesting!

The picture posted here is definitely a stringer drive but does not look anything like the mounting in the Glastron. But at the same time, the mounting brackets on the Glastron don't look to be homemade. Do you think there is any chance OMC made this in both a transom and stringer set up? Or maybe a retrofit kit for replacing a mercury?

[Rich_V174SS]

Now this is getting interesting!

The picture posted here is definitely a stringer drive but does not look anything like the mounting in the Glastron. But at the same time, the mounting brackets on the Glastron don't look to be homemade. Do you think there is any chance OMC made this in both a transom and stringer set up? Or maybe a retrofit kit for replacing a mercury?

I think it's just a case of OMC having different mounting options depending on the type of hull it was going in. There is a large hole cut out of the transom in that Glastron and the power head is mounted with flexible rubber bushings for shock absorption and movement. I do see a rubber boot surrounding the drive on the outside of the transom. It's just a different mounting bracket that holds the engine to the transom instead of to the stringers and floor.

[aquamaniac]

I didn't realize before that those were two different Futuras. I wonder why Glastron would have done that. That big chunk of plywood mounted to the outside of the hull and anchoring the engine and outdrive at the top of the transom???

Don't all IOs have stringers for motor mounts?

Maybe Mercury made those brackets so they'd vibrate like a MerCruiser.

[Rich_V174SS]

I didn't realize before that those were two different Futuras. I wonder why Glastron would have done that. That big chunk of plywood mounted to the outside of the hull and anchoring the engine and outdrive at the top of the transom???

That plywood is inside the boat, the outside is the outer shell of the fiberglass hull.

Don't all IOs have stringers for motor mounts?

Not all of them did. Mercury's Mercruiser 60-90 horse power I/O's using a Renault in-line 4 cylinder engine in the later 60's into the early 70's was bolted to the transom, the front of the engine floated. I think some of the early Volvo Penta 4 cylinder engines were also floaters. Mercruiser 110/120, 140, and in-line 6 GM engines had a single mount at the front of the engine that bolted to a horizontal plank which was glassed between the two main stringers, the rear of the engine was supported by the transom assembly which is bolted thru the transom.

Maybe Mercury made those brackets so they'd vibrate like a MerCruiser.

I'm pretty sure that mounting bracket is OMC manufacture. The engine is supposed to have some movement independent of the hull/transom, so it's got rubber shock bushings.

[Rosscoe]

Now THAT is a bizarre set up.