bfernald0
Well-Known Member
- May 18, 2020
- 410
- Boat Info
- 340 Sundancer 2001
- Engines
- 8.2L Mercruiser ECT Horizons
Writing to share a little known fact, that even Mercury Marine appears to be unaware of. I purchased a never used and well maintained 2001 Sea Ray 340 Sundancer with the 7.4 MPI V-drive set up, from the original owner's family (he had recently past). The boat had 180 hours on it. While immaculate (the plastic packing was still in the microwave and the cockpit carpet in the original plastic bag from the factory), the engines were rusted out from the inside (you could eat off the exterior of both motors). While we had hoped to the contrary, we suspected we'd be into the boat for new engines.
Anyway, purchased two new Mercury 8.2l ECT engines, which these days are only DTS. Thus, Mercury told us you had to purchase the new transmissions as well, that had the DTS shift capability. NOT SO. The ZF/Hurth v-drive transmissions have a shifting block on the back of the transmission. On the existing manual set up, the shift cables hook onto that shift block. On a DTS transmission (you can only get the DTS transmissions today new) that shift block has been replaced with an electronically actuated version. There are a number of these 'used' electronic shift blocks on the market because, when someone with a manual shift boat has to purchase a new transmission (they only come now with the electronic shift), the electronic shift block is swapped with the existing manual shift block on the bad transmission.
Long story short, we installed the new engines with the existing transmissions, located two take off electronic shift blocks at a marine transmission shop in Ft. Lauderdale and were good to go, with one exception. To complete the install, two 500 PSI transducers (about 150 a pop) must be purchased from Mercury, that screw into the shift block and connect to the new DTS harness. Part No. 865664. See the part diagram attached.
She's running full DTS with the new engines and existing, formerly manual shift
transmissions.
Anyway, purchased two new Mercury 8.2l ECT engines, which these days are only DTS. Thus, Mercury told us you had to purchase the new transmissions as well, that had the DTS shift capability. NOT SO. The ZF/Hurth v-drive transmissions have a shifting block on the back of the transmission. On the existing manual set up, the shift cables hook onto that shift block. On a DTS transmission (you can only get the DTS transmissions today new) that shift block has been replaced with an electronically actuated version. There are a number of these 'used' electronic shift blocks on the market because, when someone with a manual shift boat has to purchase a new transmission (they only come now with the electronic shift), the electronic shift block is swapped with the existing manual shift block on the bad transmission.
Long story short, we installed the new engines with the existing transmissions, located two take off electronic shift blocks at a marine transmission shop in Ft. Lauderdale and were good to go, with one exception. To complete the install, two 500 PSI transducers (about 150 a pop) must be purchased from Mercury, that screw into the shift block and connect to the new DTS harness. Part No. 865664. See the part diagram attached.
She's running full DTS with the new engines and existing, formerly manual shift
