TOPIC: 1972 65 HP Johnson - How much should I pay?

Looking to purchase this on craigslist, wondering how much I should pay for it. He's asking $450, but I honestly only have $300 I could muster. He says it doesn't have controls, or tilt or trim. When I called him, he says that it seems someone took the tilt off..? I I'm looking to put this on a small bass boat, and it has a 1980's control box on it, will this adapt up as long as it's not a selectric shift? Thanks! I plan to run a compression check, and check the LU oil as per usual.. Thanks!

A 72' would be the electronic shift LU.
73' was the first year without it.
That motor will also have points, again the first year for the power pack was 73'
Look it over carefully and be ready to walk away.
I have a 73' and a 76' The 73' came with my boat but I paid $600 for the 76' which is in really good shape.

LA007,

imVho, i would RUN away, rather than walk) from any of the electronic shift lower unit OBs. - water & electricity don't mix & they ALL, sooner or later in my 40+ years of using/owning OMC products, leak into the LU.

fwiw, at least here in south TX there are LOTS of good-running NON-electric shift OBs for sale around 2-300.oo
(over the last couple of years, i must have bought at least 6 for about that price.)

yours, satx

I'm hoping he's wrong on the year, I already have on selectric shift and I don't want to find a set of controls for a new one.

La007,

the ONLY way to know for sure is by motor serial number. - i've found "titles" & "registration documents" to be OFF by 2-3 years, either way. =====> i recently went to "look at" a FAT FIFTY that was titled by TXDP&W & found that it was listed as a 1957 model.
(there were NO "fat fiftys" until years later.)

yours, satx

My Dad actually gave one away last year. Good looking motor, but we found we needed parts and they were all but impossible to find. A few years newer and it seemed as if parts were much better to get as they had changed ignition systems and gear box changes. All the dealers around here said the electric shift models are fine as long as they work. If the shift doesn't work, they said it was a throw away motor. YMMV