www.thehulltruth.com -
this is a very busy site so you get a 50/50 good info/BS.
www.boatered.com
good engine forum, the guy george who moderates it is top notch. For some reason there is bad mojo betweent the hull truth and boatered site but info is info, take the good toss the bad. Good luck (my vote is go outboard)
Bloo,
Why don't you just replace the outdrive? I'm sure, even if its a discontinued model, one of the maker has one that will bolt right up. It would be lot quicker than converting it to an outboard.