Broken Mercruiser Outdrive Replacement

[CallMeSme]

I have a 1978 Sea Ray 18.6 ft boat that has been sitting since 2007 since the Mercruiser (pre-alpha) outdrive broke on our final fishing trip of the year. The Serial number on the boat itself is SER 1465AO178 and the serial on the outdrive is 4944593. The engine was replaced in early 2007 (small block 350 I believe) and the boat worked great before the outdrive broke on our final trip at the boat launch. We tied it up with a rope and went about 60 miles that day, but decided to retire it. I attached a picture of the broken outdrive.

I tried my best to look through the 'Adults only' section and FAQ's before posting this message and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.

Where can I find information on swapping out the pre-alpha outdrives if I were to find a used one? Are their any past threads that could help me out? Any words of wisdom on slapping a new one on, and what sort of tools/expertise I would need?

Also I called Mercruiser and they told me it was a 1.5 Gear Ratio, almost positive. Does that sound correct?

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Broken Mercruiser Outdrive Replacement

While that drive may be a 1.50 Gear ratio, what engine do you have. The 1.5 is for a V8.
You have what is called a one drive (MC-1) it can be replaced by a R, MR, or Alpha I, but NOT and Alpha I Gen II (91 to present)

This will help explain the names I have listed.
http://www.4shared.com/file/213854305/deac4209/Mercruiser_Alpha_ID_and_Histor.html

 

[Divecaptchris]

Re: Broken Mercruiser Outdrive Replacement

Id replace it with a alpha 1 from SEI, Thats what I did with my 1980 carver and worked out well! 3 year warranty!

 

[CallMeSme]

Re: Broken Mercruiser Outdrive Replacement

It's a small block V-8. Can't remember if it is a 305 or 350.

So basically I could just replace it with any of the beforementioned drive (say an alpha 1 gen 1) with a 1.5 gear ratio?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Broken Mercruiser Outdrive Replacement

That is correct, and I second the SE106 drive. You can buy them right here on Iboats.

 

[CallMeSme]

Re: Broken Mercruiser Outdrive Replacement

It looks like just the upper gear case is broken. Would it be possible to just replace that upper piece, reattach the lower gear case?

And whats the protocol on mix and matching lower MC-1 with an Alpha 1? Is it more trouble than its worth?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Broken Mercruiser Outdrive Replacement

And whats the protocol on mix and matching lower MC-1 with an Alpha 1? Is it more trouble than its worth?

Ayuh,.. Due to Gravity, all the grounded up junk from the upper will be in the lower....

With the price of the replacement drive,... Just Do it....