Is it worth it??

[Hockeydad4-22]

I have a pre-alpha stern drive on my 66 starcraft cheiftan, 110hp 4cylinder. All original. I just pulled it as I have milky gear oil in the lower unit and figure I need to replace all the seals, might as well as do the bellows and shift rod at the same time. Then yesterday....

I was wandering through the local pull-n-pay wrecking yard and noticed a couple boats so of course I wandered over and you can guess what I see. A pre-alpha stern drive attached to a 6cyl. It looked complete, was not locked up and when I put it into proper gear, the prop that was attached would not turn in that direction.

I asked how much for the complete unit, from the transom out and was told $120 and that is everything from the transom back including the shaft. I have 3 questions:

#1 - is there a method I can use to check its condition without running the boat
#2 - is it the same as what is on my boat? mine is a 4 cyl 110 hp motor, this is a 6cyl 160 (maybe 165)?
#3 - Is it worth it? I know many here advocate replacing with an alpha but it looks to me like that will be 10x this cost and currently - that is not in the budget.

 

[Heavy<313>]

Gearing is going to be different, and you should replace all the seals on an unknown unit anyway.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would get the whole drive and motor, then look for a running pre 1978 truck and pull the 250 cubic inch out of it myself and go with the bigger motor and other drive for your 66

you can pressure check the gear box in the salvage yard, however also agree to put a set of seals and gaskets in the unknown drive.

 

[Bondo]

I have a pre-alpha stern drive on my 66 starcraft cheiftan, 110hp 4cylinder. All original.

Ayuh,...... Pre-alpha covers many, Many different drives, 'n most won't play well with another,.....

A '66 ain't gonna have much in common with a '76,...
Things changed, 'n swaps get alot more complicated,....
After the mid-'70s, to '91 things are relatively simple, though there's always a few Gotchas in a swap,...

If yer a guy like me, with decades of stuff squirreled away all over 3 counties,...
Ya, it might be worth it if the ole barge is a keeper yer in love with,....

If yer a hockey Dad 'n the minivan lives in yer garage, rather than squirreled away "Stuff",.....
Naw, I doubt it's worth it,....

 

[Richmond2000]

I have a 1966 Starcraft holiday
and the A1 EZ shift drive to gimble mount studs are a different width from a MC1 so you NEED to change the gimbal at least and ALL that entails

 

[Hockeydad4-22]

Ayuh,...... Pre-alpha covers many, Many different drives, 'n most won't play well with another,.....

A '66 ain't gonna have much in common with a '76,...
Things changed, 'n swaps get alot more complicated,....
After the mid-'70s, to '91 things are relatively simple, though there's always a few Gotchas in a swap,...

If yer a guy like me, with decades of stuff squirreled away all over 3 counties,...
Ya, it might be worth it if the ole barge is a keeper yer in love with,....

If yer a hockey Dad 'n the minivan lives in yer garage, rather than squirreled away "Stuff",.....
Naw, I doubt it's worth it,....

Ahh Bondo....

My Hockeydad-ing days are long over. My sons are 20 & 22 and the only person in my house still playing hockey is me. The youngest is a US Marine and the oldest is in the process of moving from home here in Denver to Bend OR. Its just an old screen name from way back that I still use including my photobucket and other forums I am on. More importantly - I have never owned a mini van, closest I have come is a rental at a hockey tournament some years ago. The only running vehicle in my garage is my wife's 2011 Grand Cherokee and I learned many years ago that she gets to park in the garage.

The rest of it is dedicated to my other projects. Currently the biggest one is my 71 ford bronco that I am building from scratch. I literally started with the frame, tub and title (my boys gave it to me for fathers day 2 years ago). At this point I have stretched the frame and have the drive train in. I am working on rust repairs so I can stretch the tub (I am planning to make it into an extra-cab to replace my current pick up). And yeah- I am modernizing this project. Disk Brakes, fuel Injected, 5-speed auto trans, A/C. Shoot, the wife even wants power windows, locks and hopefully heated seats - I think that may be taking it to far... I mean its not an Escalade afterall.

As far as my boating experience...

I inherited my boat, it was my Uncles and as a kid I have many fond memories spending nights on the lake on it and on my grandfathers boat that went to my cousin. My own sons have slept out on the boat with my grandfather when they were small, spending the whole night fishing. So for sentamental reasons only, I would like to keep it as original as is practical. I am not above upgrades, when they make sense, but just to make it go faster, or to be "cooler" - not my style. When I pass it on to my boys, then they can put what ever they want on it. For me.... I like it pretty much the way it is.

That said, other than those times with my family in my youth, I am very new to boats and boating in general. Learning as I go and I do appreciate yours and others thoughts and tutoring as I progress.

But their aint no friggin mini-vans in my garage - never have been either. I may live in suburbia, but that does not mean I have to act like it. And I suppose I will leave that ole drive to rot away in the salvage yard.... not going to lie tho - it kinda makes me sad.