Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

[jalaska907]

I have a pre alpha, and was wondering if the alpha and pre alpha are the same, if not what are the changes, and if parts are interchangable

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,...

This should explain it for ya...

There's more of those tidbits in the Adults Only section at the top of this forum...

 

[achris]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

No such thing as 'pre-alpha'. From 1963 to 1982 it was called the 'Mercruiser 1' drive, MC-1 for short. In 1983 Merc 'revised' the drive, both internal and external, that was known as the 'R' or '1-R' drive. In 1895 it had a major redesign, and was called an 'MR', in 1986 Merc released the Alpha One and that survived until 1991 when the Alpha One - Gen II was released, and is still the current drive...

As for interchangeability. The internals are not interchangeable between any incarnation, but major assemblies will swap out, so you can have, for example, an MC-1 transom assembly, with an MR upper and a R lower, or an MR upper and an Alpha One lower. No parts or major assembly compatibility from anything 1991 and earlier with Alpha One Gen II....

 

[riskibusiness]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

When you look up parts on websites they list the parts as Pre-Alpha, Alpha, or Bravo. I'm no expert but it seems to be the correct terminology to me.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

When you look up parts on websites they list the parts as Pre-Alpha, Alpha, or Bravo. I'm no expert but it seems to be the correct terminology to me.

Ayuh,... That's just attempts by Marketers to group things into serial number ranges to match their marketing...

How can Anything be named Pre- anything, if it's namesake hasn't been named, or introduced yet,..??

Btw,... That's WHY, ya use Serial numbers to by parts....
Many parts changed many times even within the groupings listed by aChris,,,

 

[jalaska907]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

So if im not mistaken, i could use my gimbal housing from my "pre-alpha", to mount up an alpha 1. I see more alpha 1 parts out there thats why im curious

 

[achris]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

When you look up parts on websites they list the parts as Pre-Alpha, Alpha, or Bravo. I'm no expert but it seems to be the correct terminology to me.

It's not....

 

[achris]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

So if im not mistaken, i could use my gimbal housing from my "pre-alpha", to mount up an alpha 1. I see more alpha 1 parts out there thats why im curious

Yes, you can mount an Alpha One drive to an MC-1 bell housing... It will look a little odd, because the drive has a 'squared off' appearance and the bell housing is more rounded, but it's only aesthetics.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

Since it was introduced prior to or "pre" alpha it can be correctly called a pre alpha. However it is identified as a MC-1in the parts book. So anything made before the Alpha is pre alpha. However there is no Alpha Gen I. No drive was ever made or identified as such. The drive prior to the Gen II was simply an Alpha One.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

Might check the difference in the drive yoked coupling end splined shaft is all you need to change. I believe they're different lengths. If i recall?

 

[glastronomic]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

I have an "Old" MC-1 coupled to a 165HP both from 1978 and to my understanding the gearing is not compatible for swapsies with other ,later' parts.
But I could well be wrong!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

I have an "Old" MC-1 coupled to a 165HP both from 1978 and to my understanding the gearing is not compatible for swapsies with other ,later' parts.
But I could well be wrong!

Ayuh,... The Complete drive will swap, the internals Won't....

 

[water world]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

not the same. non alpha out drives. drive shaft housings will interchange. gear housings will not.. pre alpha has preloaded drive shaft
pushing drive shaft pinion down into forward gear. alpha drive gear housing drive shaft pushes up. or gears push apart. taper
bearing on drive shaft is held down with spanner nut under water pump base.

 

[achris]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

not the same. non alpha out drives. drive shaft housings will interchange. gear housings will not.. pre alpha has preloaded drive shaft
pushing drive shaft pinion down into forward gear. alpha drive gear housing drive shaft pushes up. or gears push apart. taper
bearing on drive shaft is held down with spanner nut under water pump base.

Not quite right. The complete gear housings are interchangeable. The MC-1 and R had the pre-load pin, the MR and Alpha One did not. They had the drive-shaft bearing inverted. So yes, you could use an Alpha One gearing housing with an MC-1 or R drive-shaft housing.

Chris.....

 

[glastronomic]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

...................

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

So asimple question; can a later mercury stern drive be installed /connected to the 1978 mercury 165HP 6 cilinder engine (This)

and work correctly, please??

Ayuh,.... You'd better start a thread of yer own,...

This is gettin' to involved as a Hy-jack...

 

[glastronomic]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

Ayuh,.... You'd better start a thread of yer own,...

This is gettin' to involved as a Hy-jack...

With all resect due, is this not the crux of the matter of the main question asked as this has the first (Pre Alpha) leg on it and I think that the question asked is can you update/repair/substitude a newer/later leg with the old leg.
Please do feel free to delete my posts if they cloud the topic in your oppinion.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is the pre alpha the same as a alpha 1??

With all resect due, is this not the crux of the matter of the main question asked as this has the first (Pre Alpha) leg on it and I think that the question asked is can you update/repair/substitude a newer/later leg with the old leg.
Please do feel free to delete my posts if they cloud the topic in your oppinion.

Yes, this thread is about the interchangeabilities of the components of the MC-1, R, MR, 'n Alpha 1 drives...

Yer askin' 'bout yer Motor.... Different subject,.. lot'sa parts in-between 'em...

Start a thread of yer Own, about up-dating yer driveline....
I, as well as others will post the answers, 'n opinions there....