OK Ney Sayers! I completely swapped my damaged a1 gen 2 with my A1 gen 2 (including bell housing) and wahla!
Don't see anywhere in this thread where someone said you couldn't swap a gen 2 with a gen 2. In fact that is the most pragmatic approach to your initial issue
Unsure of why you also swapped bell housings unless the original didn't have the check valve for the gear lube monitor system in which case you'd need to add the through transom fitting, lines and monitor bottle