I have a 1977 omc 175 sterndrive with a ford 175 engine. I was wondering if a 1976 235 stern drive would work in its place. I can pick up a 235 drive cheaper than buying parts for the 175 drive.
The 165-175-190 drives were the same gear ratio. The 235 drive will work but you will have to play with Lower pitch propellers
If your upper gear case is still good then you could swap the uppers. Does the the drives both have the True-Course internal steering?
I do believe they both have the same steering. On my 175 the drive shaft and water pump shaft, where they come together, the splines are rounded out. The impeller housing broke and grenaded it, and cracked the whole gear housing where the impeller is. The lower end is still good
Save the internal parts. The pinion and water pump shafts are still available and worth looking into getting replaced. Some special tools are needed that I still have should you decide to reuse the old gear set again.
the drive you are looking at will have the same shaft issues. all of those OMC drives have the same problem. its when the shafts fail and get replaced, not if.
