Re: OMC Cobra Drive vs Mercruiser Alpha 1
Of course, I wouldn't tell someone to buy one now, but mine has been little trouble for a 20 year old drive, used and slipped in salt water for about 1/2 of its life. I've done the bellows, trim lines, some seals, bearing retainer, and a set of manifolds. It's too bad that the Cobra had the cable problems early on, because once they are set up right they shift very well, better than some Merc Alphas I have been around. I'm going to keep running this one as long as I can get parts.....BTW, I see now that Sierrra Marine is making a complete upper gear housing for Cobras....I hope they do the lowers too....so I can keep the old tub going without having to do a complete re-fit to Merc.
I've researched the Volvo conversion, and work wise it's the best option, since you don't have to pull the engine and only change the pivot housing on the drive, but the Volvo is so much more expensive to start with, unless you can get a good used SX it's hard to justify with SEI Alphas out there for 1200 or so....
