desmopedro
Cadet
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2015
- Messages
- 7
Love the forums! Long time reader, first post. I hope this is not a question asked before. I could not find the answers!
I recently purchased a 1988 SeaRay 230 Weekender. CLEAN well maintained adult driven boat. Running a 7.4l CBB bolted to an Alpha One Gen 1
I read prior to buying the boat the Alpha 1 Gen 1 is a good drive. It was when I dug into the fact it?s a Gen 1 mated with a 454 big block that I started to worry! I have read the big blocks eat Alpha 1/Gen 1?s like crazy!
My questions are:
A- Am I worrying too much? The running gear on the boat looks to be all original and was very well maintained. (I have receipts) If it?s lasted this long and I plan on taking care of it, am I worried for nothing? It?s a 23? cruiser! I do not plan on hot rodding it or long WOT runs! Plus the water in MN is COOL, so I hear that helps keep things from failing!
B- I have seen multiple threads about converting Alpha 1?s to Bravo. I know it?s an option, and expensive option, but have NOT found a nice ?step by step? list of what?s needed! Does anyone have a nice reference for this? It would be nice to price it out?
C- Is there an option of switching the Alpha One Gen 1 to an Alpha One Gen 2? And is the Alpha Gen 2 that much better? (I have read they ARE a little better!) I see I would need a new gimbal ring, but if I didn?t need to pull the motor, and or the pieces on the outside of the transom matched up to the pieces on the inside (Drive plate/Shaft), I may look into it! It may be a good compromise between upgrade and $?
I have a guy here in MN who has a complete Bravo drive unit (gimbal ring to prop) AND a Gen 2 Alpha! The Alpha is way less $ than the Bravo, and if all I needed was to bolt a new gimbal ring to the existing transom hardware, and just do a few minor things?.the Alpha Gen 2 may be an option!
THANK YOU for ANY advice anyone can give me and I hope I have the opportunity to contribute in the future!
I recently purchased a 1988 SeaRay 230 Weekender. CLEAN well maintained adult driven boat. Running a 7.4l CBB bolted to an Alpha One Gen 1
I read prior to buying the boat the Alpha 1 Gen 1 is a good drive. It was when I dug into the fact it?s a Gen 1 mated with a 454 big block that I started to worry! I have read the big blocks eat Alpha 1/Gen 1?s like crazy!
My questions are:
A- Am I worrying too much? The running gear on the boat looks to be all original and was very well maintained. (I have receipts) If it?s lasted this long and I plan on taking care of it, am I worried for nothing? It?s a 23? cruiser! I do not plan on hot rodding it or long WOT runs! Plus the water in MN is COOL, so I hear that helps keep things from failing!
B- I have seen multiple threads about converting Alpha 1?s to Bravo. I know it?s an option, and expensive option, but have NOT found a nice ?step by step? list of what?s needed! Does anyone have a nice reference for this? It would be nice to price it out?
C- Is there an option of switching the Alpha One Gen 1 to an Alpha One Gen 2? And is the Alpha Gen 2 that much better? (I have read they ARE a little better!) I see I would need a new gimbal ring, but if I didn?t need to pull the motor, and or the pieces on the outside of the transom matched up to the pieces on the inside (Drive plate/Shaft), I may look into it! It may be a good compromise between upgrade and $?
I have a guy here in MN who has a complete Bravo drive unit (gimbal ring to prop) AND a Gen 2 Alpha! The Alpha is way less $ than the Bravo, and if all I needed was to bolt a new gimbal ring to the existing transom hardware, and just do a few minor things?.the Alpha Gen 2 may be an option!
THANK YOU for ANY advice anyone can give me and I hope I have the opportunity to contribute in the future!