Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not (leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? That's different.
Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.

On Sep 17, 1:23*pm, Jim wrote:
Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not *(leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. *The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. *I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. *You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . *A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? *That's different.

Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It was the torque. They were typically on bigger boats too. 300hp
small block in a runabout with an alpha is fine. But you're right,
merc quit recommending alphas for any big block application.

Sounds like the outdrive is in trouble. Hard to say what the rebuild
cost will be until it's torn down. You might find someone that will
tear it down for a few hundred and then tell you if it's worth
rebuilding or not. To bad, probably started as as simple seal problem
or some fishing line on the prop shaft.

On Sep 17, 12:58*pm, jamesgangnc wrote:
On Sep 17, 1:23*pm, Jim wrote:





Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not *(leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. *The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. *I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. *You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . *A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? *That's different.

Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It was the torque. *They were typically on bigger boats too. *300hp
small block in a runabout with an alpha is fine. *But you're right,
merc quit recommending alphas for any big block application.

Sounds like the outdrive is in trouble. *Hard to say what the rebuild
cost will be until it's torn down. *You might find someone that will
tear it down for a few hundred and then tell you if it's worth
rebuilding or not. *To bad, probably started as as simple seal problem
or some fishing line on the prop shaft.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The way that Tom described it, I'd say it's probably lunched, or close
to dinner time.

I'd also recommend a reputable salvage. After all, I really don't know
how much a huge rebuild on a lower end would really increase the boats
value.

If a boat is actually worth 5000.00 and you are offered 3000.00 for it
with a bad lower, is it better to sink anouther couple K into a lower-
end rebuild just to get it back up to 5?

the way I look at it, you still lost.

I'd look into a used swap especially if they're going to sell it and
not keep it.

On Sep 17, 12:23*pm, Jim wrote:
Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not *(leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. *The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. *I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. *You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . *A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? *That's different.

Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

True, but most stock 454's arn't rated at 300 hp. Unless somebody just
has to be a wild 'n crazy guy...

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:02:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

True, but most stock 454's arn't rated at 300 hp. Unless somebody just
has to be a wild 'n crazy guy...

The 454s I'm used to are 350 horse with a single 4bbl carb, more with
fuel injection.

On Sep 17, 3:13*pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:02:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

True, but most stock 454's arn't rated at 300 hp. Unless somebody just
has to be a wild 'n crazy guy...

The 454s I'm used to are *350 horse with a single 4bbl carb, more with
fuel injection.

hmmm, I didn't know they stacked them that high stock.

I figured in the 265 hp range

On Sep 17, 6:21*pm, Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 3:13*pm, Wayne.B wrote:

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:02:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

True, but most stock 454's arn't rated at 300 hp. Unless somebody just
has to be a wild 'n crazy guy...

The 454s I'm used to are *350 horse with a single 4bbl carb, more with
fuel injection.

hmmm, I didn't know they stacked them that high stock.

I figured in the 265 hp range

The small blocks pretty much go up to 300hp though I think there was
one that made 320hp. The "scorpion" I think? And it might have been
a 373 stroker too. The big blocks start around 310hp and go up from
there. Even with a small block you still find bravo drives on larger/
heavier boats. Most of the day boats with small blocks and down have
the alpha mainly cause it's cheaper. They've made so many they are
practically all profit these days, yukyuk.

On Sep 18, 1:13*pm, jamesgangnc wrote:
On Sep 17, 6:21*pm, Tim wrote:

On Sep 17, 3:13*pm, Wayne.B wrote:

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:02:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

True, but most stock 454's arn't rated at 300 hp. Unless somebody just
has to be a wild 'n crazy guy...

The 454s I'm used to are *350 horse with a single 4bbl carb, more with
fuel injection.

hmmm, I didn't know they stacked them that high stock.

I figured in the 265 hp range

The small blocks pretty much go up to 300hp though I think there was
one that made 320hp. *The "scorpion" I think? *And it might have been
a 373 stroker too. *The big blocks start around 310hp and go up from
there. *Even with a small block you still find bravo drives on larger/
heavier boats. *Most of the day boats with small blocks and down have
the alpha mainly cause it's cheaper. *They've made so many they are
practically all profit these days, yukyuk.

I understand now. I'm thinking automotive hp and the big blocks
weren't over 300 hp. OK, that makes sense to me. and yes,t he heavier
the boat the biggr the drive. I have a friend who has a 30 ft Carver
with bravo out drive and its hooked to a 'believe it or not'' Ford
302!

My 23 Marquis is one heavy boat and has a 350 chevy w/alpha. and I
know what you're saying about torque. it takes a bit of hard pushing
to get that tub up on plane.