=stern drive question

[spareparts]

sounds like someone swaped the drives on that boat, 1.98 ratio is for the 2.5/3,0L four cylinders, the 3.7L 4cylinders and the v6's used the 1.84, the 5.0L V8's and the inline 6's used the 1.65, the 5.7's used 1.5 and the 7.4 used 1.32. The gear numbers changed a little when they went to Alpha 1 gen II, but they a were close to the same numbers, high altitude gear sets usually changed to the next gear ratio up from the standard, the 1.5 hd is the best set available for strength. You can use an Alpha 1 gen I lower any any of the earlier drives, the uppers will also interchange(you have to make sure you keep the correct length input shaft to the engine), the big advantage in an Alpha is the lower unit, they flipped the upper bearing and cut the gears different, it makes the lower 7 times stronger than the MC1 type lowers(has the spring loaded pin on the top of the shaft), the uppers did have better cut gears and bigger bearings, but it wasn't as much of an improvement as the lowers. If you try to bolt an Alpha 1 gen II to an early transom, it can cause all kinds of issues, I've sen it done, I don't know exactly how, but you have issues with shift shafts, and trim cylinders. If you have to do much to the transom, its a good idea to swap up to the A1 gen II transom and drives, they're a lot of improvements to make the later drives/transoms. Then you get into the engine bell housing/transom plate issues, but that's another story. There are some early A1 gen II boats out there that can be had for cheap(bad floors, bad transoms, interiors, etc) that make good swap material for fixing up an older boat

[mike77v20]

ive written all that you guys offered in my notes i been taking thanks for the help im posting pics of her all the way apart as soon as i figure it out

[smokeonthewater]

Ok so upon talking to the friend I got the engine from, he did swap the upper to one from a 4 cyl after hitting a stump at wot... I had known that before but thought he said the ratio stayed the same.... now he tells me that it was higher before (1.65)

anyhow, FWIW I tried both 1.5 and 1.98 with various props on the heavy boat and all around performance was much better with the lower gear about 3 mph on top end at the same rpm and amazing acceleration..... she jumped out of the hole better than many smaller boats with more power

[spareparts]

the higher ratio(numerically) works better on heavy boats, as long as you can prop it out. A 1,84 may work a bit better, but if what you have is working for you, don't worry about changing it.

[smokeonthewater]

eh, sold it nearly a year ago.... wish I still had it tho

[mike77v20]

finally chercked out that sei site and more than likely will get their upgraded outdrive