Author Topic: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?  (Read 13437 times)

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Offline CVX Fever

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #20 on: September 17, 2010, 12:46:16 PM »
Mine runs great too which means it will be all that easier to sell once I yank it!  ;D
Seriously you got the 2BBl to spin that 21P Laser to 4700 RPM? My 4BBL could never get more than 4400-4500 RPMs w/21 P Laser I had on it.
1979 CVX18 "Back in Black"....someday!
1985 CVX18 " Only thing better than 2 CVX18's is 2 girlfriends!

Offline Jason

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #21 on: September 17, 2010, 02:08:42 PM »
Would anyone like to explain the evolution of the mercruiser outdrive? I know there MR's, alphas, bravo's, and a few in between. But what's the basic differences between them. I just always wondered and know there is more to it than a liffting hook hole on top of the outdrive!
Jason S.
1974 Glastron Carlson CV16SS 140 I/O
1986 Glastron Carlson CV23 260 I/O

Offline Grinder

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #22 on: September 17, 2010, 03:09:41 PM »
Mine runs great too which means it will be all that easier to sell once I yank it!  ;D
Seriously you got the 2BBl to spin that 21P Laser to 4700 RPM? My 4BBL could never get more than 4400-4500 RPMs w/21 P Laser I had on it.

Kip,
It was between 4650 and 4700 (if the tach is right?). With my 19p Alum I was at about 5000-5100. Mine has a 4 bbl on it. Not from the factory but someone put a Quadrajet on it. When I yank mine i'm going to look for a CVX 16 to stuff it in. I have heard that the chevy V8's won't fit but I have to try. I want to build a 383 stroker and find an Alpha SS or Gen II.
« Last Edit: September 17, 2010, 03:16:09 PM by Grinder »
Shaun
86 CVX 18

Offline CVX Fever

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #23 on: September 17, 2010, 04:22:09 PM »
OK Shaun, that makes me feel better. I didn't realize yours had a 4 BBl on it. Well you got my boat by almost 1 MPH.  Best I've ever got out of it is 57.0!

You and Jeff need to get together. He wants to stuff a SB Chev into a CVX16 also! ;D

Jason:

Here's some stuff I know. Not complete by any means. Hopefully Rich will chime in.

The Alpha 1 Gen 1 was released in 1984. A tougher more durable drive with a greater trim range than the one it replaced. Rated for 300 HP at the crankshaft/input shaft. You can bolt a Alpha leg onto an MR drive.

The Alpha 1 Gen 2 came out in 1992. Rated at 300 HP at the prop. The water impellar design was improved. These drives also have drive oil resevoir tank inside the boat. Not sure of they're have been any major improvments since then. Far as I know the current drives are still called Alpha Gen 2's.

The Bravo's are a more stout, tougher drive that can handle higher HP's.  They use cone clutches vs dog. The legs on the Bravo drives all interchange. The transom assemblies, gimbles and trim rams are all the same. No clue on years they were released/ or improved ect.

Bravo 1 - Found on most performance boats w/big block engines. Sometimes you'll see them mated to a SB.

Bravo 2 - Built for cruisers and made to run large diameter props. Not real popular due to the Bravo 3

Bravo 3 - Dual counter rotating props found on most cruisers and large bowriders, generally 21' and over.

1979 CVX18 "Back in Black"....someday!
1985 CVX18 " Only thing better than 2 CVX18's is 2 girlfriends!

Offline Hyperacme

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Offline Jason

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #25 on: September 17, 2010, 09:15:57 PM »
Thanks guys. Interesting. The Blackhawk outdrive sure looks fun!!

Looks like call the Alpha Gen I the MR too. I always thought the one with the loop on top like mine is a MR but it's really an R.
Jason S.
1974 Glastron Carlson CV16SS 140 I/O
1986 Glastron Carlson CV23 260 I/O

Offline Grinder

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #26 on: September 17, 2010, 09:51:42 PM »
Will the gen II fit on a 898 gimbel housing?
Shaun
86 CVX 18

Offline Rich_V174SS

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #27 on: September 17, 2010, 10:52:46 PM »
It should bolt up to the transom bell housing but the driveshaft might be a little longer than the pre-Alpha driveshaft so it might mean having to switch the input shaft with an older one. Also, the trim rams are a different length and won't mount correctly to the Alpha Gen II, the attachment point is a shorter distance to the gimbal and spread further apart.
1967 V174 Crestflite SuperSport Modified
1987 Mercruiser 190 3.7LX/Alpha One

1970 V176 Swinger
1983 Mercury 115

Offline OleRed

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Re: Basic Question - What Type of Outdrive do I have?
« Reply #28 on: September 19, 2010, 11:41:59 PM »
Hey guy's .. I got my computer back up tonite .. grrrrr.   the Gen II will Not bolt up to the Alpha assy,  it has about a 1/4" wider sprerad in the guide ... but I did have one that had been ground down to fit itn the Alpha assy, but I certainly don't recomend that.   the Alpha drive, gen I is the same, but the upper bearing assy are a little bigger and handle more horse power ... either will fit though,  the in-put shaft is longer on the Alpha, gotta take that in concideration for sure. The Gen II will handle more HP than some say ... I can attest to that...
1980 23ft Scimitar