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!
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.