Heavy Duty Alpha Drive

[BonBini]

I'd like to hear your comments on the infamous white painted gen one alha drive that came behind the legendary 454. I've heard they were heavy duty built Crusaders, and also heard they were nothing more than a paint job and a sticker kit.

I'm sure some of you must have experience from the day and would like to hear what you have to say on this. thanks ...Ron

 

[Larry]

It is only paint and stickers... Nothing different.

 

[Captain Crispy]

The only "heavy duty" Alpha I have ever heard of was the Gen II.
My understanding is the Alpha 1 was rated for a maximum 260hp.
Sea Ray sold a number of boats with "their" engine, which was a Mercury outboard or I/O painted white rather than black, and with Sea Ray emblems/decals.

 

[garryowen]

they are a true alpha 1 drive painted oyster white with a sea ray decals.
heavy duty gear top gear sets were installed from the factory or under warranty to attempt to make them live. if left alone with one of these gear sets you have a fair chance of one living. a standard set of alpha gears wont survive long.
if you have one that works baby and take care of it

the only 2 gear ratios i have heard of for these are the 1:32 to 1 which most all were from the factory. these were used because they have the least amount of teeth and so larger stronger tooth. second was the 1:50 to 1. this was put out to compensate for altitude as the 1:32's were to much gear.

i happened on to a fellow that had a boat just like mine, he bought new. he went thrue this with his boat first hand. as i remember he went thrue 3 gear sets all covered under warranty. he was the best source of information i have found and to date i'v not found any one that would dispute what he told me.

i talked to a mechanic that worked on these in the day. he told me when setting one up along with the gears you had to set the top bearing pre load a little tighter to help compensate for shaft flex that caused the gears to run out of alignment under the higher load stress. then you had to run a little more gear back lash to compensate for the extra heat and torque. not sure but makes sense to me.

the one thing i can tell you for sure is a standard alpha 1 wont stand up the the 7.4L motor.

 

[BonBini]

garryowen: I hear what your saying and can't dispute it in any way. I've never been able to find any info on heavy duty alhpa drives other than hear say. I do think my 268 drive is a taller ratio than my 230 was due the same prop pushes the big boat the same speed as the little boat at a lower rpm.

I think what your saying is some techs from the day came up with the fact that the 1.32:1 ratio was stronger by desighn, and the gear set setup was done not by the book but by experience. You also mentioned heat. I might look at a shower intall for the spring. Great info. thanks ...Ron

 

[garryowen]

i ran a drive shower on the last one i had and it didnt make any difference
i never did try to find a heavy duty gear set. they are out there.

we realy like the our boat. after looking for new ones and other used one we were happy to convert ours to a bravo and keep this boat. not sure that would work for any one else, but we sure are happy and the cost is by far, less than we would have spent by far for any thing else we saw.

 

[SCORPIO]

Just curious, what is involved in swapping to a Bravo outdrive? Do they use different transom housings?

 

[garryowen]

yes thats the main piece in the puzzle that needs swaped- the transom assembly.
then engine coupler, coupler housing, add sea water pump,and switch to bravo shift plate