888 Drive Housing, Alpha Gear Housing

[safd18fire]

I have a 1973 888 with a bad gear housing. Will a gear housing from a Alpha 1 Gen 1 bolt up to the 888 upper drive housing? It appears that it will. Also, here are some pictures of my drive. I don't think the lower gear housing is the original one for the 888 upper. What is this lower gear housing? Here is a picture of my upper too.

 

[JasonB]

Re: 888 Drive Housing, Alpha Gear Housing

Does the top of that lower unit's driveshaft have a preload pin? I suspect it doesn't, indicating it is much newer than your upper. A R/MR/Gen 1 lower should bolt up and work fine as I understand it.

That LU has a nosecone and the skeg doesn't look like a normal mercruiser.