1984 MCM 228 V8/Drive questions

[Oshkosh1]

Hi all...
I'm thinking of buying a boat. It's an 84 and has a V8/305. It's the original owner and it's been professionally cared for since new with all documentation. I've owned an older inline 6 with an Alpha drive. Will the drive unit be of similar build? I think it's a year prior to the earliest Alpha units were installed. Can you identify and give me some info on it? Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Will the drive unit be of similar build?

Ayuh,..... All of the MC-1s, "R" drives, "MR" drives(yer's most likely), 'n the Alpha 1s are very, Very similar,....

'ell most of the parts mix, 'n match, atleast unit for unit, uppers, 'n lowers,...

Even the Alpha, Gen.II is quite similar, just the change in the raw water pump, 'n all the shift linkages,...
Which of course ruined the interchangeability of the series,...
So it's up to 1990, 'n then 1991, 'n newer, for any interchangin',...