73 Mercruiser Sterndrive Iddentification

[lasso]

Here we go again. Found some great help last time with an OLD OMC sterndrive. Lets try again. Im not new to this, just a little stumped on figuring out what i actually got.

1973 V.I.P. 18 ft., 165 h.p., inline 6 cyl., motor serial # 3354791. Mercruiser Sterndrive. These are the things I know for certain.

Outdrive has the lifting eye on the top of the case. My wife read the outdrive serial # 0000835, she thinks.

Everything appear to be in good shape with the entire rig, Im just wanting to replace the bellows, water pump, and reaseal the outdrive and lower unit.

Any and all help is always appreciated.

Thanks,
Todd

 

[Don S]

Re: 73 Mercruiser Sterndrive Iddentification

Best thing you could do is pull the old bellows off and look at the bellows where it goes onto the gimbal housing. The early style didn't have a ridge in the bellows, the newer ones did. The ridge in the bellows fits in a groove in the gimbal housing. If you try to put a bellow with the ridge on a gimbal housing without the groove, you will have a leak and you will be doing it over.
Also check to see if you have the newer style gimbal bearing, or just the ball bearing type in the older model.

 

[lasso]

Re: 73 Mercruiser Sterndrive Iddentification

Pulling the bellows housing this afternoon, gotta make a end for my slide hammer to pull the pins out of each side. So far all the bearings have been tapered roller bearings. Will check that one this afternoon and post tomorrow what we find.

 

[lasso]

Re: 73 Mercruiser Sterndrive Iddentification

Pulled off all the bellows. Had to be original parts, found one completely busted. Mine are the early ones, no grooves, all smooth mounting surfaces. Looks like a outdrive reseal kit, bellows kit, water pump, shift cable, and tilt trim pump, she'll be mechanically ready.

 

[lasso]

Re: 73 Mercruiser Sterndrive Iddentification

Finally got some good numbers off the motor and outdrive. Motor Serial # 3354791, Outdrive Serial # 0000835. It does have the lifting eye on top also. The bellows do not have a ridge inside of them either. The lower unit drive shaft has the pre-load pin. Havent checked the gimbal bearing to see if it is a ball bearing or tapered bearing yet. Gonna replace it also.

Where would be the best place to go for the early style bellows, complete outdrive reseal kit and shift cable. Everything I'm seeing is for Alpha Gen 1 or newer.

Any and all help is always appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: 73 Mercruiser Sterndrive Iddentification

If you want OEM, then you would have to find a site that is a Mercruiser dealer, if you are looking for Sierra aftermarket, iboats sells parts so they can afford to give you this free information site. Just click on Mercruiser Parts above your post.