alpha one horsepower limit

[diew]

I have an older alpha one. The mercruiser website says that an alpha one sterndrive can only handle up to 300 hp. When the current 350 mercruiser engine goes bad i am thinking of putting in a new 350 with around 330 hp. I know that mercruiser says it is designed for 300 hp but is that the max limit? will 330 hp blow the sterndrive?<br /><br />thanks.

 

[diew]

Re: alpha one horsepower limit

also, i might replace the old engine with a rebuilt truck engine. Mercruiser says that i shouldn't do it because mercruisers have special pistions, heads, etc. for marine use. They also say that automotive engines are not equipped to endure the high rpm duty cycles and harsh environment that marine engines see. Is this true or are they just trying to get my business?

 

[tommays]

Re: alpha one horsepower limit

it depends on how you drive if you like to run hard jump wakes and such it will die<br /><br />if your easy comeing up to speed it will hold up it just cant take a lot of sudden full power thats were BRAVO drives come in<br /><br />many people here buy GM crate engines and have no problem i really have not read to many threads were people bought motors direct from merc<br /><br />tommays

 

[diew]

Re: alpha one horsepower limit

Are the GM crate engines automobile or marine?

 

[tommays]

Re: alpha one horsepower limit

do a search on the site this is posted many many times<br /><br />on the basic block,heads and and intake the only things that make it marine are brass core plugs and the CAM which is allways and area of huge fights<br /><br />its all the electrics carb exaust manifolds that are marine<br /><br />tommmays

 

[bomar76]

Re: alpha one horsepower limit

The Alpha will handle more than 300 HP, you just can't hammer it out of the hole and watch catching air.<br />A lot of performance boaters run way more than 300 HP through them. You will definatly want a drve shower and run synthetic oil in the drive.<br /><br />The GM crate engines (like the ZZ4 for example) are not warranted for marine use by GM. That said, there are a LOT of ZZ4's in boats and they are a great choice. Switch over the usual non marine stuff and you are good to go. <br /><br />The cam is mild enough that I have never heard of anyone w/ reversion problems with one that weren't present before the ZZ4 was installed.<br /><br />A friend of mine has a performance boat shop and has had zero problems with the ZZ4's, and he does quite a few.