Difference in out drives between 5.7l and 3.0l?

[thormx11]

I've got two boats here, both mid to late 90s models, and both have mercruiser engines and out drives. The boat with a 5.7l has a hole in the block, and the boat with the 3.0l had te out drive stolen. The out drives look identical, would I be able to just unbolt the out drive from the 5.7l and bolt it up to the 3.0l?

 

[Bondo]

I've got two boats here, both mid to late 90s models, and both have mercruiser engines and out drives. The boat with a 5.7l has a hole in the block, and the boat with the 3.0l had te out drive stolen. The out drives look identical, would I be able to just unbolt the out drive from the 5.7l and bolt it up to the 3.0l?

Ayuh,... The drive will bolt on, No problem, But,....... The gear ratio is different, 'n you'll never find a prop small enough to work,....
The High gear ratio will Kill the 3.0l,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

As Bondo indicated, the gear ratios are different. most 5.7's have 1.47:1, the 3.0 is about a 2:1