gen 1? or 2?

[luv2fishN.M.]

i own a 1989 regal sebring w/ the 4.3L mercruiser v6. im looking for a transom reseal kit complete w/ gimbal bearing. the s/n on the top of the bell housing under the grease zert is 08811931 it also says alpha one. is this a gen 1? or 2? confused???

 

[Don S]

Re: gen 1? or 2?

Gen II's didn't come out till 91. You have an Alpha I. No such thing as a Gen I.

 

[luv2fishN.M.]

Re: gen 1? or 2?

thanks don s.

 

[pinecrestwoods]

Re: gen 1? or 2?

This issue frustrated me, as well. I would read one thing that would "identify" mine as gen ii, then the next thing would lead me to believe I had an alpha one. Very frustrating for a newb. FINALLY, while tucking myself between my engine and transom, I found a sticker that said gen 2. Why the crap hide a decal back there?!?!?! I would guess that most people with limited knowledge wouldn't know which drive they have. Actually, the two boat shops I now frequent each had identified my drive differently. How's a guy to win?!?! Come on, Merc, just put the decal on the freakin' outdrive where everyone can see it and be done with it!

I guess my question then is: Since Don S mentioned gen ii arrived in '91, did the gen two "replace" the alpha one, or was gen 2 added to the line-up as alpha 1 was phased-out (meaning some years' worth of overlap)? In other words, is 1991 a hard line where you either have alpha one or gen ii?

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: gen 1? or 2?

I had the same problem too idenifying my lower unit, Thanks to Don and every one else on here, come to find out I have an Alpha One lower on a 1991 boat I think it has been replaced before I bought the boat not sure, but it's definitly a Alpha One on a 1991. The water intake is not die casted in the side like on the genII, it's a separate piece that is screwed on and thats the easiest way for me to identify it now. Look at the pics and you'll see what I mean, 1st pic is the old Alpha one I had on there and pic #2 is the one I just had replaced with a used Alpha one housing.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: gen 1? or 2?

puter oops

 

[subysti]

Re: gen 1? or 2?

The easiest way to tell an Alpha I gen I from a Gen II is by the skeg. With a Gen II the front and rear edges are both angled to the rear. On the Gen I the rear edge is straight up and down.

 

[180shabah]

Re: gen 1? or 2?

Or use the serial number since merc doesn't use model years.

Yes the alpha 1 gen2 drive was introduced in '91 to replace the the existing alpha1. No the year '91 is not a hard break. The way boat manufacturers opperate it is possible to have a '91, '92 or even a '93 boat that has an early alpha1 on it from the factory. The same holds true when engines were changed/updated by merc.

Your S/N is king.