Help with MC ID

[HPwannabe]

Hi, I'm sure you guys get tired of the same old questions, but I'm struggling ID-ing the exact model of gimbal housing I have. The boat is very old and been updated several times. The sterndrive itself is an early alpha-1. This gimbal housing is pre-alpha. It has the slightly larger transom bolt pattern from the very early ones, has trim sensors with the squared off "ears" that cover them. Does not have the large plugs on the sides where the upper steering pin is, has rubber transom seal. I think it may be a late 70's MC-1? Is there a definitive guide somewhere? Unfortunately I can't find any part numbers on this housing....where are they located? The label on the upper part just says "power trim".
Thank you for any help you can provide.

 

[Bondo]

Does not have the large plugs on the sides where the upper steering pin is,

Ayuh,..... It's a late model MC-1,......

Those plastic plugs are added when repairin' the swivel pin, not a from the factory item

 

[HPwannabe]

Ayuh,..... It's a late model MC-1,......

Those plastic plugs are added when repairin' the swivel pin, not a from the factory item

Hi Bondo, thanks. That jives with what I've seen - somewhere between about '78 and '83. The boat had an older model housing on it that had those plugs (I'm replacing it with the newer one). I'm pretty sure they were factory. To my knowledge, there had never been a pin repair done to that unit. That housing has cast-in bosses that the plugs are installed in. I think there were a few years where these plugs were there from the factory. My service manual shows them on some of the units and not others, and mentions removing them for access to the steering link screw/nut. I think that dates the older housing to pre-1974. Here's a pic.