How to tell the difference in Transom assemblies 1988 Alpha setup? Need to replace

[crazy charlie]

Will need to replace outside transom assembly for my 1988 5.0XL alpha set up.It is not a gen 2 which I can easily see the difference.I can get a nice freash water one on eBay but i am concerned with buying the incorrect one.All of the alpha assemblies look identical to mine but my serial #s are long gone.I assume there are some telltale differences that an experienced pro can point out .Any experienced help would be appreciated because all of the alpha one setups look identical from what I can see.Thanks Charlie

 

[Fishermark]

Charlie, I have swapped out quite a few of the Alpha assemblies and have never had a problem with any differences. As long as it is truly an Alpha assembly (and not gen 2) then you should be fine. If you get into anything older than the Alphas, then you will probably need to get the matching inner transom plate as well.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Any Alpha transom from 'bout '82 or '83 are pretty much the same, up til '90, as the Gen.II came out in '91,...

Any differences won't matter, as far as fit,....

They just gained grease fittin's up to 'bout '85, after which the grease fittin's started disappearin',...

 

[crazy charlie]

Ok thanks Fmark and Bondo,thats what I was hoping for.I have seen a few fresh water ones for sale that look pretty new with no corrosion on eBay.Safe to assume a good tech can do this for me w/o engine removal??

 

[Bondo]

w/o engine removal??

Nope,.... Ain't gonna happen,... The rear motor mounts, TO the transom assembly,....

Ya gotta pull the drive, then the motor, to change out the transom assembly,...

 

[crazy charlie]

Ugghhh.Even if it is just the exterior assembly that needs to be replaced??

 

[Bt Doctur]

you have to get to the rear motor mounts, the exaust Y pipe, not going to happen with an engine in there