Mercruiser I - Trashed gears 1.98:1 --- Will 1.82:1 work?

[timmeraw]

Just to recap..... My 1973 Mercruiser I upper outdrive gears (1.98:1) are toasted. I found a guy who says he has a Mercruiser upper with 1.82:1 gears that will work but I will just need to go down a pitch on the prop. Do any of you experts agree with that? Says I can have it as is for $150 but as it has not been running in 3 years he can put a new set of seals in it for a total price of $250. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser I - Trashed gears 1.98:1 --- Will 1.82:1 work?

Will it work, Yes, will it work as good as the right gear ratio, NO. Even with a different prop.
That is why these outdrive manufacturers make different gear ratios.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser I - Trashed gears 1.98:1 --- Will 1.82:1 work?

but I will just need to go down a pitch on the prop. Do any of you experts agree with that?

Ayuh,... It depends alot on where yer starting from...

If yer 3.0l is runnin' a 23" prop,... Ya, you've got all the way to a 15" prop to work with...
If yer now turnin' a 17" pitched prop,... No, because there's only 2" left in the available prop pitch range to adjust...

Generally speakin',.. No way in 'ell it'll work, 'cause the 3.0l is a tiny strugglin' motor to begin with..

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser I - Trashed gears 1.98:1 --- Will 1.82:1 work?

Unless you have a 8 spline lower, in that case the lower driveshaft wont match the upper gears
splines (13)