Non alpha drive on a alpha one gimbal housing

[CatriderF7]

I bought a boat for parts (1985 starcraft) that had an alpha one engine/transom assembly. The guy said he had an issue with the outdrive at some point and replaced the upper/lower gear gases with an older non alpha style. I was always under the impression this couldnt be done. The reason he sold it was because it wouldnt circulate water through the engine, even on the hose attachment water wasnt getting to the engine. I assumed it had a bad water pump or plugged hose somewhere. I already pulled the engine/drive and scrapped the boat but was just thinking maybe this combination of the drive just didnt work together and that was the reason for the issue he had?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Depends on what you are calling non alpha... R/MR/ALPHA are all interchangeable.

Look to see if the water hose next to the bellows is kinked.

 

[alldodge]

I bought a boat for parts (1985 starcraft) that had an alpha one engine/transom assembly. The guy said he had an issue with the outdrive at some point and replaced the upper/lower gear gases with an older non alpha style. I was always under the impression this couldnt be done. The reason he sold it was because it wouldnt circulate water through the engine, even on the hose attachment water wasnt getting to the engine. I assumed it had a bad water pump or plugged hose somewhere. I already pulled the engine/drive and scrapped the boat but was just thinking maybe this combination of the drive just didnt work together and that was the reason for the issue he had?

Got any pics or part umbers your working with?
Bondo would be able to answer all your questions with the older drives

 

[smokeonthewater]

Also I'm not absolutely certain but I believe that incompatible drives would not bolt up.

 

[CatriderF7]

Heres a couple pics. I dont have any part numbers though

 

[alldodge]

This is a MC-1

Alpha one

I don't think they fit correctly,

 

[smokeonthewater]

MC-1 also bolts right up and works fine on alpha bell housing.
This is not your issue.

 

[CatriderF7]

Ah ok, thanks

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... The MC-1s will bolt onto the Alpha 1 gimbel housin', 'n run just fine,....

The MC-1s are a direct swap with the Alpha 1s, but not the Gen.IIs,....

The Gotcha's involved are the old MC-1s for GM in-line motors have a shorter input shaft, that must be replaced with the longer shaft,...
'n the older MC-1s have different spline counts 'tween the upper, 'n lowers,...

So, swappin' entire drives are Ok, 'n easy, so long as the longer input shaft is used,...
'n uppers, 'n lowers can be swapped so long as the spline counts are the same,....