SEI advice with 5.7 L

[Reming870]

Potential option for my gear set disaster is an SEI full outdrive replacement. ($1700 estimated installed)

Can anyone offer advice for an SEI to replace an Alpha1 Gen II? Paired with a 2009 5.7 L MPI. I have read some negative with these drives and the higher HP. The drive will be pushing approx. 7,500 lbs with a 16D 13P Prop

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

With a 3 year, no fault warranty that includes hitting something, what is there to lose???????????????????

 

[Reming870]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

Ummm,...$1700 to lose that could have went to a Mercuiser Drive.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

The SEI will be fine. It's an Alpha paired with a regular 5.7L, it's not a high-HP application.

 

[Reming870]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

The concern is that the 5.7 I have is rated at 300 HP. SEI limits the warranty to 300 HP which is the top of the range. I have also read that the majority drive issues from SEI appear to be on larger HP motors.

 

[Bondo]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

The concern is that the 5.7 I have is rated at 300 HP. SEI limits the warranty to 300 HP which is the top of the range. I have also read that the majority drive issues from SEI appear to be on larger HP motors.

Ayuh,.... It comes down to what YOU wanta do,...

You can buy an SE drive, at 1/2 of the price of the Merc unit, or double the price to the Merc unit,...

They're Both rated at 300 hp,...

SE gives a no questions asked warranty, 'n Merc don't,...

I've installed some SE drives, 'n they've been without problems,...
Both on 350s, 1 with a 4bbl. carb, 'n the other an Mpi...

The Only bad comments I've been hearin' are comin' from fella's that make their livin', rebuildin' Merc drives,...
'cause ya Can't Rebuild a Merc, for the price of a Brand New SE drive,...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

The concern is that the 5.7 I have is rated at 300 HP. SEI limits the warranty to 300 HP which is the top of the range. I have also read that the majority drive issues from SEI appear to be on larger HP motors.

All Alpha drives are limited to 300HP, that was a Mercruiser spec which is why SEI also has that limitation. The only time Merc ever had more than 300HP on an Alpha was in the late 80's when they strapped 330HP-454's to them before they brought the Bravo drive to market.

 

[emilsr]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

All Alpha drives are limited to 300HP, that was a Mercruiser spec which is why SEI also has that limitation. The only time Merc ever had more than 300HP on an Alpha was in the late 80's when they strapped 330HP-454's to them before they brought the Bravo drive to market.

I think they only did that for one model year (1988). Maybe it was 2. They did use a specific gearing (1.32?) to help the drive survive the extra torque, but I don't think you can get this gearing from SEI. Some of 'em are still on the water so they must not have been THAT bad.

For $1700 you can almost buy a new Bravo lower...and you'd still need an upper and a transom assembly. I'd go with the SEI unit and take it easy on the holeshots. Yes, he's got a heavy boat, but the 5.7 doesn't have the torque of the "fo fitty fo" so he'll probably be okay.

Not that anecdotal info is worth much, you'll definitely get what you paid for here, but I know of a couple of guys running 400+ hp small blocks in front of Alpha drives and they're holding up fine in lighter boats.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

Ummm,...$1700 to lose that could have went to a Mercuiser Drive.

No you wouldn't lose anything. They would keep replacing the SEI drive for $0, because of their warranty. It's a NO BRAINER to buy the SEI.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

The concern is that the 5.7 I have is rated at 300 HP. SEI limits the warranty to 300 HP which is the top of the range. I have also read that the majority drive issues from SEI appear to be on larger HP motors.

Dont over stress it.. Most of the failures come from drive rentry. That is where the boat goes airborne..the drive renter's the water under a full load and SNAP goes the drive. Ease it up and have fun.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: SEI advice with 5.7 L

I've had an SEI drive behind a 18ft bowrider with a 3.0L for a year now, but I'm sold. Not what you're concerned about it sounds like, but lemme tell ya, the drive seems like solid quality and their support is fantastic from my experience. I would advise to not sweat it, save the lettuce, slam that SEI on and get back to boating'. I would go as far as to recommended saving yourself the extra $300 or so, buy some grease and an eBay alignment bar for $50, and take a weekend to install it yourself. Though I'm a frugal guy..... I did say frugal though, not cheap.