Can the b-3 lower be swapped with a b-1?

Shabah180

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Apr 16, 2016
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I have a line on a b-1 lower for good price, i currently run a b-3, my upper says 2.20, ive read mixed reviews on all the B series lower units are interchangeable. Anyone ever tackled this before?
Thanks for info again.
 

alldodge

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Yes you can put a B1, 2 or 3 on a Bravo upper.

Yours being a 2.20 then you should have 23 (drive) and 30 (driven) tooth gears in the upper section. The B1 has one lower gear set which is 15/19 and will give you a 1.65 ratio. Going from a 2.20 to a 1.65 will cause you to drop pitch quite a bit.
 

Bondo

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I have a line on a b-1 lower for good price, i currently run a b-3,

Ayuh,..... Yer lookin' to go backwards,......

Folks that have B-1s are always wantin' the B-3s,.....
 

HT32BSX115

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Ayuh,..... Yer lookin' to go backwards,......

Folks that have B-1s are always wantin' the B-3s,.....

Yup. with a 2.20:1 Bravo III, it appears that this drive is on a cruiser or other heavy type boat?

Putting a Bravo I on it will make it a real DOG outta the hole! I would just find another Bravo III lower if the one you have is busted.....

Just saying.....
 

Leardriver

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Oct 7, 2008
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That swap is similar to asking your wife if she wants to swap her diamond for the same size cubic zirconia. You have the better drive now.
 

HT32BSX115

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That swap is similar to asking your wife if she wants to swap her diamond for the same size cubic zirconia. You have the better drive now.

Hey, What's a "Leardriver".......Is that something like a nutdriver, screwdriver, piledriver or device driver?;);)
 

Shabah180

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Apr 16, 2016
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Yup. with a 2.20:1 Bravo III, it appears that this drive is on a cruiser or other heavy type boat?

Putting a Bravo I on it will make it a real DOG outta the hole! I would just find another Bravo III lower if the one you have is busted.....

Just saying.....

Its on the back of a 18' '98 mariah.
 

Shabah180

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Apr 16, 2016
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Again if it wasnt for you folks taking a minute, or in my case you guys have spent a lot of minutes( haha) id have already made several bad decisions! Thank you.
 

Shabah180

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Apr 16, 2016
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I want a B3. You can have my B1 lower. :D

Haha! Hey thumpar! You getting lots of time on the water with that beauty crown? When i went to falcon lake, there was a line up to splash the boat so a few guys walked over while i was getting things prepped for the launch, 2 of them said i should be running a b-1, so of coarse, i asked why?
They said a b-3 runs too hot at high speeds, and wasn't meant for that. The b-1 lower is designed for high speed. I told them i don't really run wot for a long time.

But ive learned to trust guys like all dodge, bondo etc, just will be nice one day to have the knowledge before the strangers at the lake advise me, so i have something to say back. Haha!
If any of you guys are on facebook throw me an add! Cory patterson, the mariah is on my picture.
 

Pete104

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You should have met "those strangers" before you bought a 180 with a B iii ! Only a Mariah!
 

HT32BSX115

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Its on the back of a 18' '98 mariah.

Well, that is somewhat different! I suppose you did not put that BIII on the back of that 18ft boat!! I would have to say that a B3 on ANY 18ft boat would be somewhat of an "overkill"!!

Even a Bravo I would be too. An Alpha might even be a better choice.....(because it's a little lighter)

But a 2.20:1 Bravo III on a boat that small and light.......I presume you bought it that way...... Was the previous owner conducting an experiment? what engine do you have?

Mine is a 1.81:1 on my 21ft Four Winns! 2.20:1 B3's are really more suitable on 25ft or larger boats (or maybe a small engine in a 21ft boat) !

2 of them said i should be running a b-1, so of coarse, i asked why?
They said a b-3 runs too hot at high speeds, and wasn't meant for that. The b-1 lower is designed for high speed. I told them i don't really run wot for a long time.
Yeah....really not true. I can run 57mph at WOT for as long as I can stand it!!......(454 fuel flow!!!) and it doesn't even get warm. I love my Bravo III..... the difference in performance compared to my previous 460 King Kobra is nothing short of spectacular! (with essentially the SAME HP ......460 vs 454)

But in an 18ft boat, I think the advantage would be far less...
 
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thumpar

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Mariah probably offers custom orders so the B3 would not be unheard of. My 5.7l has a B1 behind it which is overkill but that is how it was ordered.
 

HT32BSX115

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Mariah probably offers custom orders so the B3 would not be unheard of. My 5.7l has a B1 behind it which is overkill but that is how it was ordered.

What propset are you running? 28 or 30? A boat that light with a 5.7 and 2.20:1 B3 could probably get away with 30p props!

It must come out of the hole like a hotrod ski boat!

(Although I quoted you, I am really asking Shabah180 this question.....)
 
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HT32BSX115

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Mariah probably offers custom orders so the B3 would not be unheard of. My 5.7l has a B1 behind it which is overkill but that is how it was ordered.

I would be surprised that they would install a 2.20:1 Bravo III drive though. In a boat that small, a 1.81:1 would probably be about right!
 

Shabah180

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Apr 16, 2016
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Well, that is somewhat different! I suppose you did not put that BIII on the back of that 18ft boat!! I would have to say that a B3 on ANY 18ft boat would be somewhat of an "overkill"!!

Even a Bravo I would be too. An Alpha might even be a better choice.....(because it's a little lighter)

But a 2.20:1 Bravo III on a boat that small and light.......I presume you bought it that way...... Was the previous owner conducting an experiment? what engine do you have?

Mine is a 1.81:1 on my 21ft Four Winns! 2.20:1 B3's are really more suitable on 25ft or larger boats (or maybe a small engine in a 21ft boat) !

Yeah....really not true. I can run 57mph at WOT for as long as I can stand it!!......(454 fuel flow!!!) and it doesn't even get warm. I love my Bravo III..... the difference in performance compared to my previous 460 King Kobra is nothing short of spectacular! (with essentially the SAME HP ......460 vs 454)

But in an 18ft boat, I think the advantage would be far less...

The previous owner decided to do a re power, this guy has lots of money! Its a mariah shabah 180. At around 180hrs he took out the 4.3 and dropped in a 350 mag. And put a bravo 3 on the back. I bought the boat at 230 hrs as he traded up to a wake board boat or something. My first boat had a 3.0 so this is quite different.
I noticed my bow doesn't go back and forth at very low speeds, that duo prop keeps the boat on plane at low speeds. The hole shot is scary, the old owner did it right, other than running rich due to a choke adjustment that needed to be done the motor and drive are in excellent shape,
Prop replacement however, if i bought new, would set me back 965 dollars per prop.
But the maneuverability compared to my old alpha on the bayliner is ver noticeable.
 

alldodge

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You can get B3 prop sets for $500 easy, just need to look. I have 5 sets, picked them up for testing and during repower.
 

Shabah180

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Apr 16, 2016
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You can get B3 prop sets for $500 easy, just need to look. I have 5 sets, picked them up for testing and during repower.

Yessir, i have seen lots on kijiji, thats new price in canada, down in the states its waaayyy cheaper, for cheaper than the price i paid for mine if i lived in the states i could have got a mariah 250 with a 7.4 in mint shape! Lol!!! But but the time the dollar gets involved and canadian taxes plus brokerage they get you buy by the berries and it cost the same amount.

You having a good season alldodge? If you ever want to part with any props let me know ill take them. Send you a bottle of canadian whiskey for all your advice!!! Haha!
 

alldodge

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Been a pretty good season so far, only tracking down a couple issues with the new motor build, but still a good season.

Still have a lot of testing to do and never know about the pros but will try to remember if I get to that point. Thanks
 
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