No more 3.0 MPI in the USA...

[KX6D]

Yesterday I contacted a local dealer to purchase two complete, with Alpha 1 sterndrives, a pair of 3.0 MPI's. We were told that the last MPI's were made in March of this year and the entire inventory was shipped overseas. Reason was, EPA requirements. Apparently the fuel injected MPI's don't meet the new standards, but the carbureted TKS' do. So much for my repower project. I then looked at putting in a V-8 and a single outdrive to replace the twins, but $28K for a complete package is just insane! No wonder boats at $60K!

My '64 Cruisers Inc. Barnegat 25' has two newer 3.0's already, but I wanted to upgrade the transom and gimbals so I can get hydraulic lines on the OUTSIDE of the gimball. I'm not sure what to do now.

Dino - KX6D

 

[Scott Danforth]

Just update your drives

 

[bruceb58]

or get a Volvo 3.0 MPI.

 

[alldodge]

Yesterday I contacted a local dealer to purchase two complete, with Alpha 1 sterndrives, a pair of 3.0 MPI's. We were told that the last MPI's were made in March of this year and the entire inventory was shipped overseas. Reason was, EPA requirements. Apparently the fuel injected MPI's don't meet the new standards, but the carbureted TKS' do. So much for my repower project. I then looked at putting in a V-8 and a single outdrive to replace the twins, but $28K for a complete package is just insane! No wonder boats at $60K!

My '64 Cruisers Inc. Barnegat 25' has two newer 3.0's already, but I wanted to upgrade the transom and gimbals so I can get hydraulic lines on the OUTSIDE of the gimball. I'm not sure what to do now.

Dino - KX6D

Why not just rebuild your 3.0?

You have everything already, just refresh.

Two more questions:

We were told that the last MPI's were made in March of this year and the entire inventory was shipped overseas

If they were shipped all overseas I wonder why Merc is still advertising them. Also noticed Michigan Motors is not offering, only TKS
https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/engines/inboard-and-sterndrive/mercruiser/30l/

I then looked at putting in a V-8 and a single outdrive to replace the twins, but $28K for a complete package is just insane!

This is all retail prices, I can find better prices

Can get 4.3 MPI for 9500 then drive 2900 to 3200 so times 2 = around 26K
A 377 (6.2) is 7500 + B3 = 17900
A 8.2 Mag or HO 10500 + B3 = 20900

Bravo 3 drive is 7700 + Transom 2700 = 10400

From what I'm seeing your guy is over charging you a tad. Could still be a the straight and level, just using what is provided

 

[achris]

..., but I wanted to upgrade the transom and gimbals so I can get hydraulic lines on the OUTSIDE of the gimbal....

Not sure what you mean here.

Chris.........

 

[KX6D]

The original drives (pre-Alpha) have the hydraulic lines INSIDE of the gimbal. I have to remove the gimbals in order to get to them. The port drive was not an issue. The starboard drive required drilling and I still ran into problems. So I decided to replace the drives with more modern versions. Then I thought, why not just all new. But then Mercury showed me the error in that thinking by pricing their packages so high!

My next issue will be the transom assemblies. I'm not sure what is available or what I need to buy just yet. I'm going to pull the engines and remove the old drives and inspect the transom. If it needs rebuilding, then I'll build a whole new transom and cut the holes for the latest Alpha drives. Not sure if Gen-1 assemblies are still available and if they are, will they fit the pre-alpha holes. Lots of questions I need answered! But as if right now, I'm taking Scott's advice and plan on replacing the drives.

 

[achris]

First question. Which pre-alpha? Early MC-1, later MC-1, R, MR....

 

[Bt Doctur]

You could just acquire 2 transoms or 2 donor boats,

 

[KX6D]

First question. Which pre-alpha? Early MC-1, later MC-1, R, MR....

I'm not sure. There are no identifying marks or numbers on the transom assemblies that I can see. Someone more experienced with these older units might know. The boat is a 1964. The drive units themselves look to have been replaced over the years as the numbers on them are not even close to each other. Obviously both engines spin in the same direction. Both drives also have the standard rotation. I keep searching for some old boat with a pair of drives, but no luck yet.

 

[HT32BSX115]

My '64 Cruisers Inc. Barnegat 25' has two newer 3.0's already, but I wanted to upgrade the transom and gimbals so I can get hydraulic lines on the OUTSIDE of the gimball. I'm not sure what to do now.

Dino - KX6D

Howdy Dino!

Just looked up a "Barnegat 25" That is a VERY COOL looking old wooden boat!!


Sounds like you might be doing a restoration (if you're considering a transom replacement?)

If I was going to restore a big boat like that, I would jerk those 3.0L + Alphas and put either a 5.7MPI (300HP SBC) or a 7.4L V-8 + Bravo III drive.

Back in 2005 I found a damaged 1998 24' Bayliner with a 1997 7.4L + Bravo III (122 hrs) to install in my 21ft FourWinns. (to replace the old OMG 460 + King Kobra)

I found a LOT of used low time Mercruiser SBC/BBC + Bravo I, II, III packages for varying ($5K-8K) prices up here in the "Upper Left" (NW--Seattle Area) .

Paid $5k for mine.

And don't forget to install something for 2m and 450!!

Or something like this!!

73/Rick

 

[achris]

I'm not sure. There are no identifying marks or numbers on the transom assemblies that I can see. Someone more experienced with these older units might know. The boat is a 1964. The drive units themselves look to have been replaced over the years as the numbers on them are not even close to each other. Obviously both engines spin in the same direction. Both drives also have the standard rotation. I keep searching for some old boat with a pair of drives, but no luck yet.

OMG, you're referring to something even earlier than MC-1. They are 'EZ' drives! (This is the problem when referring to a drive as 'pre-alpha'.... :facepalm: :noidea NOTHING on those is compatable with anything but themselves. The only way to get Alpha transom assemblies is to pull the complete EZ assemblies and toss them out.

(No wonder I didn't understand what you meant by "hydraulic lines on the inside". I have only ever seen those drives in historical records, never worked on one.)

You don't need to find a boat with 2 drives. You can get transom assemblies from 2 different boats, as long as they are the 'same'... ie, both early MC-1, or both late MC-1. Once you get to 'R', then they are all the same to Alpha One ('R', 'MR', Alpha One). Just be aware that the inner transom plate rear engine mount spacings are different between the MC-1s and the R/MR/Alpha One. MC-1 is 14", R and later is 10".... Unless you are willing to change flywheel housings on the engines, you need to know what you have, and stay with it. Probably 14" (MC-1 compatable)....

HTH,

Chris........

 

[HT32BSX115]

OMG, you're referring to something even earlier than MC-1. They are 'EZ' drives!

Chris........

My 66 Mark Twain had a 150 Merc (GM 230 cu-in 6) with a (white) Mercruiser #1 drive.......... and I seem to remember the hydraulic lines on the "outside" .......................

Dino, A picture would help........

 

[Maxwoof]

I did a similar conversion. I have a 1969 Penn Yan Explorer. It had a 160 model, 250ci straight six, with am older MC1 drive - it had a fitting in the gimbal housing for trim lines, like yours - I had plugged it at some point, drilled out the bottom of the gimbal housing and installed the 2 into 4 trim connector - you may want to think about that if your housings are good. Regardless, I got my hands on a complete MR gimbal assembly, from an 85 Sea sprite with a four cylinder, which included the engine bell housing, inner transom plate, gimbal, etc., everything but the drive. If I remember correctly - I had to trim the hole in the transom slightly, and maybe some of the gimbal housing bolt holes as well. Here's the thing with the engine components - your existing bellhousing will not bolt up to the MR/Alpha One and later inner trasom plate. Your mounts are further apart than the MR mounts, so you would need the later bell housings to bolt your motors up to the transom plate. Then, the exhaust tube is different - yours goes in between the rear mounts, and the later goes outside the mounts. You will need to get the later model exhaust tube for a four cylinder. Next you have to get your exhaust riser to mate with the tube. I initially cobbled something together with aluminum automotive exhaust pipe and silicone elbows, howevevr, I was able to make it right with aftermarket risers. I needed to use one of the four cylinder risers that comes off the exhaust manifold at an angle. I was using an OSCO manifold, so I had to use a riser adapter too. Ultimately, it all bolted up using a stock Mercruiser exhaust bellows hose. I then bought an SEI outdrive, plus their trim pump and cylinders, and basically had a new rear end hooked up to my beloved straight six chevy. As far as the outdrive goes, the input shaft is a longer version than yours. If you install a later model drive, it should have the correct shaft already.

Ran it this way for a few years, then blew the head gasket at the #6 cylinder last summer. This spring I re-powered with a 2016 Mercury remanufactured 4.3 4v 225 horse, but that's another story...

 

[achris]

Sounds like you got caught by all the "gotchas" there Max. Nice work around too. Always going to be challenges when moving from the 14" rear mount spacing to the 11".

Cheers,