MC-1 Corrosion Holes in Bell House

[Hodgkisl]

This year preparing to put my boat in the water I found 2 small corrosion holes in the bell housing of my 1972 Sea Ray SRV200, which has a Mercruiser 165 Inline 6. I am wondering if this can be patched or must be replaced before launching this year? Also I doubt this effects anything but the lower was replaced with an Alpha One lower in the 80's.

I do know this stern drive has limited years left before replacement is required, as the hing pins are getting weak.

Thank you for your help

 

[Rick Stephens]

From what I have seen, the bell housing is a usual place for a total failure when they crack away from the hinge pins. Only way I would have an opinion on a short term repair is with lots of pictures. I think you have to have several posts before the forum software allows you to post pics.

 

[Hodgkisl]

I haven't seen the hinge pins, I had a mechanic reseal the drive and tell me that, he also told me its not fixable and I should scrap the boat. I know that is a lie, the boats hull and interior are mint, its been in the family since new, and I have already found that all parts are available. Though for a couple years we think there was an electrical seep on the dock it was stored at as the stern drive corroded rapidly.

These holes are a long way away from the hing pins. Just on random places on the upper sides of the bell housing.

 

[harringtondav]

Submit some pics. Some areas aren't stressed and will be OK...for a while. Other areas could be trouble. Not sure about your ability to post pics. Down size them to <200 mb before you try attaching them to your reply. Photoshop or email them to yourself and downsize them when you send.

 

[Hodgkisl]

I will try that tomorrow. I have to go to where the boat is stored. Thank you for offering your help. So far I have spent all my time pricing out the parts to fix the stern drive. It is pretty bad looking with all the corrosion. I will take pics, I should have when I found the damage.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I have seen some great buys on eBay on parts such as you will need. The most expensive part of a boat is definitely not the bell and gimbal housing!

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,....... Welcome Aboard,....... Bein' a '72, that's an early MC-1, which might complicate things,.....

Where, 'n how bad it's rotten will tell the story,......

 

[Hodgkisl]

I have attached two pictures of the hole. Tapping on it the rest of the bell housing sounds and feels solid. Thank you for all the advice received and any more that comes.

 

[nola mike]

Yikes. Not certain where that hole goes, but it looks like it could be connecting to the drive shaft cavity, which would be bad. Either way, I'd be concerned that the rest of the metal is thin/compromised. Not sure if you'd be able to plug 'n play an alpha bellhousing on there, though I'd doubt it. Also, your outdrive isn't an alpha, still looks like an MC-1.

 

[Hodgkisl]

When I look in the hole there is another layer of aluminum about a 1/4" in.

You are correct the gimbal housing through the upper are MC-1, the lower is the only Alpha 1 section.

I am hopping to plug and play just to get through this year, then in the fall replace the bad parts.

I have found a place that sells full re-manufactured kits which include the gimbal housing, gimbal and the bell housing. I likely will replace the entire stern drive at the same time as it is cobbled up from a MC-1 upper and Alpha 1 lower and also has some serious pitting.

 

[nola mike]

Yeah, I was wondering if you can mix an MC-1 gimbal housing with an alpha bell housing...

 

[Hodgkisl]

I have no idea. I know you can swap the MC-1 lower with an Alpha 1, I have read the upper can also be replaced with an MC-1, but have not heard about any parts in the transom assembly.

 

[nola mike]

Bondo , achris ?

 

[achris]

2 MC1 assemblies, late and early. Some parts are compatible, some aren't. But neither have any parts compatible with R/MR/Alpha One transom assemblies..

1972 is the early MC1. Nothing from an Alpha One will fit. (Expect the shift cable)

 

[Hodgkisl]

Thank you for clearing that up Achris

 

[nola mike]

So to switch in an alpha bellhousing he'd have to pull the engine and swap in the transom shield and gimbal housing from an alpha as well...

 

[achris]

So to switch in an alpha bellhousing he'd have to pull the engine and swap in the transom shield and gimbal housing from an alpha as well...

And replace the flywheel housing and the coupler... And then the input yoke on the front of the drive....

I've never tried to put an MC1 era engine in front of an Alpha One gimbal housing... Just too may things need to be changed... And too much chance of it not working at all....

Chris....

 

[nola mike]

Yikes. Guess he better start looking for some freshwater MC-1 parts or a junk hull....

 

[Rick Stephens]

Seems to me, since the path is towards replacement and the damage is done, one should just go a little grinding and patch with JB Weld. Already time limited.

If the boat is worth the effort, might find a donor and go all Alpha.

 

[Hodgkisl]

I think I'm going to do the JB weld as Rick stated, for this season and plan on an all new fresh MC-1 replacement for this winter. I have found places that offer complete rebuilt MC-1 set ups.

The painful part of this Nola Mike, is I almost picked up a twin of my boat for free last year just for parts, same engine and all.

I would do the whole Alpha set up but I'd prefer to keep the 165 Inline 6, to do alpha I'd either need to go to a lower power 4 cylinder or modify my interior to fit a v6 or v8.

This Searay has a hull and interior that are just about mint. Lived its whole life on Lake George, and been stored inside for just about its entire 47 years. About 3 years outside of a boat house in summer, and only 1 winter outdoors. I really wish I had found the electrical drain sooner than I did so I could have prevented this.

Thank you all for the advice. Without it I may have tried buying an alpha transom assembly and then found it does not work.

Has anyone purchased a rebuilt MC-1 transom assembly and installed it? Any vendors to avoid? I'll likely replace the upper and lower as well since they have serious corrosion as well.