Buying a used lower....need same gear ratio??

[clattin]

So I destroyed my prop the other day and am worried that the prop shaft is also bent. Thought I'd try to pick up a used lower to pop on and minimize my downtime and I can deal with a bent prop shaft over the off season.

My current boat is a Mercruiser GM 305, Alpha 1/Gen 1 with the 1.5 gear ratio. Do I need to find a used lower that is also from a 1.5 gear ratio or will any Alpha 1/Gen 1 lower work?

Thanks!
Chris

 

[Bt Doctur]

Any late model Alpha 1 will work

 

[clattin]

Thanks! I assume I should go ahead and replace the water pump/impeller. Should I just replace the whole water pump or just the impeller kit? Anything else I should do before I bolt it back up?

 

[Bt Doctur]

You wont know untill you open it up fir inspection/replacement

 

[stonyloam]

Yeah the gear ratio is set by the gears in the upper.