Going from 350 to 454, MUST CHANGE OUTDRIVE?

[Celebrity240]

Hey guys, I got a Celeb 240, with a 350 5.7L Alpha One Gen 2. I just picked up a Merc 454 7.5L BRAVO.

Do I have to change the outdrive aswell, if so, witch one do I need? My boat is a 94, i got a '79 monte carlo engne in there now, i just picked up a '96 454 Merc.

Plz help,.... hopefully I can use the same outdrive?

 

[Celebrity240]

Re: Going from 350 to 454, MUST CHANGE OUTDRIVE?

Oh ya, and my gear ratio is 1.47:1

 

[mkast]

Re: Going from 350 to 454, MUST CHANGE OUTDRIVE?

Merc 454 7.5L BRAVO.

A 454 is a 7.4 litre.
To be clear. When you state Bravo, is that pasted on the engine or did it come with a drive?
Your life will be a lot easier if you install a Bravo drive.
You can get away with an Alpha drive, but that would require using some brain cells both during installation and operation.
The Alpha would require a gear change to 1.32:1($1000 for reseal and gear change) for a big block installation.
How heavy is the hull?
Your best option is find a Bravo.
After you destroy the Alpha, you'll be telling yourself, "I tried to save some money going with the Alpha, that was just throwing money down the toilet, I should have went with the Bravo!"
Do both engines have a carburetor?
Stop using capital letters.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Going from 350 to 454, MUST CHANGE OUTDRIVE?

Howdy,

I did a little search and looked at a few Celeb 240's. Nice looking boat......BIG boat!

They all had 7.4L engines and Bravo drives......top speed around 55 mph.

If you put a 7.4L engine in front of an Alpha, you'll probably eventually break it.

hopefully I can use the same outdrive?

Yeah you can. I wouldn't.

That GEN II and gimbal is worth quite a bit. You will have to get a Bravo gimbal if you go to a Bravo drive. I bought a complete 454/BravoIII combo for $5k to replace the 460 King Cobra I removed........Your mileage may vary....


For a boat that big, I would install a Bravo III.



Cheers,


Rick

 

[Celebrity240]

Re: Going from 350 to 454, MUST CHANGE OUTDRIVE?

Sorry I meant 7.4. Ya both are carburated. Im not sure the weight of the hull, but I saw some of my boats advertising with a 7.4L. The engine does not come with a Bravo drive, it just says Bravo on it. Now if I where to change to bravo, witch one would go, Bravo I II III... ect.

What is the major difference between the Alpha and the Bravo?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Going from 350 to 454, MUST CHANGE OUTDRIVE?

Either a Bravo I or a Bravo III. The Bravo II is more for big cruisers.

You can do a search for differences.....the major difference is props.

The Bravo III might be a little slower at top speed but the hole-shot and acceleration is far better

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Celebrity240]

Re: Going from 350 to 454, MUST CHANGE OUTDRIVE?

Thanks, I love my Celeb, now what gear ratio do you think would be appropriate for the I and the III Bravos?