Johnson and Evinrude lower unit gear swap

[BG0666]

I've need some help with this recently blew out lower unit gears on my 81 Evinrude 70 horse. I found a 70 65 horse Johnson complete moter excluding the starter.i found a used Lower unit for $900.crazy money.i know I would have to keep the drive shaft question is can I take the gears out of the 65 and put in my 70 horse housing and how much of a difference will it make?

 

[racerone]

Well a 72 model 65 HP would not work !!.----- 73 model 65 HP would not work ( shifts to reverse when you try forward ) ----A 74 model 70 HP may also shift opposite.-----Post the actual model # of a donor motor to see if that will work !

 

[jimmbo]

I doubt the gears from the Hydro-Electrics(68 - 72) or the Hydro-Mechanicals(73 - 77) will work in a Mechanical Shift case

FYI, there was no 65 HP in 1970

 

[emoney]

Both of those guys know a lot more than me, but even I knew this answer.....it won't work. Doesn't mean you can't switch out the motors entirely if you can't find a lower for a better price. I'd have a hard time spending $900 for the lower unit myself. This time of the year, more and more things will start popping up on the market for sale keep in mind.