MC-1 gimbal housing upgrade

[utskicat]

I've scoured the old posts to find this. I recall finding a post here from someone who consolidated all to be learned about gimbal housing and transom plate and engine compatability, but for the life of me cannot find the thread tonight. So I will ask for my situation.

While changing the u-joint bellows I discovered that the metal ridge that the bellows clamp to on the gimbal housing was corroded away at the bottom. Looks like it happened years ago before I had the boat. There is just barely enough of a lip left to clamp the bellows to. I made a mental note. Now I am having the transom core replaced (due to rot). While I have the inner transom plate off, I'm wondering if I can replace the gimbal housing with a later model. I have an MC1 drive (888) with a Ford engine from 1975. My drive does not have the trim senders on the side, its the old style with the cotter pins to lock the hinge pin and the top mounted trim limit. I would like to get get a new gimbal housing and bell housing with the side mounted trim limits/senders.

I've read in other posts that conversion can get tricky or not work at all based on the engine mounts and bell housing on the engine. Did any later model MC1 drives have the side mounted trim limit and senders that also had a matching inner transom plate that match the Ford engine? Or is this a case of just sticking to what i have and finding a new gimbal housing that has a full lip for the bellows? Bondo or Achris, you guys seem to be the experts on this...

 

[alldodge]

Don't know but need to use the @ symbol when posting achris and Bondo so they will be notified

 

[achris]

Yes AllDodge that got my attention.

I recall writing a peice on exactly that, what changed when and how it matched up with the previous, later, versions. But I can't remember if it was a fresh topic (easy to find) or a reply to a question (you are free to search all 18296 of my previous posts :lol: :lol: :lol: :bolt

Short answer to the above is, a later MC-1 (with gimbal ring mounted senders) is drilled differently for the early inner transom plate. You would need to find a later MC-1 (about '76 to 1981) gimbal complete WITH inner transom plate, and then be prepared to fill a couple of holes and drill new, and open the key-hole out slightly in the centre (hence two holes have to be moved), but as you're having the transom rebuilt, I can't see that being an issue ... Anything 1981 to 1990 is too late for the early model inner plate, but would be ok with a later MC-1 inner plate, but check first that your current exhaust bullhorns will matchup to the later gimbal housing (my understanding is that they should)... (Bet that's confusing)... Any inner transom plate later than 1981 is with the narrower engine mount spacing (will not work with the MC-1 engine flywheel cover). And as Merc stopped using Ford engine in 1981, no Ford engine flywheel covers were made for the narrower (10") rear mounting spacing.

Chris.......

Last comment. ANY gimbal housing and inner transom plate that was used with a V engine will be correct for your Ford engine. The differences are with the engine flywheel cover, not the inner plate.

 

[Bondo]

Don't know but need to use the @ symbol when posting achris and Bondo so they will be notified

Ayuh,..... Is that what that means,..... W aa yyy over my non-digital head,....

I've seen that in posts, 'n never figured it out,.....
I must have that feature turned off,...

Btw,.... On topic, I bow to Chris,.... The mixin', 'm matchin' is exactly as he says, to the best of my knowledge,.....
But,....
I will add,.... Just when I think I got it all figured out, I'll find some other tidbit that's different, 'n don't fit,...
With the Ford power, it's the flywheel cover/ inner plate that limits ya,....

 

[utskicat]

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks guys! I found a '76 entire set from inner plate to bell housing. One more question, achris is there any difference in the trim rams between the pre and post 76 gimbal housing? I hope to use my existing ones.