Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

[lutzinmn]

I bought a 1992 SeaRay 240 Sundancer with a bad Mercruiser 5.7L / 260HP with an Alpha One Gen II outdrive. I want to replace the motor either with a 1987-1995 5.7L / 330HP and 380TQ or a 1987-1995 383 400HP and 450TQ. I see a lot of back and forth if outdrive can handle the motor. It seems to come down to how much torque but the amount of torque is never said. Can the Alpha One Gen II handle either of these engines in my boat? I do not know what the torque is on original 5.7L 260HP engine. Also I was thinking of purchasing motor from Muscle Marine in Spring Hill, Kansas. Has anyone heard anything good or bad about this company? Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

The Alpha`s are kinda limited to 300hp. You would need a gentle throttle hand

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

Mercury specs the Alpha Drive up to 300hp.
As most engines top out at ~5000rpm.

300*5252/5000 = 315 ft?lb.

It can take more but expect a shorter service life.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

Having experienced this first hand its not the hp that kills the drive its the Torque that ends the day. There are many go fast boats the run 450hp plus and the drive lives well...however there is one instant killer in these boat's.... that is when the boat goes slightly airborn and when the prop renter's the water hooking up again and snap. Personally i hit a rock at 30 mph the prop being ss was slightly bent but the lower shaft was twisted clean and the lower gears broke or snapped like egg's Big blocks have huge amount of energy and do not wind down easy.

If you launch that boat.... a big block will just push it up...no slack time... but it also has the energy or Torque to break things quickly...keep that in the back of your mind with a boat load of people...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

I bought a 1992 SeaRay 240 Sundancer with a bad Mercruiser 5.7L / 260HP with an Alpha One Gen II outdrive. I want to replace the motor either with a 1987-1995 5.7L / 330HP and 380TQ or a 1987-1995 383 400HP and 450TQ. I see a lot of back and forth if outdrive can handle the motor. It seems to come down to how much torque but the amount of torque is never said. Can the Alpha One Gen II handle either of these engines in my boat? I do not know what the torque is on original 5.7L 260HP engine. Also I was thinking of purchasing motor from Muscle Marine in Spring Hill, Kansas. Has anyone heard anything good or bad about this company? Thanks for any feedback.

Ayuh,.... With a Big barge like that, if You can control yer right-hand, it'll last Quite awhile,...

 

[thumpar]

Re: Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

It could work if you are easy on the handle. I would fix it and sell it for a boat with a Bravo and engine you want if you want that much power. You gain the smooth shifting too.

 

[BigDog98]

Re: Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

WOW, I never knew Alphas could take more then 300HP engines. I had a friend who had a Alpha and he has it in a 350 and the drive only lasted him the 1 season until gears started to wear out and caused him to trade for a bravo and a bigger engine.

 

[lutzinmn]

Re: Mercruiser I/O and the Alpha Gen II

Has anyone heard anything about Muscle Marine Inc in Spring Hill, Kansas? This is where I was thinking of getting my engine from.