Short Shaft to long Shaft swap

[ricovw]

My buddy just bought a new boat. It came with a 2019 Mercury 9.9 short shaft Pro kicker with 4 hours. He has on his old boat a 2009 Mercury 9.9 long shaft Pro kicker with lots of hours.
My question is, are these motors virtually identical under the power head? What I would like to do is swap the lower legs and water tubes to make the 2019 a long shaft and the 2009 a short shaft. Not a lot of info on the net on this so I thought I'd check here.

Thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

start with the parts break down and start comparing power head parts.

 

[racerone]

Lower legs are essentially the same.-----The exhaust housing is where the different length happens !

 

[Texasmark]

....and drive/shift shaft lengths. I'd think you are looking at replacing 3 parts as mentioned....housing and 2 shafts. Finding a suitable engine with a blown powerhead at a repair shop junk pile might be just the thing for you.

 

[ricovw]

....and drive/shift shaft lengths. I'd think you are looking at replacing 3 parts as mentioned....housing and 2 shafts. Finding a suitable engine with a blown powerhead at a repair shop junk pile might be just the thing for you.

We have both motors. so its just swapping parts. Swapping the lower ends just so I don't have to take the bottom legs apart to swap for the longer driveshafts.

 

[racerone]

But it is the exhaust housing that you need to look at.-----A lower unit with a long shaft will not simply bolt onto a short shaft midsection !!!

 

[ricovw]

But it is the exhaust housing that you need to look at.-----A lower unit with a long shaft will not simply bolt onto a short shaft midsection !!!

Good info thank you. This is why I am asking, to get more knowledge. I appreciate the reply.
I thought they would bolt on. I'll need to take a look at this.

 

[racerone]

Fact ----whether it is a long shaft motor ( 20" high transom ) or a short shaft motor ( 15" high transom ) there is the same thing sticking down below the boat.-------A long shaft motor / powerhead sits further up and away from the water.----Some motors use a 5" spacer and others need the exhaust housing changed out.------Folks questioned the concept 60 years ago and still do today !