Alpha L/H- Who has experience?
#1
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Alpha L/H- Who has experience?
As mentioned in several other threads here in the last few weeks, I am looking to replace one of my R/H alpha drives with a L/H counter rotater.
Now I have been told by a boat dealer NOT to. He stated that the L/H counter rotating alphas are weak and prone to breakdown.
I need advise, if this i so, I certainly would NOT want to replace the drive.
This is on an 87 Baja Force 280 with stock twin 454s. 250 hrs total on the boat.
Thanks, Jim
Now I have been told by a boat dealer NOT to. He stated that the L/H counter rotating alphas are weak and prone to breakdown.
I need advise, if this i so, I certainly would NOT want to replace the drive.
This is on an 87 Baja Force 280 with stock twin 454s. 250 hrs total on the boat.
Thanks, Jim
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I checked into it. I had heard they were just rh alphas running in reverse, which it isn't designed to do. Two weeks ago, I had to have a drive rebuilt and I asked my mechanic if it was true. He assured me that it is actually designed to hold the load in that direction. He has Mercruiser's highest award for mechanics, so I tend to believe him. If someone knows where one is, I'd like to check into it. Never hurts to have a spare Alpha.
#3
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LH Alpha is OK
The left hand drive alpha is almost entirely different than the right hand drive Alpha. The difference is in the lower gearcase. You need only purchase a new gearcase to convert over to a counter rotating prop.They seem to hold up just fine but many mechanics won't work on them because they are a little more complicated and require special tools. Many times these same mechanics will steer people away from them for this reason. Any Alpha drive in front of a 454 engine is going to give reliability problems if not driven VERY carefully. I would hate to be on vacation and need to find a mechanic to repair a LH Alpha drive. Because they are not very common you will have a tough time finding a mechanic that will rebuild it with confidence. I am a Mercruiser Master Tech and have only rebuilt a handful of them and most factory trained Mercruiser mechanics have only rebuilt one in service school.
Sincerely
Dennis Moore
Sincerely
Dennis Moore
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Cuda,
I have found them rebuilt at this website: http://www.sterndrives.com/
Don't know if there are better deals out there or not. The counter rotating alphas are $3,000 rebuilt.
Dennis,
Always nice to have someone in the know give it to you straight. Thanks for the info.
Jim
I have found them rebuilt at this website: http://www.sterndrives.com/
Don't know if there are better deals out there or not. The counter rotating alphas are $3,000 rebuilt.
Dennis,
Always nice to have someone in the know give it to you straight. Thanks for the info.
Jim
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I know that this is probably not what you want to hear, but 454's make quite a bit of torque for an alpha, have you looked into Bravo one conversions? Or into Alpha SS's?
#9
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Two questions. 1 Is the Alpha SS that much stronger than the Std Alpha? (I have twin SS with 320 horse efi small blocks)
2 Is there a LH SS?
Thanks
2 Is there a LH SS?
Thanks
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Not sure about an alpha ss lh. Good point, not putting all that money into an old boat. As for the alpha holding up....A local guy installed a 350hp small block with a 125 shot of nitrous on a ski boat with an alpha back in 1991. So far, no problems. So as long as you take your time getting on plane, you should be fine.