JimmyBaja

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

cuda

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.

Dennis Moore

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

JimmyBaja

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

HyperBaja

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?

cuda

I wonder is the ever made an alpha ss CR.

JimmyBaja

HyperBaja

Going to Bravos is more money than I want to put into this old boat. I'm told the alphas will hold up with stock motors.

Jim

cuda

My mechanic put over 3000 hours on a heavy fishing boat with 454 and alpha. I'm sure that is from keeping oil in them instead of salt water.

Sonic30ss

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

HyperBaja

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.