Rebuild Outdrive

[golfpercy5]

Hey guys, just got a call from the marina, and found out the upper outdrive needs rebuilt, and the drive shaft is damaged and needs rebuilt also. His price is around 2400, and was wondering if any of you had any advice, since this is a lot of money. Would it be cheaper somewhere else or ordering an already rebuilt drive or is this 2400 pretty standard. Thanks for the help.....I'm out of commision for a while :(

[golfpercy5]

forgot to say why it broke, he said that it had a low amount of gear oil and ended up getting stripped. :(

[waterfoul]

What kind of drive? OMC? Merc bravo one, alpha one, etc...

Chances are that if the upper went, it dropped shavings and chunks into the lower, have it taken apart also and cleaned out. I've blown several drives over the years on my big boat, and it is no fun!! If you were over this way, I have a friend who I would recomend, but he's near saugatuck so it's quite a hike for you.

[golfpercy5]

It's a 1978 Alpha drive. It is a 198 hp. It's a Mercruiser 898. Ya, I took a look at iboats.com and a brand new one is like $2300 shipped....I imagaine a rebuilt one would be lower???

[waterfoul]

$2400 seems a little high to rebuild an Alpha. I paid $1500 to rebuild a lower half many years ago... I know a guy who might have an alpha laying around he'd be willing to let go. If I can get a hold of him, I'll let you know.

[TONGA]

I don't think you are factoring in the labor for pulling the old and putting in new. at $70 to$90 an hr that will put the new unit a bit higher.

[lkmifisherman]

I have a whole boat with one on it setting in my yard that the guy only wants 1500.00 for....I also have a spare Volvo 280 if you know of anyone needing one of those...

lkmifisherman

[waterfoul]

I know a guy who bought an entire boat just for the alpha drive. Paid $1200 for the boat, trailer, 6 cylinder motor, and alpha drive. Put the drive on his boat and sold the boat less drive for $900!! Not bad, got a drive for $300.

Putting drives on is EASY. I do it all the time. As long as your motor is aligned they slide right on. I never bring the whole boat to the shop for drive work. And having owned my Baja for 10 years and building high hp motors for it, I've had the drive off more than a few times. Does work best with 2 people though.

I'd shop around the area shops before I paid $2400 to have an alpha upper rebuilt.

[Jason Adam]

Your outdrive gets pulled every year. Not a big deal. 2 guys and one hour. Done. Find a new or rebuilt drive.