How many of you run alpha's??

[JamesT]

I am curious how many of you run alpha drives.And if you have or haven't had any problems.And what what size boat and what kinda horse you putting threw them.Im just wondering as ive had some problems outta mine. 22zx 350 mag stock.

[Mckillop]

I am running an Alpha drive on my 18C. In the process of having a new 383 Stroker built for it that should be right around 400lbs of torque. Some guys on here are running much more power than that through their Alpha, but you have to be careful how you drive the boat with that much power going through it. For example, not slamming down the throttle in hole shots and pulling off the throttle when the boat gets out of the water. Ideally for that much power you would probably want to go with a Bravo so you don’t have to worry about feathering the throttle. But from all the research I have read and done, an Alpha will hold up as long as you are conscious of the weak points.

[19donziz29]

I run twin alphas on the Z29. Probably about 8000lbs with fuel and 330HP on each. I've only lost one since I've owned the boat. I do travel with a spare drive though just in case. I'm pretty careful with them, but I run in lake Michigan all the time and air the boat out very often. What problems are you having?

[JamesT]

I run twin alphas on the Z29. Probably about 8000lbs with fuel and 330HP on each. I've only lost one since I've owned the boat. I do travel with a spare drive though just in case. I'm pretty careful with them, but I run in lake Michigan all the time and air the boat out very often. What problems are you having?

I keep breaking the internals.First time i was movin along steady at about 55 and it made a sound like it had just been thrown into reverse then it froze so hard,it locked the motor up.Second time i thought i heard a clunk a few times that day,then later came some vibration then it felt like it slipped once.I just backed off and limped her to the trailor.This was all in a matter of one summer.

[19donziz29]

Are you losing the upper or lower gears? The one that I lost was my upper. When in neutral does your prop spin freely both ways. I wonder if it's not fully engaging when it's shifting.

[fegettes]

I, also, am in the process of having a 383 stroker, approximately 450 HP, coupled up to an Alpha. The boat is a 23' Sport, but, I have no intention of running it hard and wasting the drive.

Steve

[Planetwarmer]

I run an Alpha 1 with the 330 HP big block. Its been fine since 1987. I hope it stays that way. Im fairly easy on it. I never slam the throttle down, and I back off the throttle fairly easy. I drive the boat as if I am not in a hurry to go or stop.

[Cuda]

My marine mechanic in St Pete had over 3000 hours on an Alpha behind a 330 horse on a heavy ass Pusuit fishboat. I told him it was probably because he kept drive oil in it instead of seawater! :)

He had the highest certification that Merc would award. Bryde's Marine in St Pete. He used the boat in fishing tournaments.

[Sweet Cheekz]

500hp on a 16 with a ss 72 hours so far and oil changes every 15 hours. All looks good so far
Parnell

[Choprpilot]

579hp BBC in 18 Classic LE Alpha SS Drive and so far no problems for the last 3 summers, one thing I don't do is hole shots.

[JamesT]

Are you losing the upper or lower gears? The one that I lost was my upper. When in neutral does your prop spin freely both ways. I wonder if it's not fully engaging when it's shifting.

It trashed the upper and lower the first time, and the second time they replaced the upper with a new unit ,and just rebuilt the lower.I'm pretty sure it spins freely both ways when in netural,but i will check and make sure.

[Alan O Johnson]

I recently purchased a 1971 Donzi 3 + 2 V-8 with a Volvo Penta drive. The serial number is PZNR 2715887 B. Can some one tell what the model and year of the outdrive and any info from the serial number about the Donzi ?
I need to replace the mechanical tilt lift device. Will a 250, 270, 280 device work or are thay all different ? Will any 250, 270, 280 parts exchange with each other ?
Thanks,
Alan

[mrfixxall]

I recently purchased a 1971 Donzi 3 + 2 V-8 with a Volvo Penta drive. The serial number is PZNR 2715887 B. Can some one tell what the model and year of the outdrive and any info from the serial number about the Donzi ?
I need to replace the mechanical tilt lift device. Will a 250, 270, 280 device work or are thay all different ? Will any 250, 270, 280 parts exchange with each other ?
Thanks,
Alan


after the pnzr the 27# means its a 270 drive, letter b means its a 1.61 gear ratio..

theirs one forsale in the parts section that will work..