Alpha SS on a 272?
#12
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Brian
#13
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Interesting read http://www.rlcperformance.com/images...pledigits.html
No way was I going to spend about $10k or more on custom shorty alpha drives on an old cheap boat. I figured Alpha SS would set me back $5k to $6k with props and no spare. For about $300 to $500 I can get spare used drives all day long and just have fun. Between my Formula and my Hydrodyne, I have 5 or 6 complete drives right now, should last awhile.
Still, that is a pretty good article. I was mainly interested it till they pulled the stock motor with the Vortec heads. After that, it got expensive....
#14
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I had a '86 272 LS with 320 EFI's and Alpha SS drives. Trimmed to the max...light load and 23" cleavers it ran about 75 at 6000 RPM. The boat would run over 70 with 2 aboard and full fuel tank.
If I were doing something to a 272 in the drive department it would be a conversion to Bravo.They're everywhere, parts are plentiful and are much more hydro dynamically friendly up to 100 than any thing else. They are much stronger and can handle 500 horsepower and nearly as much torque set up as twins on boats under 30'/7000#. Unless you put serious blowers on a pair of LS motors a standard Bravo I should handle anything you throw at it in a relatively light boat.
If I were doing something to a 272 in the drive department it would be a conversion to Bravo.They're everywhere, parts are plentiful and are much more hydro dynamically friendly up to 100 than any thing else. They are much stronger and can handle 500 horsepower and nearly as much torque set up as twins on boats under 30'/7000#. Unless you put serious blowers on a pair of LS motors a standard Bravo I should handle anything you throw at it in a relatively light boat.
#15
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Interesting read http://www.rlcperformance.com/images...pledigits.html
#16
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I had a '86 272 LS with 320 EFI's and Alpha SS drives. Trimmed to the max...light load and 23" cleavers it ran about 75 at 6000 RPM. The boat would run over 70 with 2 aboard and full fuel tank.
If I were doing something to a 272 in the drive department it would be a conversion to Bravo.They're everywhere, parts are plentiful and are much more hydro dynamically friendly up to 100 than any thing else. They are much stronger and can handle 500 horsepower and nearly as much torque set up as twins on boats under 30'/7000#. Unless you put serious blowers on a pair of LS motors a standard Bravo I should handle anything you throw at it in a relatively light boat.
If I were doing something to a 272 in the drive department it would be a conversion to Bravo.They're everywhere, parts are plentiful and are much more hydro dynamically friendly up to 100 than any thing else. They are much stronger and can handle 500 horsepower and nearly as much torque set up as twins on boats under 30'/7000#. Unless you put serious blowers on a pair of LS motors a standard Bravo I should handle anything you throw at it in a relatively light boat.
#17
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Back in 1987 a buddy of mine bought a Formula 272 brand new, It had Mercruiser Hi Performance 320EFI's with Alpha SS drives from the factory. It ran extremely well for back in the day. If I remember correctly, the speedo always read 74 with a light load. As mentioned above, the SS drive is a unique beast, the upper is shorter, lower is very similar to the outboard CLE lower.