I hit something in the river and broke my gimble ring and bent my propshaft. I have a chance to buy a new upper and lower unit for $650. Is it worth having my current lower unit rebuilt or should I just buy the new one? One reason I ask is because my current lower has a pointed nose cone on it. The new unit of course doesn't. I have heard that having a nose cone on the lower unit hurts your top end if you are below 80mph. I have a warmed over 350 in the boat that runs 60 gps now with the pointed case on it. Never tried it with a stock case. Thanks in advance for any info.

Why not turn it into insurance and get a new one.

I did. Waiting on my local shop to get the estimate finished to give to the ins co. I am pretty mechanically inclined and plan to replace the gimble ring myself along with most the other repairs. I have never rebuilt a lower unit though. I was planning on having the shop do that. Just trying to figure out the best way to go about the lower unit. Ins. Co. is making the check out to me so I will get paid to do the repairs.

when you say pointed nose cone do you mean alpha ss which is 2.5 inches shorter if thats what you have they cost alot more then a standard alpha I think jasper has them but I think they're around 2500

Buy the new. You don't know the extent of the internal damage, gears, bearings, shafts,(both upper and lower) plus now you start off with all new with a warranty. Yrs ago I hit an underwater rock and tore up my lower. Just the cost to have the lower rebuilt was about the cost of a complete new drive.

Sent you a PM. I have a complete Alpha One, Gen 1 V8 application takeoff sterndrive. Shifts smoothly, turns freely and had crystal clear, clean oil. Good gears and bearings. Cosmetically near perfect. I also have an Alpha One, Gen 1 transom assembly, complete with trim pistons and inner plate in the same condition. Shoot me a PM or an email to discuss. Thanks!

No I dont believe its an SS. It looks like someone had just welded on a pointed nose cone to the unit.

BoatJunkie, check your email I just sent you a reply.

the ss has small single round holes for the water pick ups on the top of the nose cone

Mine has the water pick up on the sides like any other stock lower. Here is a bad pic