Hi Everyone!

I have four Bravo One questions if I may...

#1 - I have no idea what year my Bravo One is. All that is left of the outdrive serial number is 824588 with the transom number being 08900495. The gear ratio is 1.5

#2 - I'm asking this because the drives are on my 89' Formula 292 SR-1. The engines were retro'd to stock 454 Mag's but I have no idea on the outdrives.

#3 - Now the hard question... someone stole one of the drives before I bought the boat. What Bravo Ones can I use and which Bravo Ones won't work? For instance, will a newer Bravo one fit with my other existing 1989 Bravo One?

#4 - Last question... of course someone also took both props so what should I be buying prop-wise?

I appreciate any help you all can give. This is my first twin but my 15th boat!

Many Thanks in Advance!!

In 89 the second generation of B1's was out. See if the lower unit looks short, compared to pics of others on OSO and Ebay. The 88's had short bullets (front to back) about 1.5". They also has the drain hole in the front of the bullet. Newer ones had the drain in the bearing carrier, behind the prop.
Do you have drive reservoirs? The first one's had a dipstick in the top cap and no reservoir.
A new style b1 will bolt up if you have the reservoir and you dont go to an XR. The early XR's had larger unjoints and needed a differnt gimbal bearing and trim limit spacers in the rams. There was a kit available for just that. Now the replacement bearing is the new style.
So most of the B1's will fit. Look for one with serial number starting with OM and it will have the newer thick floored gears in it.
I will leave the prop suggestions to others that have had experience with your hull.

Dick

Thanks for that important info Mr Gadgets...

My existing outdrive has the drain plug behind the prop but there is no reservior bottle, just the top cap dipstick plug.

Should I not buy an outdrive that has the reservior?

And/or do you know what year or years for the Bravos I should look for?

Thanks Again!

You will have to look at the transom assy, bellhousing (helmet) and see if there is a place for to put the reservoir fitting. Any bravo will bolt up, and the check valve on the new drive will keep it from leaking, but you won't have room for expansion. I would add the bottle, and if the helmet does not have a place for it. Then I would upgrade to the HP helmet and gimbal. You do loose the trim indicator and trim limit switches when you do. But the pieces are a better setup.
You can replace it with any newer B1. Just need to be aware of the gimbal bearing and trim limit items.
I have looked at the new input shafts and I am not sure if the limit spacers are needed. The older larger XR/XZ joints will require the spacers..

Hope that helps.
Dick

Hope this will help you ID drive. If you change the 08 to OB and run numbers
OB824588 drive, Merc Bravo1 1.50:1
OB923518 eng, 1988 Merc. 7.4 Bravo 1
OB900495 Trn. Assy.
All three of these numbers were sold together and most likey are the org. engine pkg. for your boat. They were mfg. 09/22/87 and sold to first buyer 09/04/1990
Buy the way the boat is a long way from first owner. He was in Fla.

This forum is AWESOME!

I have been reading it for quite a while now and I only signed up in August.

Many thanks to you Clustergear for your help in figuring out the numbers!

How did you get that info??

I know this boat had made its way to Huntington Beach, CA in the early 2000's and was sold in August of 2001 to a guy named Charles Scarbrough for $33,000 by Action Boats, Inc.

This is based on the paperwork I had found in the boat when I bought it.

I am in sacramento, CA and I am a licensed car/boat dealer and I bought it at an auction in Sacramento.

By the time I got it I found it in kinda rough shape...

It is a shame to see any boat like these ignored and put out to pasture for no reason other than running out of $$$$ to keep it going.

As far as the engines go, I checked my blocks and both of them are stamped 101141182 with the aluminum factory manifolds numbered 6269318. At least I don't have the peanut head 454 330's!!

All I need now is an outdrive.... and to get this boat fully restored by April/May of 2011!!!!!

Mike

I have a 1989 drive that came off a formula if you are interested. PM me if so.

Awesome Blue Thunder, Thank You!

PM Sent

I emailed you haleys comet. Let me know if you don't get it.

I have an extra set of props that were on my Formula 336, if you still need some.