antknee

2nd day out over the holiday weekend I tore up my bravo one. I do have a freshly built 514 but I dont think that was the entire reason behind the drive taking a crap on me, Ive only been out in it twice since the new motor and I babied it big time and I was having shifting and heating issues with it already, but for ease of mind I'm wanting to upgrade from the standard Bravo One and wanted to ask around which direction to go. Now that being said my money tree I planted last year unfortunately didnt sprout loads of cash so I am on a budget and cant spring for the big dog drives at this time. I was looking at bravo x or bravo xz and wanted to get others .02 on them. Also are those direct plug and play or do I have to change out any components to make them work? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

firehawkcat

What kind of power is the 514 putting out

antknee

Around 600hp

Mr Gadgets

Bravo X and XZ are similar. They both have thick floored upper gears and steel tower in the upper case. The XZ has the 1 1/4" propshaft, where as the X has the 1" shaft. Both have the XR vertical shaft in the lower. For what you are running. I have lots of friends that are running the X style drive (either modified to be an X drive or bought from Merc that way) with good success. Driven with respect, the X drive should survive.
The XZ needs to have a differnt gimbal bearing and trim limit spacers installed in the trim rams.
Hope that helps.
Dick

antknee

That helps out a bunch, thanks for the info.

chewymalone

I ran a Bravo X upper coupled to an IMCO XR lower behind 620HP in a Formula 242LS with no problems after destroying a Bravo 1.

antknee

Will a newer model drive fit a late model transom assembly (i.e 1992 )

Mr Gadgets

Yes it will fit, the gimbal bearing that merc sells these days is the one that was used for the early XR/XZ drives. It is offset .050" deeper compared to the old model that you would have, if it has never been changed out. I would change it, just to make sure. Other than that, it will bolt up.

Dick