This is actually less that the cost to repair my drive.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o49493-en.html

I would want to call them first to verify exactly what they are selling for the price displayed. In the main description it says they have complete drives any ratio and/or uppers and lowers available,,,, but next to the price it says $5190/new upper.

I did call. They are buying complete drives and spitting them. Using the 'parts are more that the sum' method to make a little money. Spoke with John at The Bravo Shop and he advised me to do the same. Purchase the whole drive and sell the foot if I did not need it. His example was 6000 for a top or 7500 for the whole thing. Sell the lower for 2500+ and walla 5000 buck top. Back to the question, is it worth over 5000 for a rebuild?

I have heard depending on what breaks and how the case can tweak and should be discarded

Welcome to the club of blown bravo blues! Sorry that you had to join. Sound like you are onto something though with buying the entire drive but IMO sell YOUR used Lower, or its only time before that starts coming apart sending metal through the new upper.

I am having the lower rebuilt. It is a -2 sportmaster. I'm told nothing was damaged there. Just making sure no metal anywhere and reseal.

Thanks!!! Yet another club I did not really want to be in, GREAT.

If your looking at shipping it any way. I'd send it the Bravo shop. They have many upgrades available that will help the bravos survive.
http://thebravoshop.com

Before you leap, my experience with Max Machine has been excellent. Perfect performance with absolutely no wear run regularly at 6000-6500 RPM w/750+HP. In my experience, you are much better off with a Max Machine upgrade than a new Mercury drive. Why buy what just broke? www.maxmachineworx.com
Whatever you do, keep the drive oil temp under control.

I have spoken to John at The Bravo Shop at length and he has been very helpful with information. My plan is/was to purchase a new drive upper and have them upgrade to cryo gears and hardened shims along with a couple other things. Also, have them check the broken drive for case stretch and advise me on if rebuilding it a good idea. This way I would have 1 swep back spare that was ready to go. I can't really complain the about current drives I have. They are 2005 models and have survived behind up to 800hp till now, minus a few down years for motor changes, blah blah blah. I do like the looks of Maxmachine pieces, so i guess I have yet another decision to make.