I'm restoring a 353 FasTech with 575 SCs. The gimbal ring of the STBD unit is cracked in half. Just got off the phone with Merc racing and they are telling me I need to pull the motor and remove the transom to replace the gimbal ring. Ouch. Anyone got a better idea for making this repair w/o pulling the motor?

Thanks

You can do it with a kit that drills holes in the transom plate to access the gimbal ring nut and then plugs the hole. Another one cuts out the back where the sticker is and then covers it with a plate.

Neither look spectacular when done. I would pull the motor. Also,,,, replace the steer shaft seal while you are in there. You have to go through all the same work to do it for a $23 seal

I have done the J&R Marine repair that drills where the sticker is located. It worked well and I did not have to remove the engine.

JR method
Instructions

I did the Merc method years ago and did ok

Have to say the JR kit, I have seen some leak over time. IMO I would check and reseal every so often. Its a good idea, the kit - but I also question cutting on a stock bravo transom assembly a good size rectangle piece if any of its integrity is compromise ?
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And yes I have installed the kit as well.

Thanks for the input, fellas. I considered cutting the plate out but concerned about what it looks like after the repair and the Merc rep said the same thing as BUP--I'd be cutting out a hunk of metal on a high performance drive that I'd probably like to have. Just a kick in the teeth because I though I was in the last week of hard labor and have spine surgery in 11 days. I think I'm with Obnoxious, just get the motor out and do it right.

I' be shocked if the thin piece that gets cut out with the Jr kit does anything.