'83 F3 gets a 454 !!
 

My brother is not a member of OSO but he has caught the bug from me and will be soon.

He is a fellow "'Bird Head" and has a well preserved 1983 F3.

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...tor/TomsF3.jpg[/IMG]

He got burned a little over a year ago by A & L Engines in Miami with one of their .060 350 junkers and has been licking his wounds ever since. After seeing me get motivated and into my 255 he let me talk him into putting a big block in his beloved F3.

He is located in Destin, Fl now and found a running and solid 454 from a motor home. These motor home engines are typically high torque work horses and come rated at 350 horse and 450 ft lbs of torque. The engine he scored has cast into the block "High Perf Pass". He plans to change all of the gaskets..including head gaskets to Fel Pro marine along with brass freeze plugs. He was one of the last gen 1 Mercruisers with the 12 5/8" flywheel...which matches the early 454 crank flange. these 454's are externally balanced so he will use the balance weight that sandwiches between the crank and flywheel. This allows him to use the small bell housing on his early Mercruiser transom assembly.

This season will be a test for the No 1 drive behind the 454...it might have a chance in a 3500 lb boat. He will keep a spare on hand...btw he has modified his gimbal and shift set up for Alpha Gen II so he might get a bit more life out of it. If not I can show him how to convert to Bravo...I'm getting a lot of experience doing it with twins.:evilb:

Stay tuned for updates with more pics.:evilb:

i have an alpha gen2 for sale asking $300 its not pretty it had bottom paint put on it but it is in perfect condition oil was clean and grean when it came out feels nice and tight
Gene

That's a steal. He should pick it up as the old No 1 drives had an O-ring groove at the top of the lower verticle shaft. A built-in failure point that wont like a big block in front of it.

Kurt

It has a Gen II on it now. I will pass the word on the one here as a spare.

The Gen2 with that small of a boat could live a while.
I got rid of the Alpha on my 242SS because I stroked my 454 and the boat is bigger and heavier than the 23.

If he stays with the Gen2 just don't hole shot the drive and it should live for quite a while.

Gotta keep us up with the pics too.

Should be fine with the alpha gen 2 my 242ls has well over 300 hrs.