Konrad/Speedmaster IIIA conversion
 

Doller Offshore Marine has just completed the first ever SSM IIIA Sterndrive conversion to the NEW Konrad Replacement Sterndrive, with outstanding results!
Here is the Press Release;

Attention Speedmaster III/IIIA owners:

Konrad Marine of Hudson, Wisconsin is proud to announce our latest addition to the Konrad product line, a direct replacement for the aging MerCruiser Speedmaster III and IIIA sterndrive unit.

Parts for the once mighty Speedmaster III series drives have become increasingly difficult, if not impossible to obtain and owners of these drives find themselves in a very formidable position when faced with drive issues. Since the SSMIII/IIIA units are very unique to the other drive alternatives on the market, a Herculean re-rigging task is required to convert to these alternatives including filling of the transom and re cutting for a new gimbal assembly. Re-rigging a Speedmaster boat to the Bravo drive system makes little sense as most Speedmaster equipped vessels have been fitted with power much greater than the Bravo unit can handle reliably. Re-rigging an older boat to the Speedmaster Six series drives, although a rugged alternative, could be considered financial suicide as the cost of conversion could exceed many times the value of the boat.

The Konrad SSMIII/IIIA retro fit kit has greatly simplified the SSMIII conversion process. All that’s required is to pull the existing Speedmaster drive units, pull the hinge pins from the SSM gimbal ring, remove the drive bellhousing and install the specially designed Konrad SSM conversion bellhousing. The Konrad drive unit slides right in place with minimal effort thanks to Konrad’s exclusive input shaft line up pin arrangement. Most conversions can be completed in a matter of just a few hours. The Konrad SSM conversion system is delivered as a complete kit including all necessary components to complete the installation in a trouble free manner.

The drive chosen for this conversion is a slightly modified version of the proven Konrad 540. The drive unit is fitted with our optional HD upper input shaft and HP lower gear case as standard equipment. As a bonus, the Konrad conversion unit is 2” shorter from input shaft to propshaft than the Speedmaster III series drives. This increase in propshaft height has proven to be beneficial as most of the SSMIII units were mounted rather deep. Initial testing has proven to be a 100% success with slight speed gains to boot!

This conversion was performed here along with Kurt (biggus) and Randy from Konrad on a 1994 Cigarette Top Gun.
(Thanks Guys, great to have you here!, but I am sure you did miss that 8 degree weather at home...)
Lot's of pictures and story to follow...Stay Tuned!

way cool :cool:

good stuff.

Where we started...
 

This is the Beautifully updated 1994 38' Cigarette.
Has 600hp Motors, HAD 1.50:1 SSM IIIA Sterndrives, with 4 blade chopper props 15.25 X 26. Turning 5600 RPMs for a top speed of 74.5 MPH.

Pulled IIIA drives off, and Bell Housings
 

Disconnect steering and trim cylinders. Unbolt from bell housing, and removed drives. Next step will be, remove bell housing, and install Konrad bell housing with new bellows and reservoir hose...

New Konrad goes on
 

This is the standard length lower included with the Sterndrive. The bell housing has been changed, and now it is time to install the drive, and hook up the trim rams and steering. The existing Marine Machine Steering worked PERFECTLY with the new Konrad Wing Plates. The only modifications were a couple of spacer washers!
How easy is this!

Dang it, Mindy, that is not a bell housing, it is a gimbal housing.................

Sorry to confuse you Brownie! :cool-smiley-011: This conversion retains the SSM gimbal housing, just swap the DRIVE bell housing with a Konrad bell.
Pull the hinge pins and install the Konrad bell in the SSM gimbal ring.

Kurt

Whats the cost

Great idea!

Is Mercury sill producing the replacement parts for the SSM III/IIIA gimbal housings/rings? If not, do you offer replacement parts for the SSM gimbal housing?

Dang it yourself Brownie, give me a little more credit than that! :)
You could call it a helmet I guess......
from the press release.....

"All that’s required is to pull the existing Speedmaster drive units, pull the hinge pins from the SSM gimbal ring, remove the drive bellhousing and install the specially designed Konrad SSM conversion bellhousing. "

alot:D

Hold on, the cost is not nearly what you would think it would be....NEW TECHNOLOGY, lot's of prop options open up due to the prop shaft change, and no longer obsolete equipment on your boat...
Miami Boat show will be the debut, please do not quote me until it is official, but somewhere in the 10K a side range...Compare that to rebuilding your broken IIIA's (if you can find the parts...)

so then about the same as a trs conversion... should work out for boats with a #5 drive too..:cool-smiley-011:

Dang me, dang me, they oughta take a rope and hang me....................

Great job Mindi. Glad to see more reliable conversions going on. :D
Tom

Proud to be a Konrad Dealer!!

As we all are! Konrad has a terrific dealer network.
More information can be found on their website, www.konradmarine.com
Lot's more pictures and details coming, check back!

????????

Not really....you can sell the #3's for more than you would get for trs's.:eureka::eureka:

So,actually, it's less than a trs conversion.:cool-smiley-011:

Mindi,
Looks Great!! I am glad it all worked out ! :drink::D

hey,hey,hey ,
i thought this was place was "all expert's only":D:D

how much for a SSMIII ??

or is it free to a good home...

Konrats to Konrad.

I would hope Kurt would chime in again - What HP rating??

Kirk
Elite Marine, Inc.
[email protected]

How much lower is the "X" than a #5. What kind of props work on the Konrads? What prop would you run on a step hull to provide some bow lift?

What are the Konrads rated for with all the HD and HP parts?
In terms of torque and horsepower.

Konrad continues to be a innovator in the out-drive conversion sector with making it much easier to replace older drives with minor to no modifications and with the availability of parts.

you'll make toast out of the speedys long before the Konrads. Conservatively rated at 800 but they will take more.

a twin downshaft Konrad would really be something!

From what I have seen with the TRS swap and now this, Konrad has done a remarkable job!

gonna be lots of 3 parts around once everyone starts selling them to swap

Mindi / Kurt, I too would like to know what Panther has asked a couple times. What if gimble rings are tired are the solutions for these parts??

Great news and thanks for helping keep these Old School Classics modern and marketable! :cool: :drink:

Yes, replacement parts for these gimbal assemblies are available. Only the very early III (70's) gimbal rings are discontinued.

At this time, Konrad does not intend on offering a gimbal assembly for this conversion.

[email protected]

The Konrad/SSMIII conversion drive is 4" deeper than a SSMV, (2" higher than the III) From your pics I see your SSMV is fitted with a 2" spacer, that would put the Konrad unit 2" deeper than your present configuration.
As for props, it really depends on the boat but I've seen great results with labbed Maximus 5 blade.

Thanks for the positive comments guys!!!:drink: And BIG thanks to Doller Offshore for all their help during this project! :D

[email protected]

great job everyone involved!

Sorry guys, did not mean to leave you hanging, swamped here....I will post more photo's and answer questions shortly!

Mindi -

You say it like its a bad thing!! Good for you glad to hear you guys are doing well.

Kirk

Kurt, thanks for the feedback!

Changing the gimbal bell housing
 

The pivot/hinge pin cover plates have to be removed, then remove the pins. This is one example of Mercury's configuration, if yours is different we can help you with that.
The bellows and gear oil lines are then disconnected, everything is cleaned and new parts installed.
You will no longer need the engagement starter spring from the tail stock, it will not be used with the Konrad drive.
Re-install the bell housing with the Konrad pivot pin's, and re-install the cover plates.
**Please note* Konrad includes an excellent installation manual that provides further details for your individual project!

install the drive
 

you are now ready to install the drive using the Konrad supplied bell housing gasket. Prepare the drive for installation, engage the spline as it is installed, and fasten to the bell housing.