Alpha SS worth?
 

Hey everybody, first time posting and need some advice. A guy on my lake is trying to sell me his alpha SS outdrive for 2k... this a decent deal? He saying they go for 3k. The drive itself is all new HD gears, water pump, paint, u joints, and has all the receipts for proof. It really looks brand new. He just never got to finishing up his project boat and the drive has been sitting for a few years and now he needs the money. He wanted 2500.00 for it but will let it go for the 2k.

These drives worth that much?

Thanks!!!

They haven't made them since 1989. Don't see the value in it, you can buy a brand new outdrive for a little over 1000.00 with a 2 year unlimited warranty. Of course it's made in China but what isn't today?

My friend Doug had his for Alpha SS for sale for over a month here, on three other boating sites and Ebay and eventually had to let it go for $1525..
In this market I wouldnt pay much more unless the drive is like brand new..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercruiser-A...832679&vxp=mtr

If it is truly fresh and has papers i wouldnt call it a deal but that number sounds about right. They are pretty tough to find. I am sure you aware this drive is two inches shorter the stock so you really cant compare the new import SEI drives to these. There a good deal but these shortys are a legitimate add on performance part. Personally i wouldnt take a dime less then that for it.

it is almost collectors item value. rare, hard to find. one upside, it is a cheaper and easier (easier at least) way to find out if raising x-dim will help performance or not. also MUCH easier to undo if you don't like the result. you can re-sell the drive and go back to stock length.

The Alpha SS is a shorty, 2.75" shorter than std Alpha One. SEI does not make a shorty. They work great on the Donzi Classics, as there is very limited hatch clearence for raising the X-Dimension, typically 8 mph increase over the standard Alpha.

I've got one too, hanging onto it for my Formula One project.

So basically, is 2k worth the 5-8mph gain without having to raise my X? Something I will have to consider i suppose. The guy is in no rush in selling, and isnt advertising it at all... was kinda just brought up in small talk.

plus, it is raising x without raising center of gravity of engine, or clearance under hatch...you would think SOMEBODY would make a repro of this drive.

Its worth the $2k, actually $3k if the gears are in fact HD. They bottom line is they just aren't around. And the performance gains are 100% real. If your serious about small block speed its the way to go. A bravo will be an anchor on the boats an SS will benefit.
I'm running a 1.36 Alpha SS now at gps verified 96mph. Some of you are running MUCH faster... but not many in a 20ft v.
I'm selling mine after this season and going to a bravo shortie setup. But only because I've got a 502.

Ill be selling it sometime - but I wont give it away as my mechanic says, who has 2 of them.