Upper yes. Lower no.
XZ is x gear on top with XR lower with 1.25 shaft

Cryoed XZ about 8 hours old in a 25' boat

http://33outlaw.zenfolio.com/img/s11...81169723-3.jpg

Didnt you lose a bearing though?

If your doing more wave jumping the XR will handle that better, but take more power to turn & wear out WAY faster. XR gears will handle more blunt force. The XZ or X setup is helical/ bevel gear that has more teeth in contact at one time but much smaller teeth. XZ/X gears wear much better and take less power to turn. If your over powered & or wave jump alot go XR, if you drive like you have a tampon string hanging between your legs, then you can get buy much better with XZ/X. The key to the XR gears is that when they start to pit, and I mean if you see only one little pit in the gears, replace them. At that point they are soon to break, and risk the chance of destroying the case and messing up the lower too.

What came first .. the chicken or the egg?

maybe stay with the same gears and add drive guardians.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...ear-later.html

XZ gears and the Drive Guardian would be a hot set up.

the drive guardian has been proven but there is still no guarantee I don't snap a gear or shaft leaving the water. without a guarentee im still left with a $2000 gamble depending on what breaks...not to mention being out $5000 for the guardian. that's been the trouble for me in purchasing the product. not trying to detract from the product, just my opinion

Call George at All American Drive talk to him about the different phases he offers and comes with 2 yr warranty that he stands behind.

Got a buddy with a 33 Outlaw that has gone thru about 5 or 6 XZ's since 2004. 500 EFI's.