This this Jeff? We connected on FB last week. I owe you a call still.

How was the conversion process? Any issues or were they really bolt on a go? with the hat change..

I had no issues, I changed to the imco HD gimble ring also. Everything bolted up as it should have with no problems.

SCX4 Upper w/160hrs


SCX4 Lower w/160hrs


SCX4 Lower w/less than 100 hours after IMCO rebuild


Mine-2002 38 Lightning w/700HP 160 hours
They were beginning to get hard to shift into N after running F for a while. Once in N they would shift like butter around the docks.
Pulled drain plugs and found metal, like the old Bravos would show before suicide. Note; SCX's don't have magnets on plugs so I installed that style.
One bad gear in Port side, one bad gear in Star side. Replaced all gears and bearings in both.
Pisser, YES.
But, they gave me warning signs, I didn't have to idle back to dock, lasted about 60 hours longer than an XR, and gave me confidence on the water.
Note; I broke these gears in at WOT trying to figure out props. I go WOT every time out.

My buddy's gear is far worse. 03 Lightning 750+HP SCX-4's
He blew one drive at the end of 2016. At that time I noticed his other felt like crap, talking green baby crap nasty!
He ran it all 2017 that way.
After last run of 2017 I convinced him to take it apart and this is what I found. He never even had to idle home.
I don't know what IMCO did/replaced when they rebuilt this particular drive. Could have been an upper, clean the lower scenario.
I put my old lower gears and bearings (the set that looked fine) with 160 hours on them in it. Time will tell, one summer almost done.

Testament to IMCO; I'd say the gears are tough