#3 Speedmasters
 

Can you still get parts for these, props ect.? Why were they replaced with 3 a's. Looking at a boat w/these drives and wonder if this would a bad choice? Boats a 38 Fountain w/ 500hp's what do you think? Thanks!

Re: #3 Speedmasters
 

I HAVE A #3 ON MY MAGNUM, AWSOME DRIVE I HAVE BEEN STUFFING OVER 700 HOARSE IN IT FOR 60 HARD HOURS...SEEMS TO BE HOLDING UP FINE...THE 3A IS A WAY BETTER DRIVE, IF YOU PLAN ON PUTTING BLOWER MOTORS WITH HUGE HOARSEPOWER IN YOUR BOAT.....BUT A PLAIN #3 is a great drine and yes you can still get parts but i dont think you will need them

Re: #3 Speedmasters
 

I believe the #3a has the larger prop shaft, among other things , 26 Splines #3A, 19 splines #3

A little hard to get parts for the #3, that's my experience, especially the gears, NLA. http://www.mercruiserparts.com/selec...doc_nbr=+13668

http://go-fast.com/3A_drive.htm

Re: #3 Speedmasters
 

Are # 3's and 3a's interchangeable ?Or are #3a's gimbals diff.

Re: #3 Speedmasters
 

SSM #3, #3A, #4, and #5 is interchangeable.

Re: #3 Speedmasters
 

Thanks to all !

I have a question.

If the pic above is of a #3, and has the vertical leading edge on the lower with the bullet pertruding from it, what differentiates this model, from the #3 with the crescent leading edge (similar to #4 lower, but with the longer (deeper) lower case)

vertical LE:

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/ssm.1.jpg

CLE LE: serial of this is: 38030982C which I think represents an '81/'82 small shaft #3

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/ssm.2.jpg

Any ideas??

The bottom picture is a later model,the #4s have larger vertical shafts and a shorter height.They also came with deeper skegs. 3s work well on V bottoms and 4s work well on cats.They also cam with large and small prop shafts.
Great drives but parts are getting real hard to come by.

OK thanks.

So, the second picture is a later style SSM #3, but not a 3A? when did the 3A come on the scene?

The one pictured was new in 1982, did 4 races in a UIM class II boat, then sat in a barn for 20 odd years, so the exterior has suffered a bit.
You can see from this close up, the UJ is still shiney, this was the first time it was taken off the boat since 1982.

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/UJ.jpg


The boat it came from:

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/Warlord1982.jpg

found stored in barn:

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/3317.jpg

After some input from the original designer/builder, deck removed, stretched from 30' 7" to 31' 10" and a pad keel added, mould taken and new deck produced.

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/war1.JPG

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/war2.jpg

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/war3.jpg

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/war4.jpg

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/p32.jpg

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/P32.2.jpg

Finished boat now racing in the European 'Marathon' class (long distance endurance racing) now running twin staggered small (3.2 litre) turbo diesels / Bravo XR-ITS

Long distance racing is making a big comeback over here in Europe, ..round in little circles no longer interests the racers. In June this year, we ran the 1500 mile
Round Britain Race again, for the first time in 24 years and got 47 entries!. And the famed Cowes-Torquay-Cowes event was also run again, and is set to continue in the coming years. Long live real Offshore.

http://www.boatmad.com/images/drives/desktop10s.jpg

Dam sweet looking and lots of work.
The 3A came out about the same time the 5s came out.
Im thinking 8-10 yrs now.
The 3As have the same size gears,bearings,shafts, just a longer X dimension. :drink:

OK, thanks for the info, much appreciated.

What we need now, is some Yanks to come over to Europe and challenge our best in the Marathon series.

The old style long range, open water racing really is VERY rewarding. You certainly feel you've earned a drink at the end of a 250 mile rough race.

Of course, if you don't think ya boats or crews are up to it....:evilb:


cheers

Jon Fuller

What we need now, is some Yanks to come over to Europe and challenge our best in the Marathon series.

The old style long range, open water racing really is VERY rewarding. You certainly feel you've earned a drink at the end of a 250 mile rough race.




cheers

Jon Fuller[/QUOTE]

Is there any other Offshore Racing!! :ernaehrung004: