ALPHA Question
 

Can anyone explain what the difference is between a regular ALPHA drive and a "454 Magnum" drive?

I see it listed on the parts page for mercruiser and on my outdrive as well, but cannot find any data as to why the different call out.

Thanks y'all!

None, the difference is with the engines . a 454 mag with the alpha is detuned uses a 330 intake manifold

Thanks Pantera,

I thought it was motor related, however when I went to get the exhaust bellows, it has 2 part numbers, 1 for the 454 and one for the regular Alpha. Of course the 454 was more $$$

Thanks

i had the 454mag alpha setup

the difference in the drive is the gearing it has 1.32:1 gears as oppsed to 1.48:1 or 1.50:1 gears. Also i heard most of these setups used an engine mounted raw water pump. And had coolign isues. Mine always ran a little warm.

As for the engine it is NOT a 454 MAG that has been detuned. At least its not what we think of when we hear MAG. It has all cast internals and most likely 2 bolt mains. And is (as far as i can tell) a bone stock 330hp 7.4. Mine had large oval ports in the heads. All cast internals and 2 bolt mains. Nothing special about it.

Whereas now when we say MAG it means it has the better internals including the forged crank rectangle heads and heavy duty connecting rods and the rest of the heavy duty goodies.

Hey Puder,

I think you are right about the water intake. I intend to put on a drive shower this year. The water intake looks like it runs right from the pickup to a little 90 degree hose and then through the transom assy.

This is blocked off right now.

The Magnum I think is different than "Mag" as well. I am putting in a 502 Mag in place of the 454. 4 Bolt mains. The 454 was 2 bolt.

Those gears will need to go, I think, maybe put in a set of 1.5:1

OSO is great!

Boy I "think" a lot tonight!!!!

I replace an 888 drive with an alpha that said 454 magnum earlier this year, with a hi perf 350 engine. My wrench didn't say the drive was any different in ratio than any other alpha, and I am pretty sure he would have told me so. With the slip numbers I was getting with the last prop, I sure hope it isn't 1:32!

i know merc used the 1.32 gears because they were stronger than the other ratios. With a 454 and teh 1.32 its was right on eth edge of breaking at just abotu anymoment with the less reliable gears you are just inviting breakage.

txboater,

Be carefull with that 502 using the Alpha drive. Even with the "stronger" 1.32 gears, that 502 will put out a lot more power than the old 454 Alpha combo ever did. The outdrive will be a time bomb waiting to go off.

mike

dude are you breathin the pipe? Crack isn;t a good thing you know....

a 502 and a 1.32 alpha just isn't gonna work. a 330hp 454 and an alpha is on the edge. Pull the drive and transom assemblie and sell it and find yourself a bravo setup. The conversion is easy. You drill 2 extra holes and bolt it on. The pumps, block off plate and sterring shoudl all fit.

DO you want to spend some coin now maybe a $1000 extra or 4 weeks from now in the middle of the season. That way when all your buddies are out havign fun on eth water you are sitting in your engine bay sweating your balls off fixxing your boat?

you better be comming out of the hole , like an old lady with a shopping cart! otherwise its going to sound like a blender with
nuts and bolts in it.
I have a 350 mag with a alpha gen2 1.5r Im still afraid to get on it out of the hole. mabye in labor day weekend Ill pound it a little
bit. cause if I toast it then at least my summer isnt ruined.

hey puder are the gen 2 stronger then the gen 1 s?

I'm not smokin' much right now! Can't afford it!

I know the ALpha is way under what is needed, but so isn't the bank account right now.

I am keeping my eyes out for a good used Bravo. If I get any sort of a windfall, then in it will go!.

Until then, I like the old lady analogy, slow and eaaaaaaasssy!

WWW TOPDJ COM,
My Formula runs a 350 MAG, 270hp, with an Alpha gen1 (1.5:1). It's currently got over 400 hours on it and when I'm coming out of the hole I've got the hammer all the way down.
No complaints from it.... yet. :rolleyes:
Some day I'll upgrade to a Bravo.
So don't be afraid, punch it!

Iggy what kind of lube u running ? drive shower?
boat year size weight?
my is 25' around 3800lbs 1992

Using regular Merc High Performance gear oil (the blue/green stuff) and no shower. Change it twice a season and our season runs from March to November.
Boat is a 1988, 21 ft and 3100 lbs (dry) turning a 21p Mirage.

Origional Merc gears were cast/treated. They had the HD upgrade on gears that were forged and used in the Alpha SS. You NEED to use the HD gears for any BB application and still be carefull out of the hole. The ratio is not the concern; the torque of the BB is. Going to the more cubes (like more torque) will put you over the edge and you will spend most of this summer on the beach. Either stay with 330 HP or upgrade outdrive and all. --- Jer

I have a buddy with a 454 toting about 400hp through a 1987 alpha drive. This is on a 240 baja. He babies that crap out of it, but has blown the upper out of the outdrive several times. He trys to get on plane like an old lady, but the problem is the boat runs great. As soon as he gets a little air, he blows the drive on reentry. Often he gets away ok with quick throttle back, but one wrong move and there goes another $1,500 and a couple weeks time. Spend the money up front if you plan to keep the boat so you can romp without worry. I suspect a 21 footer with that kind of power will be hard to keep from launching and even harder to keep off WOT!.

Good Luck,

BT :cool:

when were the forged gears used I have a 92 gen2 says 350 mag on drive is there anything that someone could tell be about
the improvements

Heat (and of course the torque of a BBC) will kill an Alpha without mercy! I have a pair of built SBC's in a Formula and have had no problems, but I have added Simrek drive showers, internal reservoir kits, and run RedLine ShockProof Heavy gear lube (ditch the green stuff, no comparison in lubricity and gear shock-load protection to RedLine) The temp drop with these add-ons was over 60 degrees F measured with an infrared, and no more chalking on the outdrive. There is a slight advantage in a twin install with Alphas since they share the load, but I still would only run SBC's in front of them.

I'm with the other guys on the Bravo swap though, you WILL have a disappointing season no matter how you baby it with that 502 in there. I've seen plenty of grenaded Alphas running 330's. Spend the money on the Bravo now- Alphas aren't cheap, especially when you go through a lot of 'em!

My wrench had an alpha and a BB on his fishing boat. Granted it isn't a performance boat, but it is big and heavy. He told me he got 3000 hours from the alpha before he upgraded engine and went bravo at the time. The drive was still working when he swapped. Of course like I told him, he probably had the habit of keeping oil instead of saltwater in the drive.

As a matter of fact, I stopped in to see him yesterday and pick his brain about a boat that I was looking at that had twin TRS. He almost snapped his neck looking at me a shaking his head no! He said not to touch it with a ten foot pole, he didn't care how good a shape and how nice a boat or what a great price. While I was there, they were swapping out his BB for a new 496. He said a customer wanted to buy his engine, so he went with the new 496.

Ok! I think Blue Thunder did it.... This thing loves to launch as it is and I can see popping top ends on re entry.

Ok. Where do I get a decent Bravo from.

ANYONE NEED A GOOD RUNNING ALPHA??


Thanks all.

glad you finally came to your senses.

Good idea, you can certainly buy a Bravo for what 3 or 4 alpha's will run you.:D

Cuda,

If I cannot find a good deal on a Bravo set-up, I guess I will have to buy 2 or 3 ALphas and put them in the garage.

I better sign up for BoatUS towing!!!!!!

Argggg. It never ends.

;)

keep lookign and have some patience and you'll find one. there were some good deals a few weeks ago.

TX... if you are going to keep the boat you will never regret the change the heavier dirve and the peace of mind you will have. If you plan on selling anytime soon, do that instead and buy a boat with the requisite toughness. Either way you go good luck... Did you look on OSO for a bravo? I would also talk to marc at BAM for his insights and advise. He is great with this kinda thing.

BT

still would like to know the improvment history of the alpha gen2
what did they do to make the gears better, bearings too?
I have a 350 mag alpha gen 2 92year is it better than a the older ones and is it enough for my mag on a 3800 25' stepped hull
Harry Schoell design

The price of the bravo will certainly come back to you when it is time to sell. Most people are reluctant to buy a BB with an Alpha, especially the second time around! Right Puder?!:D

Have you checked on Didbit? That is where I found my drive and gimball housing.

i wouldn't buy another BBC/alpha combo even if Chairman Moa himself had my testicles in a vice......

just to much to worry abotu. everytime i tok the baot out i though i was goign to need seatow. It kind of killed th fun of boatign constantly worrying if i am going to break something. FYI i had myboat with teh stock 454"mag" and teh alpha for sale all last summer. Got a bunch of lookers but as soon as they saw the alpha they said "NOPE"
I showed them the merc info and some printouts from OSO and that helped ease the concerns BUT she never sold. Witha 502 and a alpha you have a better chance of gettinag date with heidi klum and then getting some action (without ruffies).....


Honestly i would say don;t even try taht 502 witeh alpha youa re goign toopo in in under an hour. Ihad teh bright idea of puttin blower on my tired 454"mag" tahnsk god it never ran right. At least i was able to geta new engein drive setup over the winter and was able to sell the old drive for $2000 instead of popping it and having a paperwieght.