Steel Tower Upgrade for Bravo 1
 

I had been looking for a steel tower to install in a Bravo1. Unfortunately, the only thing I could find were supplier installed or XR towers ( which are an 1/8" shorter than Bravo1 towers). I discussed this problem with Alfster and we decided to make one. This is what we came up with: A steel tower with more thread, to increase strength, and produced from a high quality alloy. This one will be going in DanB's drive.

Maxx, the XR towers are shorter to accomodate the thicker floor in the newest gears. The inner race is about 1/8 shorter so there is no need for the taler tower, if you put the new gears in an older housing the gear clears the top of the tower by just a few thou.

Regardless, your piece looks great. I assume you will set up to thread mill the housings?

Maxx, It looks good. I like the idea. Now for some testing. I and alot of other people have been following your posts, and are interested in the outcome. Did you ever get the testing done on the Bravo, or does tommy v still have the drive. If not, when do you think you will have DanB's drive ready to go and be able to test it?
UPDATE Please :cool:

How tall is the XR tower suppose to be? Can anyone put a number on that? How about the standard tower? And what reference point could one use to measure the proper height of each..

Thanks

Dick

Marc, thanks for the info. You certainly have a wealth of knowledge on these drives. I was going to trim an 1/8" off the top of this tower for an "X" gear upgrade; it's nice to know I won't have to do that. I may take a little off for piece mind. I have already milled and threaded Dan's drive. Hopefully, I will be able to post a picture of the finished product tonight.

28eliminator, thanks for the support! Tommy had a family crisis and couldn't test the shortie. He's sending it back, and as soon as I get it; I'll be making few changes and test it here. Dan is driving up this weekend to pick up the drive; I'm not sure when he'll be able to install it.

Mr. Gadgets, our reference was taken from an old XR tower and race compared to a stock Bravo1 race. I can give you a measurement of a stock tower from the top of the tower to the floor of the spacer/thrust bearing surface.

Maxx,
If you would please supply that number It would be a big help. I did find that file we talked about, but it is in efax format. Do you by chance have an efax account? If not, I can print the file and mail it to you or you could down load the efax program and I could email the file to you.. I tried to convert the *.efx file to something else, but was unsuccessful.. Nice talking to you yesterday..

Dick

Mr Gadgets, I enjoyed our conversation also. I'll email you that number. Can you send that info by regular fax? I will post a picture of Dan's drive with the new tower tomorrow.

Okay, here's a photo of the tower installed.

Another view.

Maxx,
I could fax it to you but the pics wouldnt come out too good. I do have a copy I could mail to you. At this point I have not been able to get to my email.. while on the road. I cant remember the site I need to go to..
Let me know if you want me to mail it and I will call you for an address..

Dick

Dick, the information arrived today. Thanks alot!:D I have a customer's drive that needed "Blueprinting" this info will save me a tremendous amount of time setting up the correct back-lash for the upper gears.

Maxx,
Your welcome!

Dick

I have a 1990 Bravo drive that the tower (which appears to be part of the entire upper casting not a screw in part?) is ruined at the very top above where you can see splines when looking down from the top. Is this piece something that can be used to salvage the housing and make it usable again as well as increasing strength?

BGIII, yes. The steel tower upgrade is fairly popular. The stock tower is milled off then I bore and thread the hole and install the steel one. The steel tower won't flex as much as the stock aluminum one will, and it can save the drive in the event of gear failure.

Steel Tower
 

Maxx,where can it be done,I`v got a
clean upper 97 with broken alu tower,thanks.

Bjorn :) :)

Thanks Maxx, looks like I need to have one of your steel towers installed and get my upper put back together so I'll have a spare.

BGIII and 502 Mag, I do them here in Norfolk, VA. I sent y'all an email.

BGIII, send me an email to: [email protected] Your profile won't let me email you.

Hi Maxx, Ive got a lower with way to much side play on the prop shaft. Ill get the nut and carrier out and bring it with me next trip. Ive never hurt a lower and as such, have never messed with them and dont have the tools to do the rear bearing if it needs it. See ya then. If its just the carrier bearing, I should be able to handle it.

Sounds good Tom, if the carrier is damaged; I have an extra one.

Im pretty sure the carrier is shot. Its probably where all the slop is. Ill know in a few days when I get it apart. Thanks, Tom

The amazing part is the seals held.

Have you checked out this site.......they have a longer tower, and looks like a lot of trick stuff.

Seein how Im not tearin up drives (yet) I haven't used their stuff, but I see them advertised, and have heard people talk about them..........Just passin along some info.

Website: Maxmachineworx.com

Not sure if it's really needed, but that steel tower that Max Machine Worx makes looks real impressive. I'm sure John/Maxx could make something like that if needed.

Ratchet, they have some real nice stuff. However, our goal (Alfster's and mine) is to provide the performance boating enthusiast with high quality, reasonably priced, service and accessories. This will include: steering systems, Bravo upgrades, shortening lowers, and other products we have in the works. There are some real nice products out there but they are way overpriced.

Mark, our tower has more thread which will increase the support and strength, and it is reasonably priced. The Max Machine Worx tower is a real nice piece and I would not want or attempt to duplicate thier work.:)

Maxx, I certainly don't know everything about these Bravo One drives and I certainly don't think I hear of everything that goes wrong with these drives as well, but it sounds like the stock XR steel tower is adaquate enough anyway----certainly enough for the nauturally aspirated horsepower (680hp) I'm putting to them. Keep us posted John on your accomplishments and keep up the good work bro.

Mark/KAAMA

Thanks
 

Maxx,

My apologies, I was a bit unclear as to if you were supplying them to everyone, or just doing it for yourself (maybe just a bit of skimming on my part). Anyways, it's great to know that you guys are out there. It's great to know that there are some people that realize all boaters don't have an endless supply of money.

Thanks,
RJ

No apologies necessary Ratchet, Alfster and I are just trying to help a few folks out here. :) Maybe, with a little luck, this will evolve into something we can pursue when I retire from law enforcement in a couple of years and Alfster retires from the heavy equipment industry :D

Hey, this looks like a great Christmas gift!!! Maxx, do you have gift certificates???? All in need could get their wifes/girlfriends to buy a few certificates and we could be some happy boaters out here!!!

Have a nice Thanksgiving!! Be thankful we are boaters!!

Dick

Oh, I think that could be arranged. :D

Steel Tower insert
 

Hello everybody I am new to this form very hard-working just a blue collar guy bought a big boat and now I realize that big boats are not for the average person. I did the research on trying to make my bravo one's a little stronger I talked to Max today and what I read from the forms is you know these guys are doing stuff and making stuff that the average guy can't afford. Sarted to talk about prices and quotes listen you're way better off just to buy better drives then even the Xrs because steel insert for the tower is a $1,000 aside and then that time you do they had a whole list of things that was ridiculous you're talkin $10,000 a piece to upgrade a Bravo One I don't know too many blue-collar guys that could do that so I think what I'm going to do is because there are no people out there that have good deals for boats. Boats stand for bust out another thousand bust out another thousand after that so after jumping into this boat in realizing that they're just big giant money pits I probably will sell the 38-foot Scarab and just buy something little with a single Outboards I think the outboard motors are definitely the way to go because there are nobody making parts that are reasonable and you're talking $1,000 aside plus eight hundred and some dollars for a Billet vertical shaft almost 900 come on guys