advice needed
 

i have an older pantera with a TRS drive and merc II tranny.

i just found out cost to rebuild drive and tranny is totaling about 3600.00

I am wondering if I am better off switching to a bravo setup. I know i have to redo the transom.

I can get a bravo transom assembly for a grand or less and a bravo 1 drive in the 2000's

so it would end up costing about the same or might be a little cheaper to switch out.

what do you guy's think?


thanks

Mark

I have a 24 excalibur with a similar setup and I'm sure I will blow up my drive soon as I am expecting close to 700 horse this year. The same question has crossed my mind and after weighing the advantages of both I will prolly go to the broavo when I gernade the trs.
Martin.

sounds like it would make things easier in the long run -- i really didn't want to have to close and recut te transom -- but i suppose it can't be that bad??? lol

that and moving the motor back to eliminate the transmission which I think is going to totally change the ballance of my boat.

yeah i wonder how that will affect handling?

prolly help with bow lift, but I don't have a bow lift problem I like the weight distribution the way it is now. it flies flat and handles big water very well. I think your boat is very similar to mine so we'd prolly get similar results.
Martin.

I don't think so...
 

If you look at the lower unit (gearcase) on the TRS it is very similar to the Bravo, I think it is stronger.
The upper gears, in the drive shaft housing, are stronger than a Bravo (Bravos are weak here). I think the bad rap on the TRS has always been with the Merc. transmission. If your TRS has a Borg Warner Velvet Drive Transmission I think you have a better set up than a Bravo.
Just a Mercruiser Master Technicians opinion.
Sincerely
Dennis Moore

Re: I don't think so...
 

And some pretty good advise at that :D :D :D

I have the Merc II tranny -- to switch to a borg i'd have to move my engine forward -- and still would have to get a new tranny and still have to pay for the drive rebuild.

so dollar per dollar - isn't switching to some new common bravo parts the way to go?

Dennis, I agree the TRS upper is stout. The lower is the problem, specifically the pinion gear. Not good for much more than 550HP or so (assuming you want to really be able to run the boat hard)

Transmissions are no problem if using a Velvet Drive as they can be upgraded to handle much more than the drive. Merctrans is a little weak, but just fine for a small block and nice and compact.

We are working on a new gear set, there are so many of these drives out there that it makes sense. Just taking longer than planned.

Bam
 

Thanks for the info...
I would like to write about the new gears, when you have some time give me a call. Always looking for topics.
Dennis Moore
Technical Editor
"Wet Toys" section
Truckin' Magazine
[email protected]
714-712-2117

Marc,
How much power do you have?I was thinking that you were going to put 600 horsepower in it.A Bravo that will handle 600 hp will probubly cost more than $2000.00.

Rob

i am going to be at 525 hp -- the 2000 bravo i found was on ebay -- i was just using it for a reference -- the transom assembly looks to be about 1500.00

i found trs drive for pretty reasonable price -- i am hemming and hawing over what to do now -- i could buy this TRS drive -- for cheap and run exactly what i have -- or i could take the time now to switch over to a bravo

i guess the other thing is i don't think i would keep this boat long term anyhow -- i'd like to step up once i am finished with this one


decisions -- decisions

My $0.02.
If your TRS gimbal is good, stick with the TRS. If you have to rebuild the tranny anyway, lose the Merc tranny and get a good rebuilt velvet drive. With 525hp, that combo should last almost forever. Cant say the same about a used bravo with 525hp. And you have to be very careful of used bravo gimbals. The upper swivel pin tends to loosen in the gimbal ring. Price out a new gimbal ring.
It will all bolt up and will only require the engine to be moved forward a few inches.
Gary

yes my gimble seems good. I guess i should ask how i check to make sure??

as for the tranny i have a later version merc II and my guy at speedmasters says this one has good parts and is factory rated at 450hp -- so as long as i don't slam the throttle for hole shots he thinks it will be fine.

if i switch to a borg or other tranny i would have to move my engine - and i only have 5 inches in front right now -- i heard with a c72 i need almost 12 inches.

Again, My $0.02,
TRS gimbals are pretty solid. Upper swivel pin seals may start to leak and that's what I would check. If you're gimbal is old, it will have a spline/spline upper swivel pin. These dont like to come apart, so that could be a future problem.
As for the tranny, I have not heard anything good about the Mercs. A rebuilt velvet drive is worth it for reliability and resale. Compare the price of a rebuilt velvet drive to rebuilding the Merc, see if it's worth it. You'll need a bell housing and maybe a drive plate too.
As for the fit. I'm not sure about how far the engine has to be moved. I think the overall length of a velvet drive is about 12", excluding bell housing. So it may be less than that.
Measure the block to the transom plate on yours and a velvet drive setup. Then get a shoe horn.
Gary