Questions on HP and Alpha Ones
 

Which is more of a weak spot on the Alpha One? The uppper or lower unit? Also I've heard tons of talk of HD alpha stuff specifically gearsets...Seems like most of it states that only the Original Alpha's had HD gearsets in the 7.4L/Alpha setup in 86/87. And that the ratios were 1:32...Now all new gearsets for the Alpha One are HD. Also which ratio puts less stress on the unit a 1:3 or 1:5??? Im running a 360hp SBC on a Deep V and a conservite X-dimesion......
BirdDawg
86Formula F3LS 360hpSB AlphaOne

Buy a spare drive, because with 360hp the alpha's clock is ticking.

I ran about the same amount of power through an Alpha drive a few years ago. I used to ski on it all the time. But, I took it easy when starting off and when coming out of the water. I had an Imco drive shower on it. Ran it for 3 seasons like that, never blew it up. I went through the drive every off-season just to make sure everything was still holding together. I sold the boat 2 years ago, I am not in contact with the new owner to know if he broke it yet.

You might be ok... I am planing to put 375+ hp to my alpha on the powerplay, It will have a good drive shower too.I see no problems unless it is beat to death and not driven right. Our buddy has a 87' 210 baja with a 454 mag (365 hp) and a alpha drive, he's had it 6 years. He has reamed it to death, WFO holeshots, sking, tubing, bunny hoppin all the time and it is still ok, he don't even worry about it. he doesn't even have a drive shower.

I don't think you'll have trouble with an Alpha behind SBC power- I never have and have run 'em hard with high output SBC's.
They just don't have the torque otuput. (unless it's a well built 400+ cid)
Drive showers help a lot, adding the Merc reservoir helps too. I've had real good luck running RedLine Shockproof Heavy in them as well.
Stay away from the Bravo One four-blade propeller on the Alpha- it won't hold up to it.

i've broken a few alpha's when behind a 454 mag. Never blew the lower. It was always the upper gears, or the drive shaft coming from the lower connecting the upper(shaft broke)

Merc isn't putting the Alpha behind the 300hp 350mag in the new boats. There might be a good reason for that. Hope she holds together for you!!

I've put 390hp through an Alpha for the last 3 years and will put about 430hp through it this year pushing a 24' Formula (pretty heavy). It's probably only a matter of time but so far so good.

I am running twin alphas on a 27 foot Baja and no problems....but i wont put any more power to them....350 mag is enough