Thanks for the input guys! This will save me a lot of headaches I hope!

Renewingmy Boat US membership?! :)

I'll look for an alpha lower. The engine build got a lot more agressive this week. I went from a mild 355 to a mean 383. I'm already looking for the new parts. What will I need to swap the lowers, just the lower unit? Will the shafts go together correctly?

It's pretty much a bolt-on.

I've even seen V6 CLE lower units fitted with an Alpha driveshaft and used on a pre-alpha upper (as long as it is an "alpha series" V6 merc lower - I believe 1988 or so made the change to the thick alpha vertical shaft size).