I just bought a 87 baja 220 force with a 454 and what I thought was a bravo 1. This is my first speed boat/inboard motor setup so I didn't know alpha 1's came with 454 setups. Well I learned that 87 was the year before the bravo came out. Should I keep the alpha one or look for a bravo? I'm not looking to drag race, jump waves, etc. I want a fast cruising boat (fast compared to my 32mph offshore boat) to run the river and hang out at the sand bar. I'm having the motor rebuilt right now to factory specs no high performance parts.

I would like to hear others opinions on this. What exactly is the cause of the breaking alphas. Hard driving, jumping out the water, etc?

Thanks for any help.

There are considerable amounts of costs and work involved in this conversion. Probably, more than feasable. I would say that if you are not going to be doing a bunch of hot-dogging, I would leave the alpha.

Beings you are keeping it stock and if you use it as you say you intend to I don't think you will have any problem. Also if you do blow one up their plentiful and cheap and easy to replace.
What river you run?

I have been researching this for a few hours now and didn't know if the hole in the transom was the same or if it had to be recut. This is my first speed style boat so I may just go with it for now and move up in the next year or so if I like it. Which I'm sure I will...LOL

amite/diversion canal in port vincent, louisiana.

thanks for the help guys. I think I'm going to run what I got. Its been togethor for 20 plus years and still has the alpha drive. I have a feeling this boat is going to be a stepping stone into a whole new kind of boating for us.

Good call. It's been running since 1987, don't fix what ain't broke. If it did ever need a refresh, it still won't break the bank to do.



Darrell.

You have a relatively light boat, so drive breakage - if you drive properly - shouldn't be a big issue. A heavier boat with that Alpha / Big Block combination was the kiss of death though. To make your Apha last longer, I'd recommend:

- Never jump a wake or wave without backing out of the throttle first. (There's actually much more to throttling a boat properly, but that's enough to get you started.)

- Never hammer it out of the hole.

- Never run anything less than a good synthetic gear lube.

- Consider a drive shower to help keep drive lube temperatures down.

- Don't waste your time & money modifying the engine for more power. If you want to go faster, buy a different boat.

Said another way, if you take decent care of that Apha, it will take care of you. Oh, and if you did change over to a Bravo - which is pretty expensive - you'd actually loose speed due to the Bravo having more hydrodynamic drag.

Agreed.

I converted my Formula 242 with an Alpha to a Bravo. Just so you have a figure your looking at roughly $3000+ to convert. The way that you're discribing how you will use your boat I would say leave it. The 454 Alpha boats came with HD gears (I believe) so the drive you have is a step up from a standard 1.5 Alpha. Treat it right and you'll be fine!

...also, since the Alpha used dog-style clutches instead of the cone clutches like the Bravo, it is important that you are somewhat forceful in putting it in gear. I don't mean ram it with all your might, but be somewhat positive in putting it in gear. The worst thing you can do is ease it into gear where the dog teeth start grinding and ratcheting. This will wear them down.