Having just reinstalled and rebuilt my 454 MAG MPI, I burned 78 gallons of gas, refilled the tank and blew a drive coupler!!!

Question: I purchased a replacement Aluminum coupler for $150.00.....how much to pull the drive, the engine (port side with Procharger attached also on portside), replace the coupler, & reinstall engine & drive?

Tell me what it costs you to get an engine & drive (Bravo) pulled and reinstalled?

I usually charge $300-500 to an outsider. I had my forklift operator at ther marina help me pull an engine for $50 a few weeks ago.

Make sure and check the engine alignment- that is what usually blows the couplers. If the rear mounts sag the fiber washer will show signs of being smashed. What I do is use big washers that are the same size and thickness as the fiber washer. Then I remove the spacer at the top of the bolt and use smaller washers that will fit down inside the mount to make it flush with the top and then I again use big thick washer on top of that to lock it down. The whole idea here is to lock the engine to the transom plate. Just make sure it ends up in the same place as if you had the stock pieces in place. Then align the engine by raising or lowering the front mounts. What I do is loosen both mounts and raise the engine with a jack under the center of the harmonic ballancer so that the engine is level with the transom. Then I raise the engine mount nuts untill they just contact the underside of the engine bracket. Now you have a level engine. raise or lower the nuts the same amount untill the alignment tool slides in very smooth.

YUp, what he said. Where did you find a coupler for $150? Ive been looking.

At the Cumberland pokerrun there was some talk of couplers. Apparently there is a steel splined bravo coupler out there. If your going to do all that work it's probably worth checking into. Sorry I don't have more info.

Tinkerboater is all over it concerning the rear mounts...

Service Bulletin
No. 94-7 TO: SERVICE MANAGER TECHNICIANS
PARTS MANAGER
A. STERN DRIVE – REAR ENGINE MOUNT BOLT TORQUE
A procedure from the pre-delivery checklist is being added to the 20 hour and 100 hour/annual
checklist for all MerCruiser Stern Drive Products. Effective immediately, the torque on the rear engine mounts (a) must be checked and re-torqued to the proper torque value of 35-40 lb. ft.
( 47-54N.m.).Loosen each of the rear engine mounting bolts and re-torque. Check the torque again after 10 seconds.If the torque was not retained after a 10 second waiting period, remove the rear engine mount bolt(s) and check for stripped threads on the bolt and nut. If the bolt and nut are undamaged, check the inner transom plate for cracks or damage in the area near where the captive locknut for the rear engine mount(s) seats. If the threads on either the bolt or nut are damaged, replace the bolt and nut. If the inner transom plate shows cracks or damage in the area where the captive locknut seats, replace the inner transom plate. Before replacing an inner transom plate, call your MerCruiser Technical Assistance Department for pre-approval.

tried to run the steel insert coupler,had a severe vibration...and it blew the rubber apart after 1 1/4 hrs .....junk

Tinkerboater, and others. My alignment was perfect. I aligned Used the tool) when my mechanic reinstalled the engine.....it slid in like it was on ball bearings.

I was lucky on getting a coupler. This was a "take out" on an engine replacement and was warrantied by the guy I bought it from. He is a real "high dollar" boater if ya' know what I mean.

I was charged $350.00 to install the coupler, so I guess I was in the ball park.

A NEW coupler is available from CP Performance for $292.00.