I'v been informed that these gears will make the drive more durable able to take more HP. Merc came out with a HD 1:50.1 but they don't hold up as well. I don't have the funds for a Bravo right now so I figure this is the next best thing. What do you guys think?

Quickly checking around this morning I found the Alpha 1 came in 1.99:1, 1.84, 1.65, 1.5, and 1.32:1 ratios.

www.sterndrive.com has the 1.32 gears for 480.00.
www.mercruiserparts.com has them for 409.00.

You asked how much HP can an Alpha withstand? Not much more that 300 hp.
Actually it's not the hp but the torque level that causes trouble.
There are several members that run 383's with 400+ hp through an Alpha and they are holding up. But you have the very gentile. No whole shots, no flying with the prop out of the water. And definitely get a drive shower. Since there's no circulation of the drive oil it will cook real fast.

What he said. The most important thing is to baby them. Otherwise they're toast.

I've played with plenty of Alpha's over the years and what I've found to be the weak link was not the upper gears but the lower vertical shaft. It has an O-ring groove just below the spline that was always the breakage point for me.

Thank for all the input. I found someone local that has an upper with 1:32.1 from a 87 Stingray fresh water use. It was behind a 454. I have to go check it out. What should i look for? He said it was pressure and vac tested. He wants $400 for it.
Thanks

thats a good price if it is in good shape.i dont think the 1.32 gears are any better than the newer 1.50 gears and you will have to reprop.

Merc knew that and for that reason the quit cutting the groove in the shaft.Makes the shaft a little stronger.

I have a used 1:36 gear set I took out when I switched a customer over to 1:50.

1993 Bravo

Thank you but i'm being advised that this would not be a good choice for my set-up. I should stick with HD1.50:1.

Why would anybody want an offshore boat that you can't take jumping? Those little Alphas are too light for any real performance boating in rough water.
Save your money and move up to a heavier-duty drive.