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**Guest** · 02-17-2012, 09:42 PM

Well I dont know exactly what motor would be best for you, but I do have experience with buying. I bought an entire repower package , engine/ transom/ trim pump/ leg and I live in Canada. I had it shipped to a shipping company just south of the border and I drove my truck down and they loaded it up into my truck with a forklift. Then i just drove it home and when I came back into Canada I just had to pay the taxes on the package and that was it, on my way. Where are you located in Canada? If you are far away from the border then it might not be feasible for you to take that option but it was great for me.

Good luck with the engine.

**2850Bounty** · 02-18-2012, 04:50 AM

Vote on the Best Crate Engine FOR my 97 2655

1... 5.7L MerCruiser 350 GEN+ 275 hp ALPHA Crate Engine WOT Operating Range 4600-5000 RPM....... $3,900

2.... 5.7L MerCruiser 350 GEN+ 325 hp Crate Engine WOT Operating Range 4600-5000 RPM....... $4.400

Both are

1.5:1 Rocker Arms

Marine Roller Camshaft

Displacement: 350 ci / 5.7L

Compression Ratio: 9.4:1

Idle Speed: 650 rpm

One-Year MerCruiser Factory Warranty

3... 5.7L Vortec Marine Engine - BRONZE Package 315 hp @ 5,000 RPM....... $3,800

4... 5.7L Vortec Marine Engine - SILVER Package 315 hp @ 5,000 RPM....... $4,000

5... 5.7L Vortec Marine Engine - GOLD Package 315 hp @ 5,000 RPM....... $5,000

Note that all of these are carbureted. If your 1997 is TBI, this may be a step backwards.

I'd have to ask...., what is your goal?

Mustang wrote:

1.... Since I have an Alpha 1, do I have to stay below the 300 HP limit and go with option 1) ????

2.... What is the real difference between these two engines that give 50 HP more.

1... It's been said here on the BOC that the Alpha drive is at it's limit @ 300 hp and for hulls @ 26 foot and above. Tuff call.

Perhaps more importantly is how we power up. IOW, don't "hammer it", and the A drive may work just fine.

2... Good question!

Note that the 300-315 and above hp engines are rated at/neat 5,200 RPM... hardly an RPM where we operate at.

I don't think that we should get all excited about 300 + horse power that comes on @ 5k rpm and/or above.

Look at torque numbers at the RPM where you'll be running.

.

**Guest** · 02-19-2012, 04:12 PM

Hi:

Planned use is no high speed - cruising just fast enough to be up on plane...and pulling a skier up once in a while....Old two barrel, pre Vortec 5.7 would pull me up on on water skies...

Wondering about exhaust manifolds....thinking of buying Aluminum replacements to save a few pounds....Never have seen them used....

Boat will only see fresh water use....

**Guest** · 02-19-2012, 04:45 PM

I would vote for one of the engines with the Vortec heads. These came out in marine engines in '98. They derive from the Vortec heads GM put in their autos in '96. the torque will be better (getting out of the hole) & they offer 315 HP.

We have an upgraded 5.7 (with vortec heads added) in our '97 2355. We have the Holley 4160 4 bbl carb. that carb is pretty optimal since the mechanical secondaries open at around3600 rpm (we can hear them when they open). Means we are not giving up gas mileage at 3500 & below (that is about 30 mph for us).

Don

**Chief_Alen** · 03-02-2012, 03:39 AM

I usually don't reply to pm's unless requesting help as a moderator.

But this time i replied....

**itsabowtime2** · 03-02-2012, 04:06 AM

Merc rates the Alpha 1 at 300hp and sells a package that way. I know people that have rebuilt their engines and have exceeded that HP and have not granaded the drive, however, and this is a BIG however, they do not hammer it.

One more question, what is your budget?

**2850Bounty** · 03-02-2012, 04:33 AM

Phil, the OP says this; Planned use - Cruising Just on Plane and pulling a skier and exhaust Manifolds......

I've never seen nor heard of exhaust manifolds that can water ski!

Mustang, just curious.... have you made a decision yet?

.

**yachtman** · 03-02-2012, 05:02 AM

I see a couple of things that make me want to say hhhmmmmm?

The small blocks that advertise a 750 cfm carb. First off the 750 carb in almost all small block applications except for highrev / highperformance is too large.

If you put it on a boat you will lose some low end torque. Another thing as rick points out at what rpm are we making hp? It appears to me the only difference between some of the engines is only the cam yet they want to charge more because its has more hp.I could be wrong on that but that is how it appears it costa them no more to build.

The vortec engines will most likely have better torque and economy in the rpm in which you need it. I would.ask form cam specs and hp / torque curves. That is what you would want to look at. The lower rpm lower hp motors may have more power in the range you use your boat there for feel more powerful.

The alpha drive of not treated poorly can take nearly 400hp. It really depends on the cam shaft duration because the bigger duration cams hammer the drive up shifting.

Another thing you need to keep in mind is that some cams have water inversion problems and you would want to go through transom exhaust to correct that. Through transom exhaust can be noisy and obnoxious I wouldn't recommend it.

Which brings me to another point. Alpha drive exhausts are highly restrictive there fore spending a bunch of money trying to get mass hp can be a waist of money as the increase will never be realized due to the alpha exhaust.

Your best bet is to find the engine that is built that concentrates the hp and torque to the rpm and type of use that suits your type of boating. Thus hp/torque curve profiles.

So I wouldn't worry about the drive hp limit as much as I would consider cam duration. Around 224* (262/268advertized) cam duration is max for a outdrive.

**Guest** · 03-25-2012, 05:06 AM

Hi:

Went with the 275 HP Mercruiser Crate engine from Michigan Motorz....Also, bought Aluminum exhaust manifolds as I am always in fresh water...

Really amazed at the price of the Mercuiser crate engine......also good if I ever sell the boat...repowered with a genuine Merc always sells very good...

Just need a new engine cover, to match the new lively engine.....I like the cover with flames on it that Merc puts on the rebuilt 357 bobtails...Anybody got one...

Thanks for the help folks....

**Guest** · 03-25-2012, 08:46 AM

Mustang wrote:

Just need a new engine cover, to match the new lively engine.....I like the cover with flames on it that Merc puts on the rebuilt 357 bobtails...Anybody got one...

Yes I do have one! Unfortunately for you I cant give it to you though as it is currently making my engine look fast while standing still

nthego: I am sure you could get one from mercury parts.

**Guest** · 06-16-2012, 06:51 PM

Hi:

Got my 97 2655, repowered with the Mercruiser 275 HP Crate engine from Michigan Motorz...in the water today...

It worked out to be the best choice, the new four barrel was the perfect upgrade from the old pre-Vortec, 2 barrel. Boat jumps out of the water now....I am really impressed with the change in the boat, it is a completely different boat to drive.

I had been thinking of putting a 383 into it, but it would have cost a lot more. It would have been a waste, as boat is really peppy now.

Thanks to everyone for the advice...

**Chief_Alen** · 06-17-2012, 01:39 AM

Use it in good health.

**itsabowtime2** · 06-17-2012, 03:47 AM

Awesome! Enjoy the summer.

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