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I like to swap a mercruiser 350 V8 260 connect to alpha 1 drive. Can I fit a 460 Ford in its place

It is possible, yes. Your lower unit gearing will be off, but you can minimize that to some extent with re-prop. You might need a different flywheel housing and engine coupler. Mercruiser only used the small block Ford and that was back in the 1970s. Finding a Mercruiser coupler for the big block may prove too much of a challenge. You'll have to source an OMC King Cobra engine coupler. These were built for the Ford big block and you'll have better luck there. Other small things to be aware of are the engine mounting may be a bit different between the Ford and the Chevy. The wiring connection should be the same.
 
I would not. For one the Alpha is not up to the torque put out by the Ford 460, when OMC used them, they had a special outdrive called the Baby King which had the standard upper gear housing with the lower unit from the V-8 Evinrude outboards. The standard Cobra lower unit wasn't strong enough. Comparing them side to side you can see, the V-8 lower unit is much bigger.
For another mating a Ford engine to any later model Merc drive will be difficult. They have not used Ford engines in many years.
 
o2batsea said:
It is possible, yes. Your lower unit gearing will be off, but you can minimize that to some extent with re-prop. You might need a different flywheel housing and engine coupler. Mercruiser only used the small block Ford and that was back in the 1970s. Finding a Mercruiser coupler for the big block may prove too much of a challenge. You'll have to source an OMC King Cobra engine coupler. These were built for the Ford big block and you'll have better luck there. Other small things to be aware of are the engine mounting may be a bit different between the Ford and the Chevy. The wiring connection should be the same.
Click to expand...
I'm aware of the engine mounts will be different
 
o2batsea said:
It is possible, yes. Your lower unit gearing will be off, but you can minimize that to some extent with re-prop. You might need a different flywheel housing and engine coupler. Mercruiser only used the small block Ford and that was back in the 1970s. Finding a Mercruiser coupler for the big block may prove too much of a challenge. You'll have to source an OMC King Cobra engine coupler. These were built for the Ford big block and you'll have better luck there. Other small things to be aware of are the engine mounting may be a bit different between the Ford and the Chevy. The wiring connection should be the same.
Click to expand...
Where can I find an OMC king cobra engine coupler
 
louc said:
I would not. For one the Alpha is not up to the torque put out by the Ford 460, when OMC used them, they had a special outdrive called the Baby King which had the standard upper gear housing with the lower unit from the V-8 Evinrude outboards. The standard Cobra lower unit wasn't strong enough. Comparing them side to side you can see, the V-8 lower unit is much bigger.
For another mating a Ford engine to any later model Merc drive will be difficult. They have not used Ford engines in many years.
Click to expand...
 
Omc sterndrive products are NLA and have been for maybe 20+ years.

Dont go there.

If you have to go big block, go 454, 496 or 502 GM based Marine engine. Swap transom and drive to a Bravo.

The decide on drive, Bravo 1, 2 or 3. For standard pleasure type boats.

If you want HP then there are other options...

I dont believe Ford has any presence in marine applications any more
 
kghost said:
Omc sterndrive products are NLA and have been for maybe 20+ years.

Dont go there.

If you have to go big block, go 454, 496 or 502 GM based Marine engine. Swap transom and drive to a Bravo.

The decide on drive, Bravo 1, 2 or 3. For standard pleasure type boats.

If you want HP then there are other options...

I dont believe Ford has any presence in marine applications any more
Click to expand...

Doesn't look like a go-fast boat and I wonder about the integrity of the boat's transom.
 
dustman5115 said:
Where can I find a baby king with a lower Evinrude V8
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You don't need that. Louc was describing what OMC did to handle the power of the big block Ford on the Cobra drive.
You can use the Ford big block on your Alpha with the understanding that it may blow up the drive. You're over powering the drive which may cause it to fail.
If you can find the mid-1980s Mercruiser flywheel housing for your Alpha drive, it SHOULD have the bolt pattern for both Ford and GM, but don't hold me to that. I recall that I had a flywheel housing for a mercruiser a long time ago and noted that it was for both but whether you can locate one or not is a huge question mark. It'll mean scrounging used boat parts places.
This is one of those can-it-be-done situations where the answer is yes, but. The flywheel housing, the coupler, the engine mounts, the drive itself and a host of smaller things (the bracket for the shift and throttle is different) make it unappealing from a re-engineering standpoint. You'll be better off finding a good used take out of the complete GM big block and Bravo drive. All of which will fit the transom and mounts you have now, at a cost far less than what you'd spend in time parts and labor to do the swap.
On top of all of this is the question of the hull itself and whether it is even a good option to drop a heavier engine in there.
 
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