Brovo X drive,needs beefing up

[Donskihp]

I'm running a supperchsrged 496 HO with CMI sport tubes, giving me aproximately 700 hp. My drive is a stock Brovo X drive. I know I'm pushing it way past its limits. I've been told that the shafts are the same as the XR drive, but the gears are smaller. My question is, can I go to say, Imco and replace the stock gears with better gears?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

IMCO has an extreme drive that will bolt on. Not sure about using their parts in a merc housing.

[Donskihp]

Yea, I'm thinking of a definate outdrive upgrade, however I was thing of a gear change as a tempory solution, until I do the change
Don

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

It is my opinion you do all or nothing. There have been a number of changes in the drives over the years. What serial group is your drive? The newer ones have shims in the upper the early do not. There are different u joint assemblies and a bigger prop shaft. Not sure what just a gear change really does for you.

Again this is my opinion and opinions vary.

[Donskihp]

I called Imco today and inquired about my options, and their comment was for me to use my gimble and lower and use the Imco extreme upper
Don

[Uncle Dave]

You can Imco Sc, or Teague platinum- same deal.
Better housings towers, bearings and shafts and caps in these 2- but The gears are the same merc gears - same stuff.

The next step is to an Imco SCX this uses different bigger gears and is definitely beefier.

How big and heavy is your boat, and are you running on the ocean?

Dave

[DAREDEVIL]

You can Imco Sc, or Teague platinum- same deal.
Better housings towers, bearings and shafts and caps in these 2- but The gears are the same merc gears - same stuff.

The next step is to an Imco SCX this uses different bigger gears and is definitely beefier.

How big and heavy is your boat, and are you running on the ocean?

Dave

I thought the IMCO Sc gears are bigger then the merc ???

[Donskihp]

I'M running a 2005 Donzi 26zx with a whipple Suppercharged 496 HO and CMI Sport tubes. I should be producing aproximatley 714 hp. I live on the Chesapeake bay, and thats where most of my running is done. My boat is 5800 lbs.
Dom

[DAREDEVIL]

I'M running a 2005 Donzi 26zx with a whipple Suppercharged 496 HO and CMI Sport tubes. I should be producing aproximatley 714 hp. I live on the Chesapeake bay, and thats where most of my running is done. My boat is 5800 lbs.
Dom

Ok, with 700+ HP..i would recomend a Arneson conversion or NXT !!!!!!

Or one of the bigger IMCO's

[Donskihp]

NXT drive is not an option, because of the transmission,I have no room to move the engine forward. Arneson drive will work but its about 24K, a little pricey considering the economic slum weve been in.

[Uncle Dave]

You and I share a similar sized performance envelope. My rig is

28.8 with an 8ft beam (called a 2750 )
Ilmor 710 6300RPM
About 5500Lb loaded the way I have it.
Im using a teague platinum XR and a mercury ITS steering system

100% ocean running.

After wearing out a B1XR in 54 hours I decided the only viable upgrade for me is an SCX Upper, Ill try that and then buy the lower if I need to.

Arnesons are awesome, but I have not seen one n a small v yet.
Big v's yes.

Even if you had room for a tran the NXT is not the way to go on a single engine boat (at least running cleavers)


Uncle Dave

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

You can Imco Sc, or Teague platinum- same deal.
Better housings towers, bearings and shafts and caps in these 2- but The gears are the same merc gears - same stuff.

The next step is to an Imco SCX this uses different bigger gears and is definitely beefier.

How big and heavy is your boat, and are you running on the ocean?

Dave

Good info.. The gears work best when the stay where located. The heavier parts around the gears help them live longer.

[Uncle Dave]

I thought the IMCO Sc gears are bigger then the merc ???

No the SC uses beefed up components like shafts etc,top caps etc- but is stuck with Merc gears.

Its superior to a Bravo because of all these tweaks, but the gears are the same - It, and a Teague Platinum drive are very close in componentry

The SCX is the big boy with the Non Merc gearset. Much heavier duty.
The SCT is the SCX, but without a cone clutch designed for a transmission.


UD

[Ratickle]

No the SC uses beefed up components like shafts etc,top caps etc- but is stuck with Merc gears.

Its superior to a Bravo because of all these tweaks, but the gears are the sameIt and a Teague Platinum drive are very close in componentry

The SCX is the big boy with the Non Merc gearset. Much heavier duty.
The SCT is the SCX, but without a cone clutch designed for a transmission.


UD

Thanks for all your input. Nice to have guys willing to assist.

[DAREDEVIL]

No the SC uses beefed up components like shafts etc,top caps etc- but is stuck with Merc gears.

Its superior to a Bravo because of all these tweaks, but the gears are the same - It, and a Teague Platinum drive are very close in componentry

The SCX is the big boy with the Non Merc gearset. Much heavier duty.
The SCT is the SCX, but without a cone clutch designed for a transmission.


UD

good info, thanks!!!

[Uncle Dave]

Thanks guys.

Ill let you guys know how it stands up to 1000HP pretty soon.

Im fairly certain Ill be switching over to this upper drive soon. Im going to stick with the regular Imco lower vs the SCX lower as Ive "only" got 700 ponies.

Heres my rig.




Uncle Dave

[Donskihp]

Thanks for the info, I'm thinking the IMCO upper is the way to go. I haven't check out Teagues Platinum, I'll have to do that Don

[Uncle Dave]

Thanks for the info, I'm thinking the IMCO upper is the way to go. I haven't check out Teagues Platinum, I'll have to do that Don

No problem- Im a "giver" (smile)

This is what happens to stock bravo gears after a season in my rig.

On the gear you can see a hard wear line and pitting.
On the shaft a bearing wore and shifted (pretty sure thats what teh guy said)
and caused the shaft to wear substantially.

I caught this in time- you may not be so lucky- go SCX.


Uncle Dave

[Donskihp]

What were the symptions that clued you to you failure?

[Uncle Dave]

What were the symptions that clued you to you failure?

Shavings on the magnets.


UD