Alpha SS/V6 outboard Gear case interchange

**99fxst99** · 09-03-2025, 11:19 AM

I have a brand new Alpha SS gearcase housing with the CLE and lowered pickups (just above the bullet at the nose). I would like to build up a spare 20" outboard lower unit with it. I am being told that the outboard internals will fit. Anyone done this or have some knowledge of it?

**blackmaxonly** · 09-03-2025, 02:11 PM

Those alpha SS drives are worth money and sought after
I think you would be doing yourself a disservice if it is possible to throw outboard internals into it..I would imagine it wouldn't be as cost effective as buying a standard unit

**wogi** · 09-03-2025, 04:29 PM

Pm sent

**99fxst99** · 09-03-2025, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by wogi

Pm sent

Didn't get a PM

**25two.stroke** · 09-03-2025, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by 99fxst99

I have a brand new Alpha SS gearcase housing with the CLE and lowered pickups (just above the bullet at the nose). I would like to build up a spare 20" outboard lower unit with it. I am being told that the outboard internals will fit. Anyone done this or have some knowledge of it?

I did this successfully. The shifter is different and the front bearing diameter is different. The early alphas were not "EZ Shift" they were a spool and crank shifter.

**wogi** · 09-04-2025, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by 99fxst99

Didn't get a PM

your in box is full, so how much do you want for the SS alpha drive? Is it the upper and lower or just the lower? I have a friend who is looking to buy one, lmk

**Greg G** · 09-05-2025, 07:19 AM

Crazy to mess with a legit Alpha SS. Strong market for them.

**99fxst99** · 09-05-2025, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by wogi

your in box is full, so how much do you want for the SS alpha drive? Is it the upper and lower or just the lower? I have a friend who is looking to buy one, lmk

All I have is just the lower housing, NOS. Bare housing. Looking at how to put outboard internals into it.

**25two.stroke** · 09-05-2025, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by 99fxst99

All I have is just the lower housing, NOS. Bare housing. Looking at how to put outboard internals into it.

Its possible for sure. I put 1.62 gears in it from an alpha (spiral cut gears) and shimmed them to outboard spec, then put a billet carrier from geigertec and used the alpha style spool shifter (necessary). Totally doable.

**99fxst99** · 09-08-2025, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by 25two.stroke

Its possible for sure. I put 1.62 gears in it from an alpha (spiral cut gears) and shimmed them to outboard spec, then put a billet carrier from geigertec and used the alpha style spool shifter (necessary). Totally doable.

Sound like you put the Alpha gears into an outboard lower unit. I want to go the other way, put a set o 1.87 gears into an Alpha lower unit along with the drive shaft so it can be used on an outboard.

**25two.stroke** · 09-08-2025, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by 99fxst99

Sound like you put the Alpha gears into an outboard lower unit. I want to go the other way, put a set o 1.87 gears into an Alpha lower unit along with the drive shaft so it can be used on an outboard.

No, I made an outboard unit out of it. Drilled and tapped the oil transfer hole 1/16 npt and put a pipe plug in it...so if the owner ever wanted to put it back to a sterndrive unit just take that plug out. I wanted as close to 1.5:1 as possible for that application, but you could put whatever ratio you want in there. However, if I remember correctly the front bearing diameter on the Alpha SS is smaller than the CLE (which is the same as sporty and big bearing fishing). It may have been the same diameter as the later model non ratcheting fishing gearcases. If thats the case then you'll have to get a non ratcheting 1.87 set and then put the alpha spool+crank shifter with the non ratcheting clutch. It is possible cause I did it, but it was a few years ago so I do not remember all the details.

**FUJIMO** · 09-08-2025, 06:50 PM

...yeah, i was going to mention the oil transfer hole. it has/had an o-ring there, at the port, on the gearcase. i remember installing one of the very first run of those, with a 454 magnum (330 h.p.) alpha ss i/o package. think it was in 1986(?). took it out for the initial seatrial, speed test & magazine shoot. the drive froze up & we got towed in. merc rep came in, we broke the drive down & discovered merc forgot to machine the entire oil passage into the lower housing. sorry for the flashback...

...

**25two.stroke** · 09-08-2025, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

...yeah, i was going to mention the oil transfer hole. it has/had an o-ring there, at the port, on the gearcase. i remember installing one of the very first run of those, with a 454 magnum (330 h.p.) alpha ss i/o package. think it was in 1986(?). took it out for the initial seatrial, speed test & magazine shoot. the drive froze up & we got towed in. merc rep came in, we broke the drive down & discovered merc forgot to machine the entire oil passage into the lower housing. sorry for the flashback...

...

Dammit