Lower unit identification

**HighVoltage** · 08-17-2019, 01:28 PM

Can anyone identify who makes this lower unit. It is made for a Merc but it has a boss cast into the housing for the installation of a nose cone water port (one on each side) I have never seen a lower that was made to have a nose cone installed. The cone is aftermarket. I sanded it down to repaint the lower and you can see where the cone was added later. It also has what seems to be a factory torque tab. It could be a weld on but there are no lines in the casting where it might have been welded on. I was just wondering who made it because it is a very cool looking lower.

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**FUJIMO** · 08-17-2019, 04:27 PM

**FUJIMO** · 08-17-2019, 04:28 PM

**FUJIMO** · 08-17-2019, 04:30 PM

Don't know if they still offer them, but many years ago Bob's sold those kind of nose cones. Looks like someone did some nice work.

**FUJIMO** · 08-17-2019, 04:33 PM

They sanded off the gearcase trailing edge factory diffuser ring cast into the housing, which I don't agree with, but the gearcase looks nice from where I'm standing.

**HighVoltage** · 08-17-2019, 04:42 PM

Thanks. I was going to remove the nose cone and install one with dual water tubes but this cone was welded on and I didn't want to deal with the hassle of removing it.

**tlwjkw** · 08-17-2019, 05:20 PM

merc torque master... tab added.. looks like bob's.. if welded all tha way around then bob's didn't do tha work.. excellent gear case.. one of tha best, fastest other than XR6.. jmo..

**HighVoltage** · 08-17-2019, 07:28 PM

Thanks for the info. Cone is tack welded in 3 spots on each side. Looks like they drilled three 1/2" holes on each side and plug welded it.

**FUJIMO** · 08-17-2019, 07:34 PM

if it ain't broke...

**tlwjkw** · 08-17-2019, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by HighVoltage

Thanks for the info. Cone is tack welded in 3 spots on each side. Looks like they drilled three 1/2" holes on each side and plug welded it.

3 tack welds.. may be a bob's install then.. where are these three holes that have been plugged?

**patchesII** · 08-17-2019, 09:22 PM

Like tlwjkw said. Torquemaster with a Bob’s installed cone. Nice looking case

**HighVoltage** · 08-17-2019, 09:46 PM

It appears that they drilled three holes on each side of the cone before they installed it. Then once it was lined up, they used those holes to tack weld the cone in place. Drilling holes and then welding inside the holes is sometimes called plug welding. Its stronger than just tack welds on the back edge of the cone.

**tlwjkw** · 08-18-2019, 05:25 AM

Originally Posted by HighVoltage

It appears that they drilled three holes on each side of the cone before they installed it. Then once it was lined up, they used those holes to tack weld the cone in place. Drilling holes and then welding inside the holes is sometimes called plug welding. Its stronger than just tack welds on the back edge of the cone.

not a "bob's" install.. they don't take tha time ta do it that way....