Lower unit help please

**Loxboy1** · 04-29-2019, 02:08 PM

The factory lower on my 1996 3.0L merc 225 efi locked up. I was planning to send it out to have a nose cone/low water pick up put on. Now that the lower is gone i was looking into just buying a new one that is already set up with a nose cone/low water. Any opnions? I really dont know whats out there.

**David - WI** · 04-29-2019, 02:43 PM

One of these instead? https://www.screamandfly.com/showthr...-Gearcases-(2)

**Duro78** · 04-29-2019, 06:54 PM

If you go used make sure you buy from a reputable person. Could end up costing more than new by the time you get it rebuilt

**Capt.Insane-o** · 04-29-2019, 07:18 PM

Never, ever, buy a lower from a state with saltwater anywhere near it.

**SUNKIST** · 04-29-2019, 07:31 PM

some....red necks and hillbillys will sell you some bad sxxt somestimes...sometimes they wont even know the difference or condition of what their selling. 90 % of the time you should pull the carrier and water pump base before buying one. they'll always say..."its good to go" just....not very far.

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this is a redneck lower unit

**Loxboy1** · 04-30-2019, 09:34 AM

Ive been calling around. Crowley marine sells genuine oem lowers, im looking at 1,800 for one with dual water pick up, but they only show listing for the 225dfi (optimax) anyone kno if they are interchangable. My center console has an opti and the mid section looks identical to the one on my 225 efi

**Brad Zastrow** · 04-30-2019, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Loxboy1

Ive been calling around. Crowley marine sells genuine oem lowers, im looking at 1,800 for one with dual water pick up, but they only show listing for the 225dfi (optimax) anyone kno if they are interchangable. My center console has an opti and the mid section looks identical to the one on my 225 efi

If it is new that price sound like a Chinese lower unit not Mercury. I would check on that. If it is used that sounds about right.

**Capt.Insane-o** · 04-30-2019, 01:09 PM

Just go to SEI directly if you are going that way. A real merc lower will be around 4000.

**CUDA** · 04-30-2019, 01:18 PM

https://www.amazon.com/SEI-MARINE-PR.../dp/B00FVZD39Y

**Loxboy1** · 04-30-2019, 03:58 PM

SEI told me $928 shipped to my house, i was told to stay away from them so i looked around and crowley says there OEM for 1,800. At this point i might as well have mine rebuilt and have a nosecone put on

**Capt.Insane-o** · 04-30-2019, 10:16 PM

OEM bare housing maybe. The Crowley 1,800 price is for an SEI.

**Chaz** · 04-30-2019, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Capt.Insane-o

Never, ever, buy a lower from a state with saltwater anywhere near it.

Lynn, Ifin that's the "case". He's got a long azz walk ahead of him ...

Kist .. whut them redneck loWerz goWin fEr theez daze ?

**Loxboy1** · 04-30-2019, 10:50 PM

Lol yup. Very rare to find a lower down here thats never touched salt. Not sure the big deal out of all the boats ive had, this is the only lower ive ever had an issue with. And ive only had the boat for a year and this lower is the original one from 1996.