1983 Scarab outdrives
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:16 pm
I have a 1983 Wellcraft Scarab 377 with 370HP 454's, the drives are missing and I need to know what outdrives were on it originally. Any help out there?
Thx
Steve
Thx
Steve
For '83, and at that power level, the 454 would be pushing a TRS drive system, and the drive's lower unit could have been either the TRS, or a SpeedMaster #2.
The TRS used an engine-mounted transmission, the lower unit had no internal shifting, just stout guts and gears.
The TRS was a 'sport' version of the TR... it was common back then for the TR drive series to be on big cruisers, houseboats, and workboats, with up to a 20" diameter prop. The 'sport' flavor TRS had a more hydrodynamically amicable lower, swung a smaller prop at higher speed. The #2 SpeedMaster was intended for 'ultra-high-speed' performance... offshore racing.
The TR series was succeeded by the Bravo, which was a little smaller, and had it's own internal shifting. Not quite as strong as the TR system, but certainly proven a good performer.
There WAS a short time when the MerCruiser Alpha was available behind a mild 454. They were mostly painted white, and all had 1.34:1 gear ratios... which... if one were industrious, could fit the same ratio system in any OTHER R-1R-Alpha-Alpha One- Alpha One SS, but you'd hafta have something speed-hungry to warrant it... and of course, keep the RPM below 4900, as they'd happily melt the upper gears quick if you overspun 'em.