Gaining some confidence in this project.
Sourced long blocks from Jasper and First Mate and looks like Jasper may offer the better package on a long block.

They claim they dyno every motor and some say they call for tighter balancing specs.
Also have 2 year unlimited hours warranty and they also re-manufacture stern drives.

Still concerned about the drive compatability and the mounting set-up.

I have found a later ('81) 165 in CA and may use that as a donor/parts motor or try it out if it proves to be solid. Boat, trailer, engine and MC 1 drive for under a grand sounds reasonable, I guess...

Any more thoughts on mating the 165 to an Alpha and what needs to be done?

First call to Merc tech support.
Next thread on scream and fly and maybe offshore only.

I've never used "reman" long blocks - few other shop owners I knew did.i've heard lots of horror stories from jasper ....

those old drives,and compatability - what exactly do you have now ?

The issue with MR1 drives is that they come with two different lengths of input shaft. One length was specific to I6, just don't remember if it was the short or long one.

I probably missed something.......how about the 383 / 350 hp I/O for this rig ?

Oh, I love horror stories.
Tell me a story Daddy.

Go back and read post #20:p

Do tell, of horror stories. I've only found a couple of sources for a 292 and as far as I know, there aren't any new ones.

Several folks sell First Mate Marine blocks and then there is Jasper. Merc doesn't have any or I'd talk to them.

My current drive is a MC 1-ez shift. 1.65:1 w/Mercruiser 150 (230ci) spinning it.
boat is big and grumpy. Need more umph in an inline package.

Open to suggestions or variants. Like to go to Alpha One Gen 3. I believe the entire transom assembly would need to swap out. I don't think the old drive would handle the extra torque of a 165 (250 ci), or the 292 block, or if its even directly compatible. pretty sure there are incompatible bolts and water/exhaust ways.

All ears... thanks