MerCruiser 42260A6 42259-C Gimbal Housing Transom Plate Alpha One 5-Bolt 1988-90 New Parts One is good one is

One is good one is bad

This has the water fitting for the PORT side

and ONLY used in this outboard (1963 Serial numbers 157114-1628794)

The earliest 1986 version has top holes located in more pronounced flanges that are more "independent" from the casting

Small crack through the center hole which is common for these

MerCruiser 42260A6 42259-C Gimbal Housing Transom Plate Alpha One 5-Bolt 1988-90 New Parts One is good one isItem Details MerCruiser Gimbal Housing Plate 42259 C (stamped) 42260A6 is generally the part number indicated for online parts manuals, but there is a bit of confusion that gimbal plates stamped 42259 have 4 holes for the exhaust flange, and the 42259 C have 5 holes would be applicable to the late 80's and early 90's V Engine boats that use the 4" Y pipe. Any 4 cyl MerCruiser models (120 140 470) from 1983 1990 can safely used a housing stamped 42259