Video - $450 Baretta Phazer 203 Open Bow Project 5.7 Volvo, 285 Penta Outdrive

[itsmetibbs]

https://youtu.be/RJ9wMmFjJ78

I just picked this boat up and was planning to use it for the trailer. It looks like the engine and outdrive may work, so I think I'm going to spend some time on it to see if I can get it running.

It's got a Volvo 5.7L engine and a Volvo Penta 285 outdrive. I don't have any experience with these engines or outdrives. Since the engine block is just a GM 350, I hope I can figure out the Volvo components.

First, I'd like to get the engine running to make sure I"m not wasting my time with the outdrive. I'm going to fog the cylinders, move the crankshaft by hand to make sure it'll turn, then try to crank it over once I get power to the starter. We'll see how this thing goes. Any insight or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mklearl]

You can't find out until you try! Once you have power to the starter a compression check should tell you whether or not to proceed dumping money into it, which it definitely looks like you'll need to regardless of the results of the compression test. My first instinct when seeing the price was that the motor was junk. After watching the video it seems like the motor might not have been the issue with the previous owner... judging by the outdrive being spread out amongst cardboard boxes looks more likely the issue.
Sounds like you're on the right track to find out anyway. Good luck!

 

[itsmetibbs]

I worked on it a little over the weekend, and was able to get the engine to crank. A little starter fluid was able to get the engine to sputter. I know I have spark, and the engine will fire. Now, I just need to get good gas to the engine.

https://youtu.be/_YOwQloWFVE

 

[itsmetibbs]

https://youtu.be/Vytek6qBX9Q

I thought it wasn?t getting fuel or spark because I wasn?t able to get it to fire when I cranked the engine over. I was just about to start diagnosing the problem when I sprayed a little starting fluid into the carb and it fired right up. I should have known that having it sit for so long with no fuel in the lines would require me to prime the fuel system.

Now onto the outdrive.

 

[itsmetibbs]

It looks like the outdrive is fine. I installed the lower unit, and will put oil in the drive before I start it. I installed a new shift cable and recorded it. You can watch the video below if you want to see how I changed the cable.

https://youtu.be/FQx4k1vGwrU

Next I'll fix the bow stop on the trailer.

 

[itsmetibbs]

Installing the bow stop.

https://youtu.be/1ouy-oA9288

When I got this boat home, I realized the bow stop had broken. Here I replace the bow stop. There were a few hiccups along the way, but the job was pretty easy. I was even able to get my wife to help out a bit.

 

[itsmetibbs]

I think I got lucky with this thing. The outdrive was taken off, and there were tons of pieces in boxes. I had 2 lower units that came with the boat and I was told that one of them was rebuilt. It looks like that was the case, and all I've had to do so far with the lower unit is bolt it on and install the propeller.

https://youtu.be/ozHals3mzT0

 

[itsmetibbs]

Just replaced the water pump. I'm going to try and get it on the lake this weekend.

https://youtu.be/tUma1Po8n4s

 

[CV16]

Good luck!

 

[itsmetibbs]

I was finally able to get it on the lake to see if this thing floats. Regretfully, it didn't go well. We were able to idle out past the no wake zone, and give it a little throttle for about 50 yards before I started smelling something burning. I throttled down and started to make my way back to the dock. When I stopped the engine in the wakeless zone, there was a significant amount of smoke coming from the starboard side of the engine. The exhaust manifold was also very hot. It didn't seem like the new water pump I installed was doing its job of circulating lake water through the exhaust manifolds.

Below is a video of the outing. Let me know if you have any thoughts. I'll probably post a question in the engine repair portion of the forum for some additional feedback.

https://youtu.be/v2tLmr4ATeI

 

[itsmetibbs]

Any thoughts? Where should I look first?

 

[PatinIdaho]

I'll take a stab it it.
It looks like you bought the wrong impeller or you were sold the wrong one.
There are two that often get confused as they look nearly identical. One measures 1.900 (Johnson pump) and from your vid it looks like you have the short one installed and you need the long one 1.990 as you have a Jabsco water pump. Its easy to tell the difference as a Johnson pump has 4 bolts and a Jabsco has 6 cover bolts.
Checking the numbers on the package the impeller you bought in your video it is for a Johnson pump.
Return it and buy the proper one for a Jabsco pump 1.990 long

 

[itsmetibbs]

I'll take a stab it it.
It looks like you bought the wrong impeller or you were sold the wrong one.
There are two that often get confused as they look nearly identical. One measures 1.900 (Johnson pump) and from your vid it looks like you have the short one installed and you need the long one 1.990 as you have a Jabsco water pump. Its easy to tell the difference as a Johnson pump has 4 bolts and a Jabsco has 6 cover bolts.
Checking the numbers on the package the impeller you bought in your video it is for a Johnson pump.
Return it and buy the proper one for a Jabsco pump 1.990 long

Wow. Great Observation. Thanks for the input. I'll verify the part when I get home. I hope you're right.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Pause the vid at 2:48 and you can see the impeller does not reach the end of the housing as the proper one should. That is what tipped me off to the wrong impeller.

 

[itsmetibbs]

I'm amazed! You were right on. I checked the packaging, and my marine store sold me teh Johnson impeller. I'll get the Jabsco one online. Would the .01 difference in length affect my cooling capabilities that severely?

 

[PatinIdaho]

Yes it will. Sense it can not make a seal on the end im surprised it was pumping water at all.