Sawp Volvo for Mercruiser ?

Rickairmedic · May 16, 2009

Ok heres the question . Ihave a 74 Larson with a good Mercruiser 120 4 banger and Mercuiser outdrive. I have an oportunity to buy an 86 Bayliner with a volvo setup that needs a block . How hard would it be to swap the volvo setup complete for the mercruiser setup.

Rick

HT32BSX115 · May 16, 2009

Re: Sawp Volvo for Mercruiser ?

Howdy,

Depends on which model Volvo it is.

I swapped out an 87 OMC Cobra for a 97 Mercruiser Bravo and the transom cut out is the same.

You'll have to be more specific which model Volvo you're talking about. (I think Volvo in 86 used a large cut out)

The later Volvo SX models used the same cutout somewhere in the late 80's to early 90's

Regards,

Rick

Rickairmedic · May 16, 2009

Re: Sawp Volvo for Mercruiser ?

Rick the add says its a volvo penta outdrive not sure what volvo motor was in it . I realise I will probably have to rework the transome but otherwise I am just wondering how hard the swap would be if the volvo was a 4 banger the merc is also a 4 banger so that much of it shouldnt be to bad . I do have fab skills .

Rick

HT32BSX115 · May 16, 2009

Re: Sawp Volvo for Mercruiser ?

If you have the same type engine it *shouldn't* be hard. Having said that you must also have the old engine so you can use all the accessories from it to put on the "new' engine.

Fab skills might include replacing the transom wood/fiberglass or "filling" in the old hole and recutting the transom cutout. Not an easy task even for someone that does it regularly.

Not a lot of shops do it because the boats with the large cutouts are usually 25+ years old. They're usually not worth the labor involved to do a swap like that.

The labor costs alone could easily exceed the value of the boat once it's all done....

If you're going to just swap the engine from one boat over to the other one....that's easier as long as the "block" is the same.

If you're wanting to remove the complete engine and drive and swap them.....that's where it becomes complicated on the older OMCs Volvos, and Mercs.

robjen1019 · May 16, 2009

Re: Sawp Volvo for Mercruiser ?

volvo motor is probably a aq series and mercruiser uses gm motors. The aq's are volvo motors, they didn't go to the gm block 3.0 till later.

Rickairmedic · May 16, 2009

Re: Sawp Volvo for Mercruiser ?

Ok what I know so far is it has a Volvo Penta 270 outdrive . I am thinking if the original motor was a 4 banger volvo and I have a 4 banger merc/GM motor it might be possible to just drop in my Merc motor and leave the outdrive alone as long as the engine coupler to driveshaft splines are the same it really shouldnt be that much work to get the motor in . I have to replace the engine coupler on the merc anyways . I will know more tomorrow morning when I go look at it as its dark now and not good for looking at a boat . I figure it is alot more modern than the 74 Larson I have and if both boats were 4 bangers to begin with easy swap . I am not sure though as it may have had a V8 in it to begin with and if thats the case then thats easy all I need is a 350 Chebby smallblock