PolishedPerfectionNE
Cadet
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2019
- Messages
- 11
Alright guys, I finally joined this site after lurking here for the last year soaking up much needed information! I came across a 1979 Carver Santa Cruz 26 last march that a kid locally was giving away to anyone who could move it. I knew a couple of boat movers, and decided this may just work out for me. The boat came with a seized motor currently in her, but had another motor with 300 hours on it that could be purchased for 500$. Everything went relatively smoothly getting her back to my fathers shop - he does fiberglass work, auto body, and has a metal shop. We build handicap accessible vans and build everything from cutting the roof off to interior finishing. All tools and supplies could be sourced for a good price.
The hull is solid, deck is solid. Flybridge and all lower steering cables were all good and moved freely. The outdrive just needs new zincs. Trims tabs are good and work. The only bad besides the motor ( which mechanically I am inclined - I do all my own automotive repairs to my diesel, only thing I haven't done is a transmission at this point. ) were the windows were rotted and I don't even see how Carver ever thought these windows would last. I cut and removed all the rot around the windows, new Marine plywood installed and 3 layers of fiberglass cloth were added inside and out. Gutted the interior, Rebuilt the back wall of the cabin, have the front two windows installed and have to order new custom side windows next. The interior is redone and painted with mildew resistant boat finish. non slip on the isle and new cabinet that was fully glassed. Finally after a year of balancing building a new business, starting a family, and every other monkey wrench life can throw at you... I'm at a point where I can attend to the motor. which was removed and stored inside for the past 6 months.
NOW here is where I need your marine advice because I know automotive and there are some obvious differences.
The original power plant is a mercruiser 5.7 260 hp. the outdrive is a "pre alpha" I believe MC-1.
The motor I have to replace this is a Volvo Penta 5.7. I need to check the serial numbers tomorrow because I've been searching for hours on here and I thought I had this down to a 96-2001 carb model. I believe it is a GSI.
Please excuse my terminology as from my automotive standpoint all I see is a GM block 350. the mercruiser "bell housing plate" matches right up to the rear of the Volvo and the motor mounts stay the same. The outdrive input shaft should in theory slide right thru the transom and match right up the exact same way as the mercruiser motor had. From what I have read across these forums is that the Volvo motor MUST run the Volvo exhaust manifolds and, correct me if I am wrong, then my mercruiser transom assembly Y pipe will not match exhaust wise with the risers. I do not see this to be an issue as I am sure its possible to fabricate a stainless pipe to connect with rubber boots and hose clamps.
I need to get the model number tomorrow and find out what the exact horsepower rating would be. I believe this new motor may be more HP. I have a "pre alpha" outdrive and I do plan on using this boat to go fishing, and always want to get home safely. How reliable is this outdrive? would it be worth it to swap an Alpha transom assembly and I plan on buying a complete rebuilt outdrive no matter which generation it is.
Some people say the alpha gen 1 will bolt up to my pre alpha transom assembly? is this true?
everyone says the alpha gen 2 will not bolt up to alpha one or earlier. is the second generation any better or just cosmetically it looks better? would it be worth it to skip right over the alpha one if i'm swapping transom assembly anyway? or just go for an early bravo?
Need real experience on this because as I said I just started a family and if a front moves in while i'm out and the waves do kick up a few feet, i'd like to know i'm not going to shear a shaft and be literally dead in the water.. I used to work on a lobster boat and I know how it is out there. Best job I ever had! I'd like to get back out and do some commercial fishing this year.
I rebuilt the whole boat to my liking and removed the flybridge to lower the center of gravity. Really pushing to get her out and running by April with May 1st the latest!! New manifolds and risers, water pump, thermostat, starter, are all on the way shipped. Need a new alternator, and i'm replacing the steering cable, and will continue to do so regardless of its condition for safety/reliability reasons every 2-3 years.
thanks guys any help is greatly appreciated!!
PS I will post pictures shortly. Interior wise don't hate on my fiberglass work as I this was my first learning experience doing any of this. I'm not afraid to try new things because how else would you learn!! I can always re-do it next year but there's a lot on the table to be done in the next 8 weeks!
The hull is solid, deck is solid. Flybridge and all lower steering cables were all good and moved freely. The outdrive just needs new zincs. Trims tabs are good and work. The only bad besides the motor ( which mechanically I am inclined - I do all my own automotive repairs to my diesel, only thing I haven't done is a transmission at this point. ) were the windows were rotted and I don't even see how Carver ever thought these windows would last. I cut and removed all the rot around the windows, new Marine plywood installed and 3 layers of fiberglass cloth were added inside and out. Gutted the interior, Rebuilt the back wall of the cabin, have the front two windows installed and have to order new custom side windows next. The interior is redone and painted with mildew resistant boat finish. non slip on the isle and new cabinet that was fully glassed. Finally after a year of balancing building a new business, starting a family, and every other monkey wrench life can throw at you... I'm at a point where I can attend to the motor. which was removed and stored inside for the past 6 months.
NOW here is where I need your marine advice because I know automotive and there are some obvious differences.
The original power plant is a mercruiser 5.7 260 hp. the outdrive is a "pre alpha" I believe MC-1.
The motor I have to replace this is a Volvo Penta 5.7. I need to check the serial numbers tomorrow because I've been searching for hours on here and I thought I had this down to a 96-2001 carb model. I believe it is a GSI.
Please excuse my terminology as from my automotive standpoint all I see is a GM block 350. the mercruiser "bell housing plate" matches right up to the rear of the Volvo and the motor mounts stay the same. The outdrive input shaft should in theory slide right thru the transom and match right up the exact same way as the mercruiser motor had. From what I have read across these forums is that the Volvo motor MUST run the Volvo exhaust manifolds and, correct me if I am wrong, then my mercruiser transom assembly Y pipe will not match exhaust wise with the risers. I do not see this to be an issue as I am sure its possible to fabricate a stainless pipe to connect with rubber boots and hose clamps.
I need to get the model number tomorrow and find out what the exact horsepower rating would be. I believe this new motor may be more HP. I have a "pre alpha" outdrive and I do plan on using this boat to go fishing, and always want to get home safely. How reliable is this outdrive? would it be worth it to swap an Alpha transom assembly and I plan on buying a complete rebuilt outdrive no matter which generation it is.
Some people say the alpha gen 1 will bolt up to my pre alpha transom assembly? is this true?
everyone says the alpha gen 2 will not bolt up to alpha one or earlier. is the second generation any better or just cosmetically it looks better? would it be worth it to skip right over the alpha one if i'm swapping transom assembly anyway? or just go for an early bravo?
Need real experience on this because as I said I just started a family and if a front moves in while i'm out and the waves do kick up a few feet, i'd like to know i'm not going to shear a shaft and be literally dead in the water.. I used to work on a lobster boat and I know how it is out there. Best job I ever had! I'd like to get back out and do some commercial fishing this year.
I rebuilt the whole boat to my liking and removed the flybridge to lower the center of gravity. Really pushing to get her out and running by April with May 1st the latest!! New manifolds and risers, water pump, thermostat, starter, are all on the way shipped. Need a new alternator, and i'm replacing the steering cable, and will continue to do so regardless of its condition for safety/reliability reasons every 2-3 years.
thanks guys any help is greatly appreciated!!
PS I will post pictures shortly. Interior wise don't hate on my fiberglass work as I this was my first learning experience doing any of this. I'm not afraid to try new things because how else would you learn!! I can always re-do it next year but there's a lot on the table to be done in the next 8 weeks!