Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

[F14CRAZY]

So, I've got all new stringers, deck, and interior in my Capri but a prop strike with a random submerged object (in deep water too) bent my prop shaft on Memorial Day. That, and all my seals are bad (ALL compartments had fresh oil in them before the weekend but came out as water, milk, or creamed coffee). And I think my shift cable is on its way out.

I can get a whole nother '85 19' Bayliner Capri cuddy, I'm guessing with trailer, with a Volvo Penta drive for $375. Ad says "seals in the intake need to be replaced" along with the "hinges" on the outdrive. As I know it Volvo Penta drives seem to be built really well in comparison to OMC's.

I know that I'd have to rework my transom and engine mounts so I'd be out a couple more weeks, but do you think it would be worth it? I don't know what engine the donor has...would it be a Volvo or a GM block? Or a Ford? I mean I could obviously sell my 3.0L and scrap the Series 400 junk, then possibly profit from the donor hull and trailer.

I think it would work out ok. Otherwise I've already ordered the seals and stuff I need for my OMC and will be doing the work myself. I don't mind the labor and I have some capital to work with, and have a facility to do it in. I'm thinking the hulls are the same so I'd just have to copy the mounts and transom.

Thanks guys.

 

[QC]

Re: Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

Hopefully Don will chime in but I believe that '85 would be a Volvo 2.5 liter . . .

 

[captmello]

Re: Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

Its a big job to go from one old drive to another. The hole in the tranum for the OMC is bigger than the Volvo, bigger than any other drives for that matter, so You'd be redoing the transum no matter what. I thing the most practical way to go would be to switch to and Alpha One, cheaper, more accessable parts, etc.

I have an older volve and wouldn't trade it for a merc, but practically speaking, If I was in your shoes, Merc is the way I'd go.

Good Luck.

 

[Don S]

Re: Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

I can get a whole nother '85 19' Bayliner Capri cuddy, I'm guessing with trailer, with a Volvo Penta drive for $375. Ad says "seals in the intake need to be replaced" along with the "hinges" on the outdrive. As I know it Volvo Penta drives seem to be built really well in comparison to OMC's.

You didn't post enough informtion in this thread for anyone to make any kind of a recommendation.
Bayliner use Volvo, Mercruiser, and OMC in 85. If you don't even know what it is, then don't buy it.
Sounds to me you are looking at things by $$$ signs, not what something is or how it works or even if it does work.
No way can anyone tell you if something will work if you don't even know what it is, or model or anything else.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

You didn't post enough informtion in this thread for anyone to make any kind of a recommendation.
Bayliner use Volvo, Mercruiser, and OMC in 85. If you don't even know what it is, then don't buy it.
Sounds to me you are looking at things by $$$ signs, not what something is or how it works or even if it does work.
No way can anyone tell you if something will work if you don't even know what it is, or model or anything else.

I meant to say that I knew for sure that the donor had a Volvo Penta drive...I was guessing that it came with a trailer.

Alas, it was sold when my email was replied to, but I am still considering finding a complete outdrive/engine system (preferably a whole boat) and redoing my transom and switching. Until then though I'll go ahead with my servicing of my Series 400

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

Personally, I would ditch the Bayliner and get a different boat.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

but I don't feel like doing stringers again...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Swap out OMC I/O for Volvo Penta? Opinions needed!

I had an 87 Bayliner...emphasis on "HAD". I feel your pain.