v.p. 270

[fortunate son fishing]

i have a volvo penta 270 outdrive, currently has an aq125a hooked up to it. it only has 110hp and im trying to either
a) mod the motor so it gets roughly 160hp or more if possible
what kinds of things can i do? add another carb? (+20hp) or bore it out?
b) get another engine with more hp that will hook up relatively easy. (my uncle is a mechanic and knows enough so we can do this ourselves)
c) would changing the gear ratio on the outdrive help? (i know going to a bigger engine requires you to do so)


im seeing a lot of things people have with their 270 outdrive and am really confused. i guess im looking for someone who has the aq125a/270 outdrive combo that repowered their boat.

i know its going to be costly but would rather repower this boat than sell what i have for more power

 

[Maclin]

Re: v.p. 270

I think you will get the same answers from this as you got from your original post, just sayin'...

The guys in the video below supercharged theirs, but it was an AQ140 and they are in Europe where Volvo performance has quite a community. I am posting this video for entertainment mostly, because my advice to you would be to live with your boat until you can sell and purchase a different one. Use it for a while, figure out all the stuff your boat does well, and what you would want the next boat to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0HZXQqC1M&feature=related

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: v.p. 270

Listen, you are young. For the amount of money you would spend, you would be much further ahead to sell what you have, and find something you want. Or just enjoy the boat for a couple of seasons, find out what you like and don't like about your boat, sell, then find one you will love in your price range. Its a buyers market right now, may be tough to sell, but on the same turn, you can find deals to buy. Trying to mod the aq will be expensive, plus the more you modify, the more chances of a breakdown. Personally I would enjoy the reliability the aq125a is known for, and save your $$$, and get a better boat that suits you. I am 36, and only getting started in boating, but for years I studied, compared friends boats, and figured out what exactly I wanted. My boat is not my dream boat, but it is an example of what I want. Your first boat isn't going to be the taj mahal, but you gotta start somewhere.

 

[fortunate son fishing]

Re: v.p. 270

its still a solid boat and i would like to get 10 more seasons out of her, i just need a little bit more for when we fish tournaments, 3,800 lbs without people gear and fuel, 60 gal tank (only keep it 1/2 full) 40 rods, couple hundred spoons, planer boards, cannon balls, grill, and 4 guys probably averaging 210 lbs. struggles to plain off (everything adds up). i can get up to 19-20mph wide open most days but people are saying they are going 30-35mph. i tried switching props last year and had no effect. if i could get to 25-27mph i would be content. oh i also have 2 speakers in a 200 some lb box up in the front to try and keep weight forward ha. i dont know i think the 15" prop is to big but thats what everyone else seems to have around my area. i was thinking like a 13x19 but she lacks the balls for a 19 pitch. (i think) currently i run a 15x15. im selling 3 of my racing bikes just for extra cash for upgrades. (fish hawk x4, new lights and seats, and paint what ever is left for more tackle)

 

[fortunate son fishing]

Re: v.p. 270

i found an aq170 b30 engine in a salvage yard for $1,700 comes with a 2 year warranty and looks very clean, i purchased a boat for next to nothing just for a spare 270 outdrive, that had the same motor bolted up to it, so i am tempted to get this other engine but am unsure of everything i would have to acquire to convert it, (engine mounts, exhaust, and ex..) i would assume the spare outdrive has the correct gear ratio

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: v.p. 270

It sounds like your mind is made up. I don't know why, but it is made up. I still think it would be a foolish financial mistake, but its your money, not mine. Everyone here is just trying to help you out. My thing is this, and keep in mind, I am a mechanic by profession: get something you don't have to mess with. It will make the whole boating experience better, cheaper, and more enjoyable. I tried going down the fix her up road, but I am much happier with a boat that just needs some maintenance. Get my drift? Plus all this time/money you wont get back when you sell it. Period. Like I said before, I would save my money and just get a boat that better suits your needs. I totally understand what you are feeling. Maybe you need to shed some weight somewhere. First place i would start is the speaker box, imo. 200 lbs is like having another person on board. I would save the speakers for partying on the water. All the fishing gear, I would figure out what you NEED, and what you can live without. If you can find a donor boat to get the parts you need to swap in the the B30, then go for it. I think that would be the better idea, instead of modding your current engine. You will have the power you want, and still have reliability. Putting in a V8, may require you to add some ballast to the front, plus the boat will sit lower in the water, and you will need to get the 1.61.1 gearing for the V8. Then there is the alignment issues, with either engine. Do you have a service manual? If not I would get one, you are gonna need it. Either way, it will be alot of work and money.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: v.p. 270

For some folks, the 'messing' is as enjoyable as the boating...

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: v.p. 270

For some folks, the 'messing' is as enjoyable as the boating...

That's absolutely true and many of us on the forum actually do enjoy "tinkering" quite a bit. However, there comes a point when things that have been tried over and over again are shown to be expensive and not a very good fix. It's a little like seeing if you can make square wheels work. Sure you can do it, but it's not practical, uses up money and time, and it takes all the fun out of riding in the vehicle.

Everyone is absolutely free to do whatever they want to do with their own boat (or computer, car, house, etc.). The point of the forums is to help others avoid some of the pain.

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: v.p. 270

That's absolutely true and many of us on the forum actually do enjoy "tinkering" quite a bit. However, there comes a point when things that have been tried over and over again are shown to be expensive and not a very good fix. It's a little like seeing if you can make square wheels work. Sure you can do it, but it's not practical, uses up money and time, and it takes all the fun out of riding in the vehicle.

Everyone is absolutely free to do whatever they want to do with their own boat (or computer, car, house, etc.). The point of the forums is to help others avoid some of the pain.

That is exactly my point. Tinkering is one thing. Try to make something that it was never meant to be is another. Some guys like to do these big crazy projects, but sometimes we need to bring them back to reality!

 

[dennis461]

Re: v.p. 270

Will the six-cylinder fit in your boat?
How much extra weight?
Will you need to build fiberglass motor mounts for the AQ170?

Can you replace the 200 pound boom box with 2 ounce headphones?

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: v.p. 270

How about a near stock rebuild. Im not real familiar with the aq125, but there may be some higher compression pistons available, plus some head work, and a cam if available. Could get some hp, but will cost some ching. I am thinking a mild build might work, but I don't think you will gain 50 or 60 hp. Probably more like 10-20. But you will probably lose torque, which can probably be made up with a prop. If you want to go faster, I think you should build for torque, and then you can turn a more aggressive prop which will equal more top speed. Just an assumption

 

[fortunate son fishing]

Re: v.p. 270

ok lol instead of repowering can i do anything to add more torque to spin a bigger pitched prop? i have a 15x15 on it now and bought a 14x15 to see if it would change at all cause a 15'' prop seams like something a tug boat would use, but i didnt notice any change. i know the guy i bought the boat from took it up river and hit a rock so he put the 15x15 on it im not sure what it originally came with but if a 14x19 or 14x21 would get me to that 25-30 mph range i could leave it at that. a year or so before i bought it he pretty much had it rebuilt because he put some bad gas in it. i know with my racing bike i put a better cam in it and could change the front and back sprocket to get more torque but i figured that changing the sprocket would be like changing the prop. im going to look at 4 blade props but those are usually for bass boats or racing boats?

 

[fortunate son fishing]

Re: v.p. 270

sorry for the double post but this link made me question the repower that everyone is trying to talk me out of lol

http://www.perfprotech.com/store/articles/torquevshp.aspx

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: v.p. 270

Alot does depend on the torque of the aq125. If its a torquey 4 cyl, you may be able to change the prop for speed, as long as the engine has the torque to spin it. When i said that you may lose torque when building the engine, its not that you lose it in lbs/ft, you will actually gain. However, the torque curve will be higher up the rpm range, so at the "seat of the pants", it will feel like you lost it(torque). I understand your predicament, 20-25mph can get kinda boring. I would , I guess, weigh all of your options: Building the stock engine(it just might be "tired"), Building/modding the engine, replacing the engine w/ something of more hp, trying different props. Props probably be the cheapest route, especially if you can find used ones , in the pitchs you want try. Craigslist can be your friend. I bought 3 props for a mercruiser for 50 bucks, about a month ago. Definetly worth a look! Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[captmello]

Re: v.p. 270

Alot does depend on the torque of the aq125. If its a torquey 4 cyl, you may be able to change the prop for speed, as long as the engine has the torque to spin it. When i said that you may lose torque when building the engine, its not that you lose it in lbs/ft, you will actually gain. However, the torque curve will be higher up the rpm range, so at the "seat of the pants", it will feel like you lost it(torque). I understand your predicament, 20-25mph can get kinda boring. I would , I guess, weigh all of your options: Building the stock engine(it just might be "tired"), Building/modding the engine, replacing the engine w/ something of more hp, trying different props. Props probably be the cheapest route, especially if you can find used ones , in the pitchs you want try. Craigslist can be your friend. I bought 3 props for a mercruiser for 50 bucks, about a month ago. Definetly worth a look! Good luck, and keep us posted!

+1, However, switching props won't always help for increased speed, more for hole shot, especially with this 4 cyl setup.

The AQ170 is not a viable repower to begin with. It is antiquated and expensive. I would run the boat as is, or sell it for a faster one.

 

[billbayliner]

Re: v.p. 270

Fortunate Son, if you want GM V-6 or V-8 power, post #6 in your earlier thread gets you started on a conversion. You should not need any odd, custom made or unorthodox parts or components to do this.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: v.p. 270

i found an aq170 b30 engine in a salvage yard for $1,700 comes with a 2 year warranty

good luck making a warranty claim on that...an exhaust manifold is over $2000

you could buy a running boat with V6 or V8 for less $ in some areas

I bought this setup for $300 a few years back... complete with its 1.59:1 ratio drive....about as current as that B30 though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iGCkRqqvIY

 

[fortunate son fishing]

Re: v.p. 270

ok i talked to a fella with this same exact boat and he had switched a few things that gave him only 25 h.p. but said it made a world of difference. switched to an electric ignition system and get a different head with a 2 carb set up. i think this is what im going to do. i just dont know what electric ignition system to get. found one for $135.00 and one through iboats for $200 something. it said something about a flame thrower can be used with it? as for the head is it as simple as finding one with the 2 carb set up and just bolting it up? thanks for any and all the advise guys! i really appreciate it. happy holidays!

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: v.p. 270

Ok, I am shooting from the hip here. Switching over to electronic ignition is a great idea, adds to the reliability, however, I don't think it will add that much performance if any. But I would still do it! Like I said, I am not too familiar with the AQ125, so do you need to replace the head? Or just the intake manifold. If the manifold wont bolt to the original head, and you need to replace the head, I am sure it will be a used head, I would have it checked by a machine shop, and probably get a valve job. Just my. 02

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: v.p. 270

gave him only 25 h.p.

he has a propshaft dyno?

25 hp in your boat will add between 1 and 3 mph top end speed- I'd be hard pressed to take a head off a boat for that sort of gain. Most of VP's dual carbs are not mechanic's favourites. I spent $500 on a conversion kit to a single Weber on my old B20 in my 66 Amazon... runs much nicer with one carb.

I personally loathe flamethrower coils, because the instructions about adding or not adding a ballast resistor are ambiguous and confusing, but Pertronix makes some ok ignition stuff...not heavy duty some of it, but getting rid of points is nice, but I agree with bluelightspecial, it adds zero HP