Volvo Penta AQ260A Tune up parts needed

[zzrich]

Hello folks. My friend has a Volvo Penta AQ260A 350 chevy in his 1983 Tahiti. He wants me to do a basic engine tune-up on it. Basically I will be replacing the following :

1) Wires (pobably a 8mm set)
2) Plugs (probably platnium plugs)
3) Points/condenser
4) Possibly install a high performance Coil
5) Cap and rotor

What basic motor does this Penta line up with in the car world ? My friend is on Social Security and cant really afford boat dealer prices right now. So I thought I would try to use car equivalent tune up parts if I can. Any tips or tricks on this motor ? Maybe I should just pull the parts and have the parts house try to cross reference them ? Thanks for any tips guys !

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta AQ260A Tune up parts needed

Find your local NAPA, they carry the Sierra brand of Marine parts.

My friend is on Social Security and cant really afford boat dealer prices right now.

Boats requier more maintenance than cars, and that maintenance is not always inexpensive. Having a boat on SS and expecting it to get repaired inexpensivly is a bit crazy.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Volvo Penta AQ260A Tune up parts needed

The parts are not that much higher from a marine dealer. Look them up as far as part number then shop around on the net, iBoats, Doug Russell, Marine Parts Express, and more. You will not save much actual money trying to go non-OEM plus the boat will have the exact OEM quality parts that everyone who enjoys this boat deserves. NAPA stores may be different because at least they have a Marine parts catalog, but the car parts guys I seem to find nowadays are basically clueless on cars, so how could we expect them to know boats, there is a difference. For example, what 1983 GM based car V8 engine still used contact points? Your boat's GM V8 does. And the spark plugs will probably not be the same type and heat range of that era of GM V8. Boat engines will run different temperatures than automotive engines and also run richer fuel mixtures.

You also mention changing out the coil, that is extra cost for no reason. Do not change it out unless it has failed, and even then just go back stock. If the coil is fine now then KACHING you already saved more than any cost difference by trying to bypass marine OEM parts.

You can maybe save money on the spark plug wires. Any good quality high silicone content wires will work fine. Just make sure the boots are the same, again the "equivalent" automotive engines had HEI distributors so the wire ends are not the same as what your boat distributor cap uses.

I got all OEM the last time I tuned mine up (Volvo AQ271) and the cost was not much more than "equivalent" automotive, and may have cost less than having to do things twice because "equivalent" is, well, not the same! Everything fit just like it was supposed to and it runs great. I found a local Marine dealer that has it all and the price was almost identical to what it was online (plus I could see everything in OEM boxes before I paid!).

 

[zzrich]

Re: Volvo Penta AQ260A Tune up parts needed

Find your local NAPA, they carry the Sierra brand of Marine parts.




Boats requier more maintenance than cars, and that maintenance is not always inexpensive. Having a boat on SS and expecting it to get repaired inexpensivly is a bit crazy.

Thats why I do all the work for him lol. He pays me in beer and peanuts and trips to the lake !

 

[zzrich]

Re: Volvo Penta AQ260A Tune up parts needed

The parts are not that much higher from a marine dealer. Look them up as far as part number then shop around on the net, iBoats, Doug Russell, Marine Parts Express, and more. You will not save much actual money trying to go non-OEM plus the boat will have the exact OEM quality parts that everyone who enjoys this boat deserves. NAPA stores may be different because at least they have a Marine parts catalog, but the car parts guys I seem to find nowadays are basically clueless on cars, so how could we expect them to know boats, there is a difference. For example, what 1983 GM based car V8 engine still used contact points? Your boat's GM V8 does. And the spark plugs will probably not be the same type and heat range of that era of GM V8. Boat engines will run different temperatures than automotive engines and also run richer fuel mixtures.

You also mention changing out the coil, that is extra cost for no reason. Do not change it out unless it has failed, and even then just go back stock. If the coil is fine now then KACHING you already saved more than any cost difference by trying to bypass marine OEM parts.

You can maybe save money on the spark plug wires. Any good quality high silicone content wires will work fine. Just make sure the boots are the same, again the "equivalent" automotive engines had HEI distributors so the wire ends are not the same as what your boat distributor cap uses.

I got all OEM the last time I tuned mine up (Volvo AQ271) and the cost was not much more than "equivalent" automotive, and may have cost less than having to do things twice because "equivalent" is, well, not the same! Everything fit just like it was supposed to and it runs great. I found a local Marine dealer that has it all and the price was almost identical to what it was online (plus I could see everything in OEM boxes before I paid!).

I totally agree with you. I saw the parts prices on volvo.com and they werent that bad. One question though, on boats why did they use points for so long ? Oh, and thanks for the links to the marine parts houses !

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta AQ260A Tune up parts needed

One question though, on boats why did they use points for so long ?

The same reason they still use carbs. The boating public won't accept it until it's forced on them.
Same with catalitic converters on boats. Volvo now has them in Calif.