volvo rubber band motors

[Beachcraft-24]

need some imput on volvos 4-cyl OHC it is 1991 year model. it has 250 on valve covers, they are fwc. I was hoping somebody that has some experince owning or working on these could enlighten me before I go look at this boat sat. THANKS

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

The 250's were the last of the "Rubber Band" engines from Volvo. When they run, they run great. When they don't .... parts are big $$$$$. Even simple ignition parts are way over priced for what they are. Yearly tuneups and taking care of the timing belt is the main tricks to keeping the engine running in top shape. Many convert the points ignition to the Pertronix electronic conversion.<br />Bad exhaust manifolds have ruined more than one of those engines, and make sure the exhaust port in the head around #4 isn't corroded away.<br />The drives are basically bullet proof with proper care. Yearly Gear lube (30W engine oil)changes, and makeing sure the ujoint bellows never gets older than 2 or 3 years and they last forever.<br />The SP-A drive has power trim, not found in the older rubber band engines.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

wow<br /> I try to forget they ever made rubber band motors <br /> like DonS says make sure to eup on the maint or they get expensive quick.

 

[Beachcraft-24]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

Don&rodbolt thanks for your imput don the ex port your talking about is this going to be easy to see from the outside or is this an internal problem. I am up to speed on my 280 volvo drive maintence.so Iam not to worried about drives IF they check out good.but the engines I donot have any experince with.I will have more quistons after i look at boat saturday. thanks again and I wish you didnt live so far north.& rodbolt you live way to far east.....

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

Short of pulling the exhaust manifold, there is no way of seeing it.<br />Being a 90 or 91 engine, it is probably ok, BUT, if the rest of the engine looks rusty and in sad shape, Worry!<br />If it looks clean, the timing belt and pulleys look clean and in good shape, the front of the engine isn't all corroded, then it will probably be fine. I have found the problem on lots of the early 80's engines.<br /><br />PS, I am like rodbolt and would really like to forget the rubber band engines all together, but the fact remains, when they work, they work great, when they don't, hide your wallet.

 

[Juneaudave]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

I concur...I just sold a boat with a AQ131d (salt water use) and my last problem...had the #4 exhaust port on the head corrode out. A new head is very, very expensive($2000 plus)unless you can find a used. The head is not difficult to replace, especially if you have had to fuss with the timing belts and understand the workings of the engine.<br /><br />In my case, I had the boat for 8 years. Over that time, the engine ran very strong and was quite reliable when it was running. I replaced the timing belt twice which I found was a relatively simple to do...except that salt corrosion gave me fits on the bolts and timing gears. <br /><br />One of the more knowledgeble members of the board can probably tell you how...but there must be a way of telling whether that # four exhaust on the head is going bad. The only way I know of is pulling the exhaust manifold.

 

[Beachcraft-24]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

I looked at boat today very clean for 15 years old. drives look good they do have power trim,oil looked real good. engine bay looked so-so, belts and gears on timing looked ok.but the ex side of the head dose show some white corison,on both engines what I didnt realize was the heads are alumian and that realy scears me.my line of work I see too many problems with them.DON the tags on valve cover say 250-A engines have 2 carbs can you tell me HP ratings outdrives are single prop sales person said the thought they were 290 thanks ps by the way hour meters show 1600 hours, one a little over one a little under.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

If the exhaust manifolds are original, they are overdue for replacement. Like I said before, short of pulling the manifold, I know of no way to check the head for damage.<br />With corrosion showing around both engines at #4, well, to quote a popular qoute, "Do you feel lucky"?<br />Here is some info on the 250 engine<br /><br /> AQ250-A

 

[Beachcraft-24]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

Don thanks for the info on AQ250-A.that was just what I needed to look at.one more quistion was this engine used in autos,or made for marine only. By the way let me say thank you, to you and the rest of the great people who give there time so willing on this site.<br /><br /> THANKS

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: volvo rubber band motors

The block is based on the 2.5L B525 volvo motor. Found in the 850 series. In the auto world, it was a short lived run ('92 - '97).<br /><br />The first volvo auto to marine conversions had a lot of interchangable parts, you could go to an automotive boneyard and get parts that would fit the marine equivelant (I'm talking about engine internal parts). I don't know if that is true of the B525, by 1992 VP where making marine specific packages.<br /><br />Aldo