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I am looking to upgrade a boat with an old volvo sterndrive by replaceing it with a Mercruiser. What is involved? Can you get a transom adaptor to cover the volvo transom hole and mount the mercruiser? Has anybody done it? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Yes, you can get a transom adaptor, but it ain't cheap!
I looked into doing just that very thing on my Wellcraft and the adaptor was somewhere in the $1500 range so I went against it. That was one of the ultimate reasons for my selling her... I sure do miss that Wellcraft sometimes..
I am still happy with my boat though..
I think you will have to figure out how much you are willing to spend and go from there.. It all about economics isn't it? I call it the price to fun ratio..
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
You should be able to do it. I have never seen the adapter Reelwork mentioned, but I'm sure they are somewhere. To do a complete repower with a mercruiser system, we are talking about wiring harness, gauges, etc. correct? Depends on how well the boat fits your fun. A new 5.0 MPI(260 hp)Bravo 1 drive lists for $14,100. You would be able to get it for much cheaper, but that isn't installed. If you need a new engine and you can live with spending the extra $$$ on the adaptor and wiring/gauges, then go for it. Hope it turns out great.
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
The older Volvo before coping merc I/O was not that great plus the parts are very hard to find-- After OMC/Volvo cloned the Merc I/O with improvements aka Cobra SX--- I believe the hole is the same on the small units however could be wrong---
Nope they did not clone anything. What happened was OMC came out with the Cobra drive in 86 replacing the stringer ball gear drives. They had some problems with shift cables that was worked out by 89 or so. Since neither OMC nor Volvo had a significant share of the sterndrive market by the mid 90's the story goes they formed a joint venture company. What they built was a modified Cobra looking drive, with cone clutch shifting in the upper housing, and a King Cobra lower unit. This was sold both as the Volvo Cobra SX and the OMC Cobra, starting in 1994-5. OMC later sold off their interest in the joint venture to Volvo (1998?) and that joint venture product is basically now being sold as the Volvo SX. The transom shield and certain other parts are very similar to the original OMC Cobra. I heard (but don't know for sure) that when OMC designed the original Cobra, they wanted some of the re-power business and made the cut out the same as Merc's. So if the Volvo in question is a joint venture or later SX, it probably is the same, but if it is the true Swedish Volvos, who knows? have to ask a real expert.
__________________ 1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
4.0/NV 242 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
5.7 HEMI/Quadradrive II
How lets see Merc I/O already had 1. true hub exhaust Volvo /OMC didn't --2. Merc had T&T-- Volvo/OMC used electric tilt and were not worth a damm after getting wet 3. Merc use bellhousing/tramson plate with a rubber connector ie donut 4.Volvo used a spud saft , flywheel with a car clutch and the gimbal bearing could not be serviced from the rear 5. OMC use a gaint rubber condom on the back that musrat love to eat ie boat sunk 6. OMC when to stringer drive -- remenber the ping pong ball ads that didn't last long the drives still failed with the boys jumping waves--- Thus the "secret I/O" by OMC then the "joint venture" with Volvo--- Sorry not matter what paint you put on a duck if --it still looks like a duck-- walk like a duck-- and quacks like a duck-- it is a duck not a chicken -- Carl K was the leader others just followed--- Big Question--- Where are are all the Volvo Outboards???-- I have only seen one in 50 years ---Where is OMC GONE!
It is amazing, though, that the same man designed the original Volvo stern drive, the early MerCruiser drive, and the OMC Cobra drive. That person was Charlie Strang.
__________________ ----------------
*... personally possessing more tools than talent !
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Learn somthing everyday on this board---will make a note----Out of those three it looks like the Merc I/O was the way to go---I have early Volvo V-8 have been looking for parts for three years-- find lots of parts for 4 cylinder both slant overhead cam and straight up---The new parts $$$ are out of this world for an old Volvo drive-- if it was a merc would find a truck load with 100 miles---- Both are good drives just like Merc and have a gararge full-- old dealer from 70-80---I even have a Merc I/O that cranks up sideways to get off
replace volvo sterndrive with mercruiser 
