gmc engine with Volvo Stern Drive

[hardy]

with regard to my post "I GIVE UP" I have just spoken to a GM guru who says you cannot get a top starter motor setup compatible with a Volvo stern drive.
Anybody know any different??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[BarryH]

Anything is poss. What drive are you using and has the original bell housing been adapted for the GM block or are you using an adapter plate.

For varioius engines to be mated to various drives I'v cut adapters and also cut rewelded bell housings from various vehicles/drives. The problem that I see you having is mating the housing to the block with the starter apature in the right place....for you! It will help a great deal if you could remove the engine/ bh from the boat so have a play with. Your reference point is the cntre of the flywheel. It would help a lot if you made up a jig to keep the bh on the centre line of the crank while you rotated the housing. The easirest way will be to cut an adapter to remount the bh. But rmember that this will push the engine forwards by the thickness of the plate. So have you enough scope on the mounts?
Its a fair amount of work and needs careful measuring/cutting and drilling for it to be a success. I've seen a few drives knackers because the alignment wasn't quite right.
If yo go for the cut and weld route make sure you can mount the housing to the engine in the new position, you probably won't without having to re drill a fair few holes. If it were me I'd make an adapter plate to spin the housing. Then of course you've got to make sure that theres enough room to mount the starter in its new position.

Hows your welding skills? Theres loads to take into consideration. Would it not be easier to make the boat water proof??

 

[malcolm2]

We have a Spirit 3000 fitted with 2 Marinediesel engines. Proper Swedish marinised GMC 6.5L diesel package. ( not Samurai meccano set )

Not sure why you cannot get starter motor compatible mechanically or electrically.

We have no problem at all.

If you have bilge water problem then, I would have thought this would be a problem with the old set up (AQ211's ?) any way, may be not to the same extent, starter motor in more or less the same position, but probably not so suceptable to ring gear flinging water around...
(I assume it is not covered by original bell housing end plate.)

Does water not come from leaky top steering swivel seals.?

Volvo state that on 290DP drive waterline must not be higher than 6.7" from centre line of drive shaft. Presumably if more than that water can seap under seal. However I have heard of some Sealine models exceeding this 6.7". To cure this problem remote greasers were fitted to keep shaft/seals packed with grease

If this is cause of water in bilge, then it should be fairly apparent by dribble of water running down in side of transom shield underneath steering arm.

If this is cause of water ingress suggest.............

A. Repack with grease the nipple on steering shaft.

B. Replace rubber exterior seal, and nylon bushes.

C. In last resort fit remote greaser.


Seems a shame to ditch the engine over this problem

 

[hardy]

Thanks
I am leaning toward the dry boat end of the senario, as the cheapest option , and appreciate your more technical solution, I have to sit down with the engineer at Dell quay and decide which way to go, I like the boat (when it works) I could not sell it on knowing it has this problem.descisions etc

 

[hardy]

great news thanks will give this info to the engineer

 

[malcolm2]

Don't get too excited.......... just seems a cheaper bet to cure leaks.

I believe bolt clamping steering arm to shaft can be a sod to lossen off.

Another thought....... can you not re locate ( or fit another one) bilge pump, ideally one with an integral switch, so it automatically drains all the water out of the bilge, especially when stern squats down, when getting on the plane. Would not need to be very large, so maybe would fit underneath engine/ bell housing etc. at hulls lowest aft point.

 

[Col]

If your starter is underwater your sump must be too, as the starter is higher than bottom of sump. Watch for corrosion.
How much clearance is there from bottom of starter to bilge??

 

[hardy]

Agree GOOD IDEA did that no joy

 

[Col]

Just seen your other thread.............
With no bottom to the bell housing, the flywheel will pick up water and fling it into starter nose!! How much clearance flywheel / bilge??

 

[malcolm2]

Just a further thought I am sure Marinediesel do a bell housing kit (not just an adaptor plate). ie a new bell housing machined to take GMC engine on Volvo drive.

This kit includes a new front lower cover plate. It therefore does not allow ring gear to fling water around, because like the original Volvo the ring gear is totally enclosed.

We are now getting into engine out teritory. And if you are already using an adaptor plate on the bell housing could mean engine mounts would need moving back to orignal position etc etc.

But you might want to check it out @ www.marinediesel.nu

Relocating starter motor on the engine,I would have thought a non starter if you see what I mean........ solve one problem and create another 25.

 

[hardy]

CLEARENCE 1 INCH APPROX
MANUAL PUMP DIRECLY UNDER ENGINE 6 INCHES

 

[hardy]

MANY THANKS FOR THAT , i WANT THE ENGINE OUT ANYWAT TO CHECK CONDITION OF FLYWHEEL ETC SO AGAIN GET THE ENGINEER TO LOOK AT THAT

 

[Col]

I would get the sump galvanised too.