Volvo AQ140A Engines

[liamo]

Hi all,
I have recently bought a motor boat with 2 Volvo-Penta engines - AQ140a with 280 outdrives. The engines are in a sorry state and I hope to strip them down and rebuild. Is there an equivalent car engine that I can use? Failing that is there a diesel engine that would link up to a 280 outdrive without much adaptation. I would be concerned about the gearing.
Thank you all for reading my plight.
Regards,
Liamo

 

[RobWheatley]

Hi, i have the same setup in my boat, and i am looking to replace with diesels, no "easy" way to do it, you have to either change the bell housing and use a volvo Diesel or get adaptors made to fit others.
Direct replacement for the AQ140 is the 2.1 petrol out of a Volvo 244 car.
Where abouts are you? I have just bought my boat as a winter project and my 2 AQ140's are going to be up for sale soon, as far as i know they are in good working order, if you are interested i could run them up to test them.
Regards
Rob

 

[liamo]

Hi Rob,
Thank you for your reply. I am based in Belfast and have bought this boat (Sterling Starfinder 30) for a winter project. I have looked at Lanzing Marine for replacement engines but they seem expensive. What diesel engines have you looked at? Is there a problem with their gearing to the 280 sterndrives? I might also consider the purchase of your AQ140's. What price are you looking for them? I'm unsure what to do.
Best regards,
Liam

 

[RobWheatley]

Hi Liam
Im looking at the citroen 1.9TD engine (90-100hp) fitted to Xantia's or the 2.1 Citroen engine (110-130hp) fitted to XM's, the other option is the ford transit 2.5DI turbo. there are kits available for the 1.9's but not too sure about the 2.1's. for the 1.9's try here http://www.streamenvironmental.co.uk/marinised_engines.php, they seem about the cheapest around, had a quote for a bare kit not including the charge air cooler at £950 ish per engine (but not including the engine (complete cars are only £100-200 over here)) they are about the same output as the AQ140.

Drive should handle the power ok, i have seen these coupled to 280hp 5.7 litre V8's, gear ratio shouldn't be a problem either as the 1.9TD revs to about 4500, about the same as the AQ140.

Its not going to be cheap to convert but will be better if you intend to use the boat alot as i do, the AQ140's will burn 8-10 GPH but the diesels about 5-6 (i have seen AQ140's going secondhand untested for £500)
If i go the route of the 2.1TD (which i think i will) i will have adaptor rings made for the bell housing and drive plate and do the rest myself.

Send me a PM and will send my email address, if i can answer any questions i would be glad to help.

Have just seen on Ebay someone selling 2 1.8 diesel ford escort engines (non turbo) with adaptors to fit the volvo outdrives fully marinised and a buy it now price of £550 each, wont have the power of the AQ140 but depends on what you want performance wise.

Regards
Rob

 

[liamo]

Thanks Rob for the information. I will keep in touch and let you know what we are doing.
Best Regards,
Liam

 

[tr7v8]

Used to have a Draco 2500 Twin Cab with a pair of these things.
Most of the later Volvo 240 bits fit, such as cam belts & tensioners, gaskets, oil filters. I also modified the fresh water pump from the car into the AQ but this isn't so straight forward. I can send you these conversion details if you PM me a mail address. Biggest problem was keeping the poxy things water tight! All the push fit joints used to leak like a seive. Best thing I found was Loctite High temp copper RTV sealant, that on all the joints fixed a lot of the leaks. If the engines have been standing for a while unused beware of the cambelt tensioners which seize up solid. They're around £18 each from German & Swedish or Euro Car Parts.