Volvo Diesels

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Having spent a fun few days before Easter fixing my engine-to-outdrive interface on one side of my Princess 33(check those bellows boys and girls, if anyone wants to see the result of water getting in, let me know and I will send some scary pictures)I wondered if there was anyone out there who knew anything about the 40 series of Volvo Diesels. In particular what the main differences are between the varying models (and power inputs)? Mine, for instance are AQD40A, which I understand are 130 HP. But I also believe ther is a 165HP version of the same motor. What are the differences, and can mine be upgraded? Also if anyone is facing an emotional outdrive moment I would be happy to share my repair experience, or at least offer moral support!

Fair do's to Volvo though - their spares might be expensive but their engineering is first class, and even though Marine Projects (like many others I suspect) insist on putting 5 foot engines in 4 foot holes, even the nastiest and most difficult looking fastener undid as it was supposed to.
 
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Having owned both outdrive and shaftdrive Volvos, my advice is to stick with the latter. There is something inherently stupid about permanently dangling an expensive marine gearbox in saltwater and I am convinced as a result of my ownership experience that it was designed specifically to drive the Swedish export effort.

Anyway, good luck with your outdrives!

Nick
 
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Re: Scary times with outdrives

I nearly sunk a 33 in Strangford Lock N Ireland at 2AM. That boat had had allot of bellow problems cos the engineers kept fitting them wrong. Prop shaft was trying to ware a hole through the transom.

Mended that on the quay in Strangford, put the boat back in the water and did about 100yds to test it and the other drive failed.

Six cranes and three and a half weeks later we left for Wales with all the electrics up the pole cos of the three foot of sea water that had been in the boat.

PS. Dont talk to me about Volvo engineering, I'm pissed off with it.

Cant help much with the 165 conversion but I would have thought you would need new engine blocks.
 
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Paul, you could try posting your quaetsion on a US site, www.boatdiesel.com, then follow the forum link to Volvo Penta. All questions are answered very seriously by a VP mechanic\engineer named Karl and he certainly sseems to know his stuuf. He's answered a couple of very obscure questions for me on my AQAD 30's and proven right in both cases.
 
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Mrs coliholic

Nice to see you have taken over the admin from Colin.

Does HE get as upset at the hours YOU spend in front of the screen?

Hope you sorted the magazine problem out!
 
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Re: Mrs coliholic

Oops, forgot to change it back after "her" go. Yep mag's all sorted. I've put them on the boat.
 
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Re: Scary times with outdrives

Sounds a lot worse than my experience - mind you we have not done a sea trial yet - but out of interest how did they manage to fit the bellows wrong? Just interested in avoiding further hassle. My son Dan who helped fit my bellows (we did both sides) does not share my opinion of Volvo, he thinks that anything which requires you to remove large portions of machinery in order to tighten or remove a worm-drive clip is not the work of talented engineers.

It keeps the labour charges up though. We took the DIY route and removed all the skin from our knuckles instead, so he could be right.
 
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Paul, The AQD40A is rated at 125 to 130 hp dependant on who you are talking to. The 165hp is the aftercooled version and it is not a simple conversion job as it involves replacing most of the cooling system. There is a thread on this supbject, and lots of discussion regarding the variouse permutations of the 40 series on boatdiesel.com as Colin said and the site is well worth a visit. Regards, Eddie PS keep those pictures to yourself, its hard enough persuading the missis to go on the boat as it is without giving her more ammunition!
 
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Thanks for that - it probably explains the extra "A" in the nomenclature (AQAD as opposed to AQD). As long as the blocks and heads are the same though it still might be an interesting exercise, particularly if I feel the urge to drag these two out into the daylight at sometime in the future for a full reconditioning session, which will inevitably mean stripping all the cooling system and re-setting the fuel injection anyway. After all - what's an after/intercooler if it isn't yet another heat exchanger. The combination of an extra 50 or 60 HP, plus duoprops, would make quite a difference I think, and a lot cheaper than a re-engining session. Am I a glutton for punishment?

I tried boatdiesel.com, but couldn't seem to get in - must be busy and will try later.

I will keep the pics to myself!
 
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V. useful.

Stack them on the foredeck when the bellows need changing.
 
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Re: V. useful.

No, don't need it. We've got a gas barbie so no need of bellows.
 
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Paul, Paul at Coastal Rides does a duoprop conversion kit for at around £1000 per leg, you can contact him on 01303 262300. If you are intent on conversion to the aftercooler he may have used parts for that too. He is also very copmetent at rebuilding volvo,s so would be worth contacting to discuss your plans. Regards Eddie
 
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Paul,
The previous owner of my Princess 33 had this conversion done.
Happy to discuss. Where are you moored?

Regards

Alastair
 
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