96' 5.8 L Volvo engine opinion

[DetroitFD]

Hello all-
I'm looking for opinions on this motor/drive. It's on a 1996 Four Winns 258 Vista. An older couple owns and and they're the second owners. I asked on the general forum more about opinions on the vessel itself, and someone said maybhave part issues.
Owner says it's a fuel injectors 5.8L. He says he always had it professionally maintained and the boatbitaelf looks brand new.
How is the reliability and availability/pricing for parts on this motor? I'd like to go look at it soon so any help is appreciated!

 

[Dave-R]

I also answered your other post, but there are other things I thought you might think about. There is nothing wrong with the Ford engine. The replacement parts like manifolds and electronics and everything that bolts to the engine could all be problems down the road. If you buy the boat, the last thing you want is trouble with it. That can sour the both of you on what should be a great experience. There is always a better boat out there. Dave-R

 

[DetroitFD]

I also answered your other post, but there are other things I thought you might think about. There is nothing wrong with the Ford engine. The replacement parts like manifolds and electronics and everything that bolts to the engine could all be problems down the road. If you buy the boat, the last thing you want is trouble with it. That can sour the both of you on what should be a great experience. There is always a better boat out there. Dave-R

Wouldn't this be a problem with any older boat? My issue is my budget doesn't allow for more than 12/13k. Just trying to find a setup similar to this one as far as the vessel goes. Are you saying this Drive combo isn'tthe best choice?
If not, what would you suggest?

 

[Fishhead-1]

I think what he's trying to say is the GM parts are a lot more common and cheaper to access and will and have been around longer.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ford was intermittently in the marine game a few times. because of the lack of commitment, all the marine only parts are a lot less common than the GM based motors. because of that, there are literally millions of parts available for the GM motors and maybe a hundred parts available for the Ford motors. those few ford specific marine parts are also a lot more costly than the parts that are common to 98% of the boating market. common parts with high inventory turns are much cheaper than rare, non-common parts that sit on the shelf for years.

for example, if this was a fuel injected 460 ford motor, not a single marine part is available for that motor any more. companies came out with adapters to mount GM manifolds on the motor, however if the fuel injection system needs any work, the motor gets converted to carb and distributor. I believe the 5.8 liter has the same issue on the EFI, however would need to confirm.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... If yer in the market for an I/O boat,....

Don't buy Anything with a Ford motor, nor anything that says OMC on it anywhere,....
I'm a Merc guy, but don't even look at anything powered by a Merc 470 either,....

GM, aka: Chevy power rules the I/O market, plentiful parts, 'n service,....

 

[DetroitFD]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I understand the issue now. Looks like Chevy/Merc combo it'll be.

 

[Scott Danforth]

nothing wrong with a GM/Volvo combo either.