Electronic iginition for a Volvo 140a

[john lyons]

I have a 1979 Volvo 140a in my 1979 Glasply boat. The boat runs good sometimes other times it will not rev high enough
to get the boat on plane. I have had the boat mechanics do all the items on the list provided by this website and it will run good for a while then go back to not reving past 3200 rpm. I have had the carbs rebuilt, new plugs and wires, new distributor cap, put an inline fuel filter, checked the gas tank vent etc.

I am looking for information about electronic ignitions for this motor.

Thanks for any info.

John

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Electronic iginition for a Volvo 140a

I have a 1979 Volvo 140a in my 1979 Glasply boat. The boat runs good sometimes other times it will not rev high enough
to get the boat on plane. I have had the boat mechanics do all the items on the list provided by this website and it will run good for a while then go back to not reving past 3200 rpm. I have had the carbs rebuilt, new plugs and wires, new distributor cap, put an inline fuel filter, checked the gas tank vent etc.
I am looking for information about electronic ignitions for this motor.

Thanks for any info.

John

Have we also checked what the fuel pressure/volume is from the fuel pump? Has the fuel lines from the tank to the pump been pressure tested for leaks? Compression test on the engine? Have the points been checked for wear, and is the dwell with-in specs?
Timing OK?

It's one thing to want to upgrade to an electronic ignition for the sake of easy maintenance and reliability, but IMHO throwing a conversion into your distributor as a hail Mary repair may leave you disappointed. The conversion kits will also not fix a clapped out mechanical advance with worn/broken weight springs, which is something else that should be checked.

 

[john lyons]

Re: Electronic iginition for a Volvo 140a

Thank for the reply. Everything you mention has been checked or replaced.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Electronic iginition for a Volvo 140a

Thank for the reply. Everything you mention has been checked or replaced.

Then something else is wrong or being overlooked. The points style ignition in good working order was good enough to make the engine run satisfactory for the past 32 years. If you are completely confident that the current ignition system is in tip-top shape, then throwing in an electronic ignition conversion will do nothing for your problem.

 

[billbayliner]

Re: Electronic iginition for a Volvo 140a

I agree with Roger. I have discussed this several times with a friend who knows the old Bosch distributors.
There's no option for this engine but the Pertronix or Hot Spark conversion kits.
The problem is, the conversion kit does nothing to fix the advancing system if it's bad.
Good spark won't do much for power if the advance is not meeting the OEM specs at the higher rpm range.
30 years of wear, some rust or a bad return spring, sticky flyweights, and it won't work right.
If the shaft wobbles, dwell will thrown off and that may affect your higher rpm running also.

You'll want to check the advancing system by watching the timing marks as you raise rpm.

A good shop with a distributor machine can get this back to the OEM specs.
They can put new bushings in too, and eliminate any shaft wobble.
That needs to be corrected even if installing the Pertronix unit.

.

 

[john lyons]

Re: Electronic iginition for a Volvo 140a

Thank you all for the information. I will have the boat doctor look at this info.
Thanks again!

 

[dobby]

Re: Electronic iginition for a Volvo 140a

If you don't have any joy with the boat man you can always take it to someone that specialises in tuning up the old Volvos (PV 544 - 140/160 era).