Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

[nowwhat!]

Ok, so I am stumbling along with my money sucking project and I've reached the point where I need to change my Volvo 5.7 into a Mercruiser. I have the merc alternator and steering pump but will the pulleys on the water pump and crank work with the mercruiser stuff? How do I know what size belts to buy, and will the ratio's be an issue? Help will be very, very much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

Need some years, model numbers, serial numbers, etc. of what you had and what you are putting in.

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

Need some years, model numbers, serial numbers, etc. of what you had and what you are putting in.

Well I have no idea! The volvo had a 280 outdrive and is a chevy 350. How would I ID it? The Mercruiser power steering pump is a mid 80's -early 90's style mercruiser pump I believe? It looks like the alternator will need to be removed and the power steering put in its place. The mercruiser alt will go on the opposite side. But will the pulleys work? Which numbers would you need and where can I find them? This I/O stuff is all new to me and making me crazy!

 

[series60]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

Ok, so I am stumbling along with my money sucking project and I've reached the point where I need to change my Volvo 5.7 into a Mercruiser. I have the merc alternator and steering pump but will the pulleys on the water pump and crank work with the mercruiser stuff? How do I know what size belts to buy, and will the ratio's be an issue? Help will be very, very much appreciated. Thanks

I have to ask - why are you changing your Volvo to a Mercruiser - they are both 350sbc? Are you changing the outdrives?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

assuming both the volvo and mercruiser stuff is of the same vintage. you have to strip down the volvo to the bare long-block and build back up as a mercruiser.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

Ok, so I am stumbling along with my money sucking project and I've reached the point where I need to change my Volvo 5.7 into a Mercruiser. I have the merc alternator and steering pump but will the pulleys on the water pump and crank work with the mercruiser stuff? How do I know what size belts to buy, and will the ratio's be an issue? Help will be very, very much appreciated. Thanks

If it's already a money sucking project why not just cut your losses and sell it. Buy a boat with a mercruiser package. You will come out dollars ahead. If you just want a project buy one with a bad mercruiser 5.7 and use your short block to fix-it then sell the rest of the volvo stuff for parts.

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

I have to ask - why are you changing your Volvo to a Mercruiser - they are both 350sbc? Are you changing the outdrives?

Boat I want to get running has an alpha drive, and I made a bonehead move of buying a volvo equipped donor boat. The previous owner had acquired many mercruiser parts and told me all i needed was a block and I'd be good to go.

I have now had the engine out 3 times and have bought numerous expensive parts. What I thought would be relatively easy has gradually turned into a nightmare.

I would have totally converted to an outboard if I knew how much of a PITA this is.

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

If it's already a money sucking project why not just cut your losses and sell it. Buy a boat with a mercruiser package. You will come out dollars ahead. If you just want a project buy one with a bad mercruiser 5.7 and use your short block to fix-it then sell the rest of the volvo stuff for parts.

It is a 1 step forward, 3 steps back situation. I am probably going to end up going that route. I am completely frustrated!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Uhhhgg! Turning a 5.7 Volvo into Mercruiser, HELP!

breath

then inventory what you have. are both blocks the same vintage - yes or no?

if both blocks are the same vintage, strip down the VP marinized block and build back up as the Mercruiser using the parts from your boat with the alpha drive.