Volvo 5.0GL SX Drive Tips, Tricks

[somekevinguy]

I just bought a 2004 Chaparral Sunesta 212 with the Volvo 5.0GL with an SX drive with just under 300 hours. Is there anything I need to watch out for specifically with this setup. Any known common issues. What about any tricks for making more power etc.? I have all the service records and it looks like basically just the oil was changed in the drive and engine every year along with fuel and oil filters. Also the impeller was done a couple of times. I don't see anything about bellows ever being done. This thing has the swim platform so drive maintenance doesn't seem like it will be fun. Make it kind of hard to get to.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Volvo 5.0GL SX Drive Tips, Tricks

If you are going to do the yearly maintenance yourself, build a stand for your drive. Search the forum and there are a lot of threads on building them. It would be easier to use one if working under a swim platform.

Sounds like the previous owner was keeping up with the maintenance, other than changing the U-joint bellows. They need replacing and check alignment. You can find an alignment tool pretty cheap on ebay.

Other than that, you should be good to go.

 

[somekevinguy]

Re: Volvo 5.0GL SX Drive Tips, Tricks

Which manual(s) should I get if I am going to do all the work myself? Aftermarket manual, factory manual. Seems like the factory has like 3 or 4 different ones.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Volvo 5.0GL SX Drive Tips, Tricks

You'd need the drive manual for yearly maintenance of the drive.

If you plan on winterizing yourself, then the engine manual would show you that.

I use the individual Volvo Penta manuals. They are a little more expensive, but they are straight forward.