Ya but at the after market price its probably still easier to repower. Are there any other motors that would bolt up to the outdrives easiley? Like a chevy or ford or something or is it heavy modification needed?
See explanation below.
What would be wrong with the exhaust manifolds it has been in fresh water its whole life never touched salt water at all?
See the following post.
it's a 40+ year old chunk of cast iron and the inside is unpainted
The typical piont of failure is at/near the rear elbow area.
Note that a bad exhaust manifold may damage an engine.
Are there any engines that go in its place easily (bolts right up)? Min. modification?
Mell, my little V/P biz mainly entails me working on the AQ series, at least for the most part.
I know what will interchange easily and what will not interchange easily.
I've done many of these similar changes over the years.
With the AQ series, we could basically install most any engine that the industry offers a Borg Warner pattern flywheel cover for.
The Borg Warner... slash... Volvo Penta PDS adapter housing takes the engine to the V/P drive system.... very common!
The issue becomes the exhaust..... and some of that can be made to work if up for the task.
The small 5.0L 5.8L Ford V-8, SBC Chevy V-8, Chevy 4.3 V-6... can all be made to work, and with OEM components.
The exhaust risers would need to be 3".... unless you are willing to change out the transom shields.
(this has to do with the limitations of the single relief transom shields found with the OHC 4s and the AQ 170s... but it can be made to work w/ the AQ 200/255
B Y-pipe)
All transmissions are of the same gear reduction, so your transmissions and intermediate housings could be re-used.
The lower unit ratio changes, however, to a 1.61:1 after the correct shimming process has been done.
As I mentioned earlier, the existing center to center dimension must be close to 33", or the V-8's won't squeeze in there.
Your existing AQ 170 center to center dimension may be too tight for any of the SB V-8's.
This is why I suggested measuring this.... if this hull's beam is wide enough, V-8s may work w/ no mods to the hull's transom.
If not.... check mate, and you're back to either the 170s, or a pair of the OHC 4s!
You could certainly do what you are proposing to do with the 170's........ we're simply bringing some points up for you to consider.
**********************************
I'll leave you with these thoughts.
I have no idea how you aquired this boat, nor what you paid for it, nor what your budget may be:
Free boats are never free by the time you get one working again.
Boats are rarely investments, and are always expenses.
It's very easy to become up-side-down in terms of expense to value ratio.
Being up-side-down is not necessarily a bad thing..... we just use it up in the form of enjoyment (ask me how I know this).
If the above makes sense, don't worry about any resale value.... no one will EVER pay what you may think it is worth!
If you love boating and a project.... what better project could you have?
It's a boat.... you'll be away from land.... make the correct repairs... don't take short cuts... EVER and on ANYTHING!
You are far better off having an older Volvo Penta boat, than having many of the other older drive systems. (the AQ 170 being an acception..... i.e., refering to the engine, not necessarily the drive)
Does/will this boat suit your needs?
Have you checked the transom and stringer cores?
How much in love with this hull are you?
Don't fall in love without first considering all of the above.
Have fun.... we'll be here for you!
.
