Volvo penta is it trash??

[wildbanshee90]

i just bought a boat and 1985 volvo sunbird in pretty decent shape. ive never owned a boat nor do i know much about them. Boat was non running, with brand new carb and battery cables.

aq125a penta with 270 outdrive. ive came to a few conclusions. coil was cracked (replaced it) points needed adjusted and i took care of it. Water in oil and really milky. I pulled the cylinder head and found some sand/grit in the intake, exaust and cylinders. More than just the head gasket? when i pulled the exhaust manifold it seems newer and in great shape except cylinder 4 was slighly eroaded.

any ideas or suggestions would help, what is most likely the problem? i will have my new head gasket in the morning. Boat parts are expensive so i just bought a head gasket for a 1992 volvo 740. same part number 1/3 the price

 

[RicardoMarine]

Thread title: Volvo penta is it trash??

These are great engines and great drives if/when they've been properly taken care of.
As with any Marine engine or stern drive, they will fail if not taken care of.

i just bought a boat and 1985 volvo sunbird in pretty decent shape. ive never owned a boat nor do i know much about them. Boat was non running, with brand new carb and battery cables.
As with any boat that has been purchased minus a "sea trail" and/or "survey", you are pretty much on your own.

aq125a penta with 270 outdrive.
This may be a 275 drive in 1985.
If the prop shaft is internally threaded for the spinner center keeper bolt, and if the oil fill port is just above the eccentric piston area, then it's a 275.


I've came to a few conclusions. coil was cracked (replaced it) points needed adjusted and i took care of it.
Water in oil and really milky.
Not a good sign.


I pulled the cylinder head and found some sand/grit in the intake, exaust and cylinders.
More than just the head gasket?
It sounds as though you did not perform a cylinder pressure "leak down" test while the head was still in place.

when i pulled the exhaust manifold it seems newer and in great shape except cylinder 4 was slighly eroaded.
Very typical and is generally caused by the exhaust manifold.

any ideas or suggestions would help, what is most likely the problem?
Very tough to determine now that you've removed the cylinder head without having done a leak down test.

i will have my new head gasket in the morning.
I would NOT recommend re-installing the cylinder head without first having it fully checked out by a machine shop.

Boat parts are expensive so i just bought a head gasket for a 1992 volvo 740. same part number 1/3 the price
I'm not sure of the differences between the automotive and Marine gaskets, but I'd certainly lay the new one over the old one and see if it's a perfect match.