ido1320

Volvo was black from about 1993 or so to 2000, then they went back to the red.

mercmatt22

MY opinion is that the volvos are pretty bulit proof, they handle a bit better but are heavy (compared to a alpha) maybe a little heaver than the bravo but not by much if any. I have a customer with a 00 model Glastron 205fs w/ a volvo 5.7 4barrel, boat is very fast for what it is 65mph then starts to chine walk. but that customers kid took it out and cooked it he paid for the new set of vortex heads then when it threw a rod about 3 hrs later volvo(under warrenty) sent us a new crate engine the boat was 2 yrs old at the time and we arnt a volvo dealer. (by the way the brand new vortex heads that had 3 hrs of run time on them are doing circles now on my buddies I-stock car) that is the only warrenty issue i have had w/volvos and i think that is pretty good. We sell deckboat rigged w/mercs and another dealer about 60mi away sell the same boat w/volvos and I have seen the mercs getting about 5mph more on the same package deal.
Im a merc guy all the way but the volvos are a very good product.

Northern Baja

After helping a friend gather parts for a Volve-SX drive to fix a smaller cruiser with 350/2 barrel power with <200 hours, I must say I was very unimpressed with the drive reliability, dealer knowledge, parts availability, and general information availability.

At this point I wouldn't consider a boat with a Volvo drive.

karjal

I live in Finland and here Volvos are popular. I must say that Volvo drives are awesome!

powerabout

If BMW don't suceed in sailing do you think they should have another go at marine engines....
As long as they ask me to help with the design work and no I wont be copying a Volvo like they tried the first time or use Solex carburettors or ...this list goes on but they do now have V8's V10's and V12's

ajs67Donzi

The press release below is from 1999. I've got a DPX 385 behind a '96 22' Donzi classic, and I love it. Internal hydraulic steering, strong thrust throughout, fast (75 mph, bone stock) low slip, and outstanding reliability. My last boat was a '67 Donzi with the original Volvo AQ200 on it...40 years and still going strong!



1999-09-22

High End Series with New DPX 500 and DPX 600

Volvo Penta shows further strength with the launch of its two most powerful gasoline units yet, the DPX 500 and the DPX 600. Rated at 475 and 560 propeller shaft horsepower respectively, these two power packs are intended for high-speed boats. With the DPX drive, and its counter rotating twin propellers, and hydraulic steering, the owner gets impressive performance combined with easy handling, safety and reliability. The new engines represent the top of Volvo Penta's "High End Series".

Volvo Penta High End Series includes the DPX 385, 415, 500 and 600. Each unit consists of a big block V8 gasoline engine combined with the DPX drive. The DPX 500 and 600 gasoline engines are for customers who want a performance engine with high driveability, low maintenance and safe boat operation.

The High End Series of gas engines allows Volvo Penta to move up-scale and into the prestige segment and offer a complete range of gasoline engines.

The DPX drive is Volvo Penta's high speed version of the well known Duoprop. It features twin counter rotating steel propellers that give excellent grip in the water with good driveability, response and safety, even at very high speeds. Hydraulic steering is standard and further enhances the ease of driving and safety. Despite its unique performance, the DPX still has the quality, reliability and low service requirements of a standard drive.

High tech engines

All of the High End engines are big block V8s with multiport electronic fuel injection (EFI) for reliability combined with fuel economy and high power output. An audible alarm warns the driver of high temperature or low oil pressure, and if no action is taken the EFI automatically slows the engine down to 2500 rpm.

From the outset, the new DPX 500 and DPX 600 are built for very high output with closed circuit cooling. Many of the parts used are specially designed to withstand the strains imposed, and each unit produced is tested with a minimum one hour dyno break in test. The DPX 600 is completely hand built by specialist technicians.


Technical Data

Propshaft power Displacement

DPX 385 385 hp 7.4 l
DPX 415 415 hp 8.2 l
DPX 500 475 hp 8.2 l
DPX 600 560 hp 8.8 l

bill_daytona22

Hello Pat,

I just thought that I mention to you as a note that the Volvo 8.2 GSi's throttle body has a little smaller bores than compared to the 500HP butterflies. The upper and lower intake manifolds are identical to the Merc 500 except painted gray.
Hey, you wouldn't have the contact info on the place where you purchased the test engines?

Big Block Billy

Bravo 3 is a piece of crap, anyone that has one should consider bravo 2.

Big Block Billy

Volvo has been around a long time (1927)
The very meaning of volvo is I Roll .
This was taken from the logo of the main investor of volvo SKF bearing corp.
Volvo is the first corporation to have produced an outdrive peroid.
In fact many of the stock older drives don't carry much value because they don't break and there is little need for them.
According to Good T , Karl Kiekaffer balked at the outdrive and let it slip through his fingers.
The real truth is that Mercury does have a stranglehold on the market and has the marketing,and boat builders are left with no other reasonable alternatives. BBB

lmatek

Very interesting discussion.
I am a merc mechanic living and working in Torslanda,Sweden.
We have the reverse situation here.
merc parts r hard 2 find , Volvo penta parts r found at each pier.
I have a saying that I use when talkin to customers:
"If u wanna go fast go with merc, if u just wanna go go Volvo"