hello all. i just joined the forum. i've been boating for years but stumbled upon this forum researching a 24' pantera i just bought.

my question is this.....the boat has a volvo 280 drive on it and i bought it with no engine. it had a 426 chrysler hemi that the previous owner kept. he claims the 280 is a super strong and dependable drive.

i'm a mercruiser guy and i think the volvo looks like crap. i don't like the trim system and the lack of prop availability.

is it better to just buck up and change the drive to a bravo when i repower the boat or is the volvo 280 a good piece. i'm, most likely, powering it with a big block chevy.

thanks all.

A 280 probably does not have power trim; the 290 did.
For your power, you will need to use the diesel thrust washer in the upper and re-do the upper nut/washer clearance as the deisel thrust washer is thicker. Do not turn the drive RH, only left hand.

This drive is not a performance drive at all, I had a 'speedmaster' lower which helped immensely; it used Mercury splined props. Before that I used a nose cone on the stock lower.

You really should just use a Bravo drive. You will have to fill in the transom or use a plate though.

i run a 290 with a nosecone and ss prop and my motor is a 400hp small block i no guys with donzis and magnums running 500hp and more with a 280 those drives are equal to bravo drives, go on donzi reg or performance boats and do some research, i would keep the 280, run a 406 smallblock and you will be fine, solas,ultra by volvo and hill propellers all make ss performance props for those drives

Sorry SFO but I have to disagree. I am running a 496 (close to 500hp) through my 280 for years now with no issues. Volvo’s are some of the toughest drive ever built. I’ve spun mine both ways, which can be changed to left or right no matter what way your motor turns by a simple change of the shift lever. Takes about 5 mins and only requires a screwdriver. Props are available now that Solas has started making them. If trim is desired find a 280T transom shield for it like I did.

I actually agree that the drive is real tough up to an honest 450 ft lbs, just not turning right hand; the lower (steel keeper ring) thrust washer is stronger than the upper (threaded) thrust washer.
Even turning left hand, the weak part is the bronze thrust washer just under the upper gears (holds the shaft down) once you put enough power through it. I had some stainless steel ones made to the same specifications as the standard bronze washer in Sweden back in the day, broke those too, but they were hard to break. There were quite a few people racing the drives offshore using the twin shaft lowers (looked like a mini #3 drive) back in the seventies, all were having mostly only the one problem. Once I went to the thick steel lower thrust washer (same design as the gas bronze but thicker and made of steel), the drive never broke again. I am talking fairly serious power though. Actually when it breaks, all that happens is the top cap breaks as the shaft goes up through it. Not an expensive fix.
With a nose cone, the drive is good to 65 or so; good to go way up if you had the 'speedmaster' lower.

Yes i have to agree, the volvo drive is a strong unit , my last 2 boat both ran the volvo drive one was the 270E which had the hi speed lower 1.45 to 1 .the other which i ran for 19 years was the 290duo prop and the only thing that went wrong on that was the rams started to leak. we ran a blower motor in it and ran it hard about 375/400 HP and it never let go .paul from England

I've owned countless Volvo 280's over the years, they were all on smaller boats, several behind 400-500 hp small blocks. Never had any drive problems with the 280.

BTW, the 280T was a power trim version, my '83 Donzi same with one from the factory.

The volvo drives are very reliable units that seldom fail when used with 400-450hp,they will give up a lot of speed compared to a bravo style drive,the lower unit is very stubby and props work a little different,we use to use a ellis propeller it was like a inboard prop that was a long time ago mid 80s there is probably better props out there now,the worst part of the volvo unit is the itermediate housing bearings take a beating as there is no gimbal style bearing that can take the side loading of triming and turning,I use to run a 290t unit on my 18 donzi i had a healthy 350 chevy 350-400hp use to hit it with a 150 nos shot every weekend for years never hurt the drive