I agree, wondering if they ever made a 1.36 gear ratio for the penta? I'm really after top end speed

You said all of that ? I missed that end of it ---- all the transom assembly and so forth not being a wise guy just did not see that end of the info

STANDARD gear ration for a 3.0 GL was 1.97 to 1 or the optional one 2.18 to 1 like I said 3.0 GL -- 135 hp including Mercruiser 3.0 - 135 hp engines NEVER used a 1.66. Like I said for Volvo that was used on certain models for the 4.3 BUT I made a mistake after mentioning possible 5.0. The 1.66 was for certain 4.3 models for Volvo ONLY. HP rating of the 4.3 was what determined which gear ratio. The person you bought from was clueless that it was for a 3.0 as I already mentioned in this post what the 3.0 VOLVO should have used for gear ratios.

By far Volvo has less problems with their drives and transom assemblies than any Bravo. Nite and day difference. How do I know - my back ground with the Volvo I would have to say - thru my shops of combined years was about 5 k to 6 K of them. Currently I see about about 75 to 100 per year. I do not have any shop(s) currently. So my numbers are way less plus work alone.

Volvo Drives and transom work was far less all the time compared to Mercruiser. Volvo has no external shift cable bellows nor uses an intermediate shift cable so that's one complete system out of the mix. Volvo does not have a swivel shaft wear like Mercruiser does The Bravo 3 is the worst for side to side play - the worst by far (gimbal ring swivel shaft wear)

Bravo propshaft seals and or leak in other areas -- leak 4 to 1 over Volvos,

Volvo gears pit way less than any bravo but in Merc defense a lot more Mercs has more hp pushing their drives.

Volvo shift like butter - Merc not as smooth.

Volvo outdrives in comparison ---run them on the water hose and lay your hand across the top of the drive - then do the same with Merc, I have done side by side comparisons all the time. Mercs way hot to do this especially with the bravo 3. Nite and day difference as the Volvo runs so much cooler.

You can do this test with a temp gun as well and the heat range is big. Anyways just a jist of as there is more.

Volvo only used the SX outdrive up to the 454 - 310 hp EFI and back carb apps. Anything with higher hp they Volvo went to a DP outdrive (duo Prop) including the 454 HO 385 hp NEVER used a SX drive. So in fairness to merc Volvo did not have the HP levels for a comparison of over 310 hp if I am correct about that those exact hp ratings. (310 hp) for stock OEM set ups

The gear ratio for the SX was 1.43 nothing lower in ratio than that. Again for the SX drive.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/bpo/5980916272.html

here are the pictures and tag tha is on thed drive now, again I'm not saying is the correct ratio for a V8, I'm saying this is what I bought

thanks guys

I understand all of that and I am telling everyone including the dude with the craigslist ad that a 1.66 gear ratio was NOT for a 3.0 GL because as for a 3.0 Volvo GL -- a 1.66 gear ratio was never used for those OEM stock apps. That info is crystal.

Anyways - The SX is an SX across the board except for gear ratio's and props being in the mix.

Good luck with it as IMO I posted all the info ever needed for this one plus Volvo from stock never matched up a SX drive with high hp levels.. .

currently, the 380 hp is the highest hp rating they match up a SX drive. The 430 is paired up with a DP not a SX outdrive. FYI again currently but its a newer version of the SX and 1 to 2 mph hydro dynamically faster than the older SX

Thanks BUP, what about the trim controls, do I gotta change all that? the boat came originally with the alpha one drive

shift cable for Volvo goes from control box thru the transom assem then to drive shift arm. Trim pump different, trim lines different as well. possible making fitting adaptors for inner trims lines could work for that end. Inner transom plate is different and so is steering actuator and those lines to the actuator. correct fitting adaptors if made or found would work.

If i remember correctly , the v6 ratio was what everyone was after when going for all out speed with non stock engines. Hypothetically , the increased tooth count brought more durability and torque miltiplication for agressive pitched speed props. When the sei merc units came out initially you could custom order your drive ratios and the 165s seemed to be the most durable with 300+ hp in front of it.
Your issue may be finding the majic prop for your set up ,especially if you wanted to go 4 blade.
Alot more slim pickens on the sx side of things.
Now if you could make a dp lower attach to your existing upper ,...