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Penta sx 3.0 gl vs 550hp 454????? Help!!

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Penta sx 3.0 gl vs 550hp 454????? Help!!

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Old 01-28-2017 | 05:17 PM
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Default Penta sx 3.0 gl vs 550hp 454????? Help!!

Hello guys, yesterday I went and got a Volvo penta sx 3.0gl , well the guy had it listed for as a penta sx , so when I got there I saw the big sticker 3.0gl on the back of the drive , didn't think much of it since I don't know much about this drives, now I been telling this man for over a week before I buy my intentions and that I have the healthy 454 and now when I look at the hp ratings is 135hp for the 3.0gl. Any way this drive live behind my 454? The main reason I got the penta is cause I read that they were some what stronger than the bravos, so go figure!
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Old 01-28-2017 | 05:44 PM
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It's going to have a 1.97 or 2.18:1 ratio as where a drive used on a 454 would be 1.43:1
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Old 01-28-2017 | 06:04 PM
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Id tag say 1.66 gears, prod no 3868077. Serial 4112002494 Thanks for the reply.
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Old 01-28-2017 | 07:26 PM
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all single propped Volvo's from 1994 to current are SX drives. 1994 thru 1998 were Volvo Cobra SX and mid 1998 to current they are Volvo SX drives. Gear ratio per engine hp is different thru out.

Just like Merc - Volvo moved gear ratio's a tad around so with this Volvo app what year model drive did you buy and what year model is your 454 ?

one example was lets say a 5.7 Merc some years merc had standard gear ratio's at 1.47 to 1 and other years they were / are 1.50 to 1. just a small example of were I am coming from

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Old 01-28-2017 | 07:48 PM
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your 550 hp is not a stock Volvo so gear ratio and props will needed to be played with anyways.

Also Volvo nor Merc never used a 1.66 gear ratio for a 3.0 / 135 hp as that is what a 3.0 GL Volvo is 135 hp.. whomever that drive came from, it was probably used on a 5,0 or a 4.3 Volvo penta and was clueless.
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Old 01-28-2017 | 08:19 PM
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[img]img_1197.png[/img]
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Old 01-28-2017 | 08:31 PM
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Id tag say 1.66 gears, prod no 3868077. Serial 4112002494 .

My question is, will this volvo penta sx 3.0 gl is as strong or stronger than a bravo1 outdive, my big block chevy is not stock, I just need to know if this outdrive will survive sometime behing my 454?? .Is going 22 feet cubby 1988 regal
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Old 01-28-2017 | 10:44 PM
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My question is not knowing what you have for transom assembly BECAUSE Volvo Penta did not use nor have a SX drive in 1988 so with that said what transom assembly do you have because if you have a 1993 and back years Volvo transom assembly then NO VOLVO SX drive will bolt up to the older Volvo transom assemblies nor will a Volvo bolt up to any Merc transom assemblies.
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Old 01-29-2017 | 12:23 AM
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Like I say before, I got the drive with gimbal and transom all complete with housing and bell housing from the same guy, I have checked the bell housing from the penta and it fit my mountain bolts of my 454
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Old 01-29-2017 | 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Pontiaco
Like I say before, I got the drive with gimbal and transom all complete with housing and bell housing from the same guy, I have checked the bell housing from the penta and it fit my mountain bolts of my 454
Ayuh,..... Then it'll bolt up,..... Still by far, the Wrong gear ratio,.....

The debate on whether the Volvo drive is Stronger than the Bravo, is still bein' debated,.....
The Volvo IS in fact Better/ Stronger than an Alpha,.... Bravo,..??..??..?? Debatable,....

I'd think it'd be easier to up-grade the Bravo, then swappin' all the necessary stuff to go with a Volvo,....
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