Any Volvo Penta whizzbang ECM experts in here ???
#11
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From: Delray Beach, FL
#12
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From: Dawsonville, GA
I know others have been able to get into them and reprogram, but that's on a "who you know" basis and I'm just a nobody in the boating industry.
I've already emailed numerous go-to names and they all say the same thing... "we cant program those"
There is a local guy here that says he can do it... but we haven't been able to connect yet... and I still have my doubts.
#13
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no one will post a video or say they can do it because everyone has gone underground its still there but not discussed on web sites or videos as the epa has folks reading and watching the web then go after them with a vengeance theres many videos of shops being raided by a swat team
#15
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From: Dawsonville, GA
no one will post a video or say they can do it because everyone has gone underground its still there but not discussed on web sites or videos as the epa has folks reading and watching the web then go after them with a vengeance theres many videos of shops being raided by a swat team
The whole locked-down ECM thing I think is complete crap... as I OWN the item in question and should be able to use and/or modify it however I choose... No different than changing jets in a carb or twisting the distributor... but I understand what you are saying. "Loose lips sink ships"
What doesnt make sense to me is why certain ECM's can be tuned, and others are verboten and cursed.
#16
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From: Dawsonville, GA
Reach out to John Mosetti (BUP) at Boats Unlimited - he's in the Houston area. He's really good with the factory ECM thing. Not sure about Volvo specific, but I know that he is able to repair the GM ECM at the board level. Worth a shot.
https://www.boatunlimited.com/
https://www.boatunlimited.com/
This EPA stuff is really a bunch of BS.
We have stuff like HP Tuners and a few others for modifying tunes on cars... yet NOTHING for marine use. Heck... even my 2020 Tundra can be tuned via HP tuners.
Looks like I will be stuck with running the factory VP GXi tune or going to some aftermarket engine management system unless my local guy can do something with it.
#19
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From: Dawsonville, GA
I think there are a re few proven weak points on these 8.1's that can be improved upon rather cheaply.
The HO cams are on ebay @ $300 so I grabbed one of those and a couple spares to hang on to. They are bigger than anything Comp Cams offers in marine cams.
I found the 8.1 GXi ECM and harness in one of the facebook groups. Saw a guy had a VP GXi engine he was repurposing for his truck... so I asked if the ECM and wiring were still around. Got it for $550 shipped to my door. May or may not need the harness... but it looks like the ECM is a close enough mfg year that it will plug right into my existing harness.
On a side note... I HAVE spoken to exactly two guys that are familiar with these newer VP ECM's and both tell me it can be tuned.
If I knew what software to buy, I would just do it myself. I really wish HP Tuners would dive into the marine industry.
The HO cams are on ebay @ $300 so I grabbed one of those and a couple spares to hang on to. They are bigger than anything Comp Cams offers in marine cams.
I found the 8.1 GXi ECM and harness in one of the facebook groups. Saw a guy had a VP GXi engine he was repurposing for his truck... so I asked if the ECM and wiring were still around. Got it for $550 shipped to my door. May or may not need the harness... but it looks like the ECM is a close enough mfg year that it will plug right into my existing harness.
On a side note... I HAVE spoken to exactly two guys that are familiar with these newer VP ECM's and both tell me it can be tuned.
If I knew what software to buy, I would just do it myself. I really wish HP Tuners would dive into the marine industry.




