Volvo DPX drive
 

Posted this here because of the similarities between a 24 Monza and 24 Pantera. What do you all think about putting a Volvo DPX duo prop drive behind a 650 hp motor on a 24? I hear these drives are very efficient, reliable and stable.

Dont know about the application, but I can definitely vouch for the DPX drives. I am running a pair behind a set of 560 PSHP Innovations and have had very good success. The DPXs are a little tricky around the dock though because they hook up so well. Put them in gear and things happen quick.

Keep in mind, limited prop selection though.

I wonder if they have the same limitations as a Bravo III. I think I read somewhere they hit a wall at a little over 60mph.

whats wrong with the new BIII XR ??? you can get decent starter props now...

Weird, since they have run close to or just over 100 mph with them here in Sweden!

volvo dpxs are awesome drives...merc should take lessons

i've spoken with a few people who had them 1 of which was on a 33 scarab AVS. his previos 33 AVS had bravos and he like the DPX's much much more

Had a Volvo duo prop. set up on my 251 Checkmate with a stock 502. Not one little hic-up. The only down fall is the prop selection and the price of props. The boat went right around 70mph. I might hurt resale because its not as popular as mercs.

I hadn't heard of any HP boats that were running dual prop setups.

My factory stock 33 with DPX HPs runs 92mph, so I guess I knocked that wall over:cool:

As far as the cost of props, I recently bought 2 sets of E-4s (4 props) for about the same price as a pair of labbed bravos. my personal opinion is that Volvo does a much better job in terms of quality on their props then Merc factory stock props.

Is Volvo making the DPX again?
You can not compare a Volvo DPX to a Merc BIII; Vary different animals.
I have a bud with a 275HP Volvo DP in/on a 18' Donzi. That boat runs great and tops out around 65mph.

No, unfortunately they're not making it again. And you're right you cannot compare it to a B3.

A friend has a U19 with a 275 running through a Duoprop that runs 68 mph with modified F9s.

They do not make the DPX anymore however the currently produced DPS is very similar. Definitely prettier. Improved in some ways and maybe not quite as strong in others. Still has the integral hyd. steering.

Arguably still better than a standard Merc Bravo. As with anything, it is going to depend on the HP in front of it, as well as the way you drive it.

The DPS does not have the external steering. However they make a DPR duoprop drive that is made for high speed Diesel applications with external steering!

I thought the DPX was thew hot setup for the single V bat boat racing class a few years back with stock speeds in the 70 - 80 range. What are the Bat boats using now?

I've been hearing nothing but good things about the drives.....didn't know anything about them. I am leaning towards putting it on the boat. Does anyone know whether the cut outs are similar on the transom? Would I be able to go back to a Bravo if it doesn't work out without having to fill in the transom?

I don't know about the cut-outs but I know Donzi used the same X as the Bravo.

Yes the Bat Boats did use the DPX. I don't know what they are using now.

The cutouts are not the same. The Volvos have a larger cutout area. There was, and I believe, still available aluminum adapter plates to go from Volvo to Merc drives. The other possibility might be to cheat the cutout to a size small enough to still accomadate a Bravo. It looks like on mine the cutout could be kept smaller without much consequence based on what I can see. Its tight with those twin 540s in there:cool-smiley-011: :cool-smiley-011:

My Donzi Classic has a Volvo 7.4gsi/DPX package. Strong out the hole, very good mid-range pull, and 72 mph wot...with hands-free "on rails" handling! E-4 props, zero problems, very sweet set-up.

How does the DPX compare to a Bravo 3 performance wise?

Performance with the DPX will be significantly better than a Bravo3. Several of the DPX models were built with performance applications in mind, not so of the B3s.

i beleive the bat boats are still using a Volvo Duo prop set-up..unsure which one...contact Chris Reindell of Reindell Powerboats

actually we are still using the DPX's in the Batboats (new old stock). Havent had a bit of trouble with them including a 28 with a 600HP inovation in it. Tough drive thats fore sure.



scarabman- I have tried to contact Volvo about the DPR and DPS drives and havent heard back from them yet. The R looks very similar to the X in pics but i dont know what they are dimension wise. Do you know what the differances are? or similarities are?

I would trade the Bravos off my Scarab in Heartbeat for a pair of DPX's

I was told, dont know for fact, that they are the same dimension wise as the DPX was. The DPR has the Xact hydraulic steering intergrated similiar to the DPX, the DPS does not. The DPR was also suppossedly built to handle high HP and torque because it was primarily intended to go behind diesel applications.

If you dont get any helpful info from Volvo, you maight try contacting Jamie at Lakeside Restorations who is on the board. He seems to have good knowledge of Volvo applications. He is a dealer for them as I recall.