AQ205A - swap to new EFI engine?

[loco]

Hi all,
I've got an AQ205A - it all works OK, but it's quite old and I'd like the extra power and efficiency of an EFI model.

I quite like the look and price of this model here: Brand New 4.3L V6 MPI - Repower Marine Ltd.

so, my engine is the 4.3L GM engine before the balancer shaft. The one above is the 4.3L with balancer and of course the EFI system.

I'm trying to find out what I can keep and what will need to be done. Things I've been thinking of:

Drive leg: can I use the engine bell from the current engine and mate the above to my DP290 which is in reasonable condition?
Instruments: will the RPM/temp/oil pressure instruments from the AQ205A connect to the new engine?
Throttle cable - will a carb cable fit an EFI engine?
Exhaust headers - think these will bolt right on
Coolant system: will the same raw water hoses fit? I'm thinking about getting a closed cooling system conversion kit for the new engine so it runs hotter and doesn't get fillet with seawater

Alternator/power steering pump/starter motor I'm assuming will bolt right on too.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: AQ205A - swap to new EFI engine?

Mercruiser V6 Engines - Repower Marine Ltd.

Thats amazing look at the price difference's its almost nothing...Am i missing something here????

http://repower-marine.com/catalog/product_compare/index/

You would still need another 1500 (american) for fuel pump's...ecm....wiring harness and programming. There is very little difference between FI and carbs when it come's to marine engine fuel economy....turn key starting and hot rodding is about the only difference.

 

[loco]

Re: AQ205A - swap to new EFI engine?

Mercruiser V6 Engines - Repower Marine Ltd.

Thats amazing look at the price difference's its almost nothing...Am i missing something here????

Products Comparison List - Volvo Penta Parts | Mercuiser Parts | Marine Engines - Repower Marine Ltd. - Repower Marine Ltd.

You would still need another 1500 (american) for fuel pump's...ecm....wiring harness and programming. There is very little difference between FI and carbs when it come's to marine engine fuel economy....turn key starting and hot rodding is about the only difference.

Thanks - that second link doens't seem to work. The price difference between what models?

The fuel injected engine has about 45HP more than the carb model (when it was new!) so would be a very welcome boost in power. Our boat just feels a little sluggish these days, struggling to get up onto a plane a bit, etc.

In terms of ECU - is there a stock model? I've been checking out the megasquirt system on a friends car which looks amazingly tuneable, but not sure if it would suit here. Say a stock engine is 225HP, can a remap offer power gains?

What about cables/alternator/etc?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: AQ205A - swap to new EFI engine?

Pirate4x4.Com - The largest off roading and 4x4 website in the world.

There is a link to marine efi the systems have been updated in boats today but its still essentially the same that link should give you some what of a understanding of how it works. Are you UK based? In the US there are strict standard's for marine tech and if you do not follow them you are subject to fines and loss of Insurance coverage..So the question is do you have rules that allow you to indulge in using aftermarket part's..Megasquirt as best i know is not approved...the whole conversation revolves around saftey and fire or spark surpession.

You seem to want to move to efi rather than doing a carbed engine...A 4 barrel carb will give you the same hp as efi and cost you thousand's less..maybe 15 hp and the same economy are you sure you want to do that. Call that place and ask if they include a distrubutor and a ecm..main body computer or what ever term they use for a controller.

Now if you want to tinker with marine efi here are some link's

Check Engine Light OBD2 OBDII scan tool OBD

Check Engine Light OBD2 OBDII scan tool OBD

Mefi burn is the only program that i am aware of that allow's one to tune a mefi ecu..Great stuff it use's open loop speed density That program is 600 but it's a diag tool also

Module/Harness, Kit MEFI 4 Ram Jet 350 12499116

There is a mefi 4 ecu harness and OS sensors so you can convert to closed loop

you will need a Delco EST distributor..coil etc the rest should bolt right up...Better wait for Don or Bondo on that front or others i have no ideal which vintage 4.3 that is.

Big project and a carb is by far a more simple task.

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ205A - swap to new EFI engine?

To be quite honest, if you don't have the ECM, wiring harness, and all the sensors for that engine, you are wasting your money. it will end up costing you more to piece it all together than it would be to go to your Volvo dealer and get a bobtail engine. They also have a service bulletin that explains what needs to be changed to convert the AQ engine to the newer MPI engines. I have done it a couple of times, but with a V8, not a V6. The exhaust is what becomes the biggest problem.

 

[loco]

Re: AQ205A - swap to new EFI engine?

To be quite honest, if you don't have the ECM, wiring harness, and all the sensors for that engine, you are wasting your money. it will end up costing you more to piece it all together than it would be to go to your Volvo dealer and get a bobtail engine. They also have a service bulletin that explains what needs to be changed to convert the AQ engine to the newer MPI engines. I have done it a couple of times, but with a V8, not a V6. The exhaust is what becomes the biggest problem.

Thanks for the responses. I'll speak to my local penta dealer, see what they can offer, but things are notoriously pricey over here and I'm fairly competent mechanically, so was hoping to save myself a pile of cash by doing the work myself.

Presumably the exhaust headers need to have fittings for lambda sensors, etc. Certainly looks like a good ~?1200 for the ancillaries and whatnot to get it plumbed in.

I'm assuming the bobtail engine wouldn't conenct to our DP290 drive leg, so that would be another expense. I think we can even squeeze a v8 into the engine bay, but I think that would present a whole load of other problems (weight, cables/hoses not fitting, etc).

I'll see what the local dealer suggests.