Exhaust options. Full time thru hull?

[Chuckd91]

Im restoring a 1994 wellcraft excel 20sl with a volvo penta 4.3 and SX outdrive. The previous owner left the plug in and boat cover off so you know how that works out. After gutting and removing the gimbal, i found the y pipe connection is erroded away. The unit is low hours and in great shape other than this issue. They dont seem to be cheap to replace either. So my thoughts are plug the y pipe off in the gimbal bellows area and remove the y pipe completely. Then run thru hull exhaust to the port and starboard side or thru the rear. Dont want to cut a few big holes in my boat without plenty of info. Any thoughts?

 

[tpenfield]

Converting to thru-hull is not going to be cheap either. If you like noise go for it, otherwise get the new y-pipe.

 

[Bondo]

Then run thru hull exhaust to the port and starboard side or thru the rear. Dont want to cut a few big holes in my boat without plenty of info. Any thoughts?

Ayuh,...... I did just that 20 years ago when I put a 4.3l in my ole tin fishin' barge,......

'n I've spent the last 20 years tryin' to make it quieter,......

The 4.3l ain't a BBC, nor a SBC, 'n sounds more like a sick tractor, than a cool boat, when runnin' straight pipes,.....

I built everything myself,.... from my scrap pile,....
If yer gonna buy the stuff, a brand new y-pipe will probably be cheaper in both the short, 'n long runs,.....

 

[dennis461]

ebay?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Unless the 6 banger exhaust is combined into a single outlet, agree with Bondo, it will sound like carp.

Y pipes are inexpensive when you look on ebay

 

[Chuckd91]

Sadly the y pipe is fine.... its the gimbal shield that rotted away at the y pipe connection area where the o-ring goes. Doesnt seem cheap or easy to find.

 

[Chuckd91]

There is a pic of it in the first post of the thread. Im not sure if i can fix the one i have either. The rest of it seems to be in good shape

 

[tpenfield]

If that is the case, a block-off plate won’t be water tight either. So your thru-hull is probably not a solution.

 

[Bondo]

Im not sure if i can fix the one i have either.

Ayuh,..... That looks Bad,..... I'd be lookin' for a freshwater used transom housin',.....

 

[Chuckd91]

I was debating on capping the area on the outboard side where the bellow attaches. Should i sell the volvo parts ive got and go mercruiser since its all out or salvage what ive got? Seems like parts are hard to find for volvo

 

[Bondo]

Seems like parts are hard to find for volvo

Ayuh,..... Seem more expensive too,..... probably why I'm a Merc guy,.....

 

[Chuckd91]

Well im going to check out a few potential mercruiser setups to swap out. Let me guess, nothing is the same between volvo sx and alpha one? Lol

 

[Bondo]

Let me guess, nothing is the same between volvo sx and alpha one? Lol

Ayuh,.... All different except the hole through the hull,.....