Changing from petrol to Diesel

[Zork]

Hi, All.
I have a ford 1600 petrol engine in my boat with a Volvo Penta outdrive is it a big job to change the engine for a diesel, will it bolt to the outdrive without altering it?
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[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Zork.

[tkeithlu]

It's a big job. Whether the new engine fits the existing transmission/drive is only the beginning. Everything is in the wrong place, through hulls, hoses, cables, electrical connection, exhaust, and a few I've forgotten. The new engine may not even fit in the space allowed.

There are considerable advantages to using diesel, starting with not hauling around explosives, as long as you are not concerned with the power to weight ratio. But even a diesel to diesel engine change can be a nightmare. If you boat is functioning well, I recommend that you use it as is, and save your desire for a diesel for your next purchase.

[jimbunyard]

Yes. No.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by jimbunyard

Yes. No.

You answered the questions.

[captlloyd]

You didn’t identify what kind of boat you have ? It may not be a difficult as some have suggested, you need to do some research as to what it will take to mate up the diesel to your outdrive. Driveshaft/coupling match up may eliminate engine propshaft issues, don’t know. In theory you can mate up about any engine to any transmission, a machine shop might be involved. Actually as I see your outdrive is a Volvo, they more than likely hook up some kind of diesel to it to begin with.

[Adelie]

Welcome.

I would suggest updating your profile with your general location and your boat make & model or “Looking” in the "Boat" category. This info shows up under your UserName in every post in the web view. Many questions are boat and/or location dependent and having these tidbits under your UserName saves answering those questions repeatedly. If you need help setting up your profile then click on this link: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3308797

I would happily help more if the link above is not enough.

[FPNC]

Many outdrives have low life expectancy when they are mated to a diesel engine with some decent HP and the torque that goes along with it. Diesel harmonics are hell on gears. Do you homework carefully. This may fall under, 'just cause you can doesn't mean you should'.

[Pete7]

I would have a chat with Lancing Marine, they have been doing this stuff for decades.

https://www.lancingmarine.com/

[Cadence]

I've had on outdrive only on a trailable go fast boat. I would not recommend what you are dreaming about. Even to replace the gas engine requires removing the out drive. As far as matching the diesel up to one is dreaming, to say nothing about the weight to HP ratio. JMHO

[kenbo]

Originally Posted by Pete7

I would have a chat with Lancing Marine, they have been doing this stuff for decades.

https://www.lancingmarine.com/

^^^ This

You weren't specific enough on the Ford 1600cc engine. If it is of the Ford 1600 Kent crossflow the answer could be fairly easy since that engine was converted to diesel in the UK by a company called Watermota. Stephenson Marine, also in the UK still supports the Watermota engines.

Lastly, in the US, Westerbeke sold that diesel engine as model L-25. I had a Luders 33 with the L-25, it was reliable. Don't believe that Westerbeke supports that engine currently.

As others have said, it can and has been done but it's more work than meets the eye if you've never done it before.

[Lepke]

The diesel will be heavier and won't have the top rpm the gas engine has. The diesel will also be nosier.
There are outdrives designed for diesels. They work better paired with the right engine.