Chevy 350 Help

[eats305sstock]

My friend is looking to buy a boat, it's an 84 and has a chevy 350 that was marinized by Volvo. Anyways it was looked over today by a mechanic who came up with the following problems:

105 psi on cylinder 5 150-155 on all others
Low compression, don't remember if it was just this one cylinder or for all of them

There were a few other smaller things, but these were the two major ones. What is the official stangnet opinion on what to do with this hunk of orange metal?

Sorry for the non-Ford post, I'd post this at a Chevy forum, but then the quality of responses I'd get would be so much less

 

[jesserose17]

If it doesn't burn oil and/or emit blue smoke, it's probably a good idea to do valve job especially if it hasn't been touched in 20 years.

 

[eats305sstock]

Also the mech. said that with the compression like it was he couldn't get a good vacuum reading but estimated 11in/lbs.

 

[jesserose17]

It can mean lots of things... like incorrect ignition timing, wrong idle mixture screw adjustment on carb, worn pistion rings (if it burns oil), intake manifold leaking, head gasket leaking, sticky valve guides and burned valve seats...

 

[2nd Mustang]

Being stranded on the side of a road is one thing, but being stranded in the ocean or a large lake is another.

 

[68_stanger]

Being a certified outboard tech and working on my fair share of inboards and inboard/outboards I would personally stay away from it. For the compression it could be several things my guess would be valves. You also said that it was a volvo, now volvo is still around making the volvo penta a good drive but this is an 84 the old school volvo. While there are worse drives out (electricshifts, stringers etc) The old volvo drives are becoming harder and harder to find parts for and less and less people are willing to work on them. I would personally look for a mercrusier engine/drive. But without seeing it and doing my own examination those are just my .02 take em for what there worth.

 

[eats305sstock]

I'm also leaning towards back away from it, but the engine was marinized by Volvo, it is a Chevy 350.

 

[68_stanger]

maybe I should clarify myself. Yes the engine will be a 350 chev, however the outdrive is all volvo, an old volvo. I'd be more worried about it breaking than the 350 that will allways have parts available.

 

[stackz]

maybe I should clarify myself. Yes the engine will be a 350 chev, however the outdrive is all volvo, an old volvo. I'd be more worried about it breaking than the 350 that will allways have parts available.

I hate inboard/outboards...hate...hate...hate...

our mercruiser is the biggest P.O.S. in the world. Always replacing the foot or this or that ugh..

 

[eats305sstock]

maybe I should clarify myself. Yes the engine will be a 350 chev, however the outdrive is all volvo, an old volvo. I'd be more worried about it breaking than the 350 that will allways have parts available.

OK thanks, I was a little confused by your last post.