From petrol to diesel

[Clasg]

Hi folk's
I consider to change my 5,0 L (190HP) engine in my 230 sundancer from 1994 to a diesel engine, next time it needs a major overhaul.

Can You tell me: is it possible to find a converting-list somewhere on the internet, so I can see which engines will fit into my existing mounting plates/holes.?
Can I re-use my alpha one gen2 sterndrive?
Is 150 HP diesel enough power to this boat?
(I will prefer at least 200 HP but a diesel has better torque)

 

[tmhudson2]

Check Cummins Mercruiser Diesel: http://www.cmdmarine.com/ . My guess from looking at their site is that they have several alternatives that might suit you, though I don't know their price structure. My guess is that Sea Ray will soon be offering more small diesels in their Dancers that are now only offered with gas outdrives. Take a look, and talk to them.

 

[ghuskin]

Check Cummins Mercruiser Diesel: http://www.cmdmarine.com/ . My guess from looking at their site is that they have several alternatives that might suit you, though I don't know their price structure. My guess is that Sea Ray will soon be offering more small diesels in their Dancers that are now only offered with gas outdrives. Take a look, and talk to them.

awesome link! They really need to start thinking about alternative power sources for the smaller cruisers/pleasure boats.

Heck, BMW makes some pretty impressive diesel powerplants that they race.

 

[Clasg]

I have been searching the net, and found a lot of diesels, but what I need to know, is which engines will fit in my little engine room in the existing front and rear engine mounts..

 

[fwebster]

Peninsular Engines marinizes several versions of the GM 6.5L diesel. They were available in full size General Motors trucks chassis that also contained 7.4 and 5.7L gasoline engines, so they should bolt up as far as bell housing and motor mounts are concerned. The problem may be that this is a low power/torque engine and it usually requires turbo chargers and aftercoolers to make the needed hp/torque for marine applications. Add those parts to marine heat exchangers and plumbing and you may end up with clearance problems on the sides and front of the engine.

These were not very popular engines among the truck crowd because of the lower torque, but they are very good long lasting motors if you take care of them and don't over load or over heat them. Select a higher hp in a Peninsular engine than you might in a Caterpillar or Cummins. I also think your Alpha drive is going to be marginal for the added diesel torque.

Here is the website for Peninsular:

http://www.peninsularengine.com/marine.html

and if you search Google for them you will come up with a forum for 6.5L marine engine owners that might give you better ideas than we can here.

 

[never monday]

Both Yanmar and Volvo Penta have excelent packages in the size range you are looking at.
Yanmars BY series is ideal for small V8 replacements. Volvos D3 also.
Both repower options will require some amount of modification to the engine beds. I wouldn't even think of running a diesel through an Alpha drive. Yanmar couples the Bravo X diesel drive in their packages and Volvo uses an SX drive built for the torque of the diesel.

 

[Clasg]

Thanks a lot for the answers.:smt038

I have also concluded that Alpha is no-go, when we talk diesel due to the "torque".

I will go looking for a suitable diesel package in the range 170-220 HP, so I know what to do as a winter-project :grin:.