Volvo d2-55 - any experience with this engine?

[Mike Holibar]

Hi all,

I am looking at replacing a Perkins Prima M50 diesel - a real shoehorn fit. The engine was purchased in 1987 and the boat launched in 1989 so it looks like the boat was built around the engine, a water tank each side of the engine. Any new engine has to be no bigger than the M50 and the Volvo D2-55 looks like it might fit. Has anyone any experience with these engines?

Thanks and best wishes,

 

[larryw]

I have a Perkins Prima 50, and a friend has a Volvo. IMHO, it would be a HUGE mistake to replace the Perkins with a Volvo. Rebuild what you have. Drops right back in. When you replace engines, there are always things that need to be refit, redone, replaced, etc.

 

[Ross]

In the early 90's Volvo bought Perkins small engine design line up. I would check the rebuilding feasibility versus replacement. I can't imagine that replacement will be less costly than rebuilding.

 

[tommays]

My friend had to rebuild the Volvo in his Tartan 372 and a new motor was the "better" way to go

BUT the Motor and systems that support it are IN the middle of the boat under the kitchen sink and NONE of the replacements lined up with ANYTHING which made the installed cost pretty OUT OF CONTROL and the rebuild a much better way IN THAT CASE

 

[Mike Holibar]

Thanks for the input. I have done quite a few repowers and this one, while a tight fit, is still fairly straight forward job. there is space ahead of, astern of and below the existing engine and plenty of alternatives for control and exhaust routes. The reasons I am leaning towards replacement are firstly that the 500 series is not widely regarded as one of Perkins best engines, and rebuilding it won't change that. Secondly my concerns extend beyond a basic mechanical rebuild, rings and bearings etc to include a transmission rebuild, re wiring and control panel replacement, fuel pump and injector overhaul, work on corrosion affected parts of the marinising componentry such as the heat exchanger and manifold, replacement of engine mounts. This engine is very expensive as regards parts so the cost of the overhaul wont be too far short of a replacement. Finally a replacement engine with similar rating will quite happily use existing exhaust and cooling systems, as opposed to an upgrade where these items often have to be increased in size. As a former manager of our local Perkins distributor I am reasonably familiar with the product but I have no experience of the Volvo engine. The only info I have are the ratings and dimensions which tell me it might fit but not if it is a good engine.

 

[Mike Holibar]

Ross,
the Perkins/Volvo relationship was more convoluted than you would think. The 100 series Perkins was sold to Volvo to be marketed as a small marine engine range. The 100 series was actually manufactured by Shibaura, a subsiduary of Yanmar I am told. Bit of a laugh eh? When I visted the Perkins factory about 1994 I saw Cat and Komatsu branded engines coming off the line along with Perkins version of the 1000 series engines. Now, of course, Cat own Perkins. It seems these days that engine manufacturers specialise in production of a small range in great numbers, which are subsequently branded and sold under those brands, hence Shibaura engines sold as Perkins and Volvo, and Perkins engines as Cat and Komatsu and probably a few others.
Cheers,