Volga Hydrofoils Messageboard

Hi everyone,

I'm Vlatko from Montenegro and I'm a big fan of Volga 70 Hydrofoil.
I bought one Volga 70 last year from 1968 production year without
engine, transmission ,Clamps and dashboard.
Please if anyone have this parts send me on e-mail zrvanj123@gmail.com
offer because I want it to buy.

p.s. Engine must be an original GAZ V-8 53L.


REGARDS,

Vlatko Brnovic
Podgorica,Montenegro

Hi! I will talk to my friend, who wants to replace oryginal engine of his wolga for something new.

Hello Vlatko,

For the dashboard you can try looking for an old Gaz-21 car. That's where they took the early Volga 70 dashboards from. See this interior - that looks identical to the one in my 1964 Volga (Strela)

Welcome aboard from all the other Volga fans here!

Maurits

sashacreamer wrote:p.s. Engine must be an original GAZ V-8 53L.


REGARDS,

Vlatko Brnovic
Podgorica,Montenegro

The Volga 70 had a Volvo Penta MD 32 diesel and 280 sterndrive as original.
This model is not to confuse with the plain straight axle "Volga"
MD 32 was pretty much crap. Look for a AQAD 40 (PRO40) or newer.

//Coppertail

Dear Vladko,

You can buy a brandnew or overhauled GAZ53L engine in Russia for approx 2000 USD or even less. I still had no opportunity to try out the engine in the water, but was warned about it's thurst.

The biggest problem you may have will be the reduction gearbox and the v-drive gearbox, which you may not find at all. I do not know about any sources of it. If you can not find the Gearboxes you should take a ZF 63 IV. This modern gearbox is in aluminium and will save you weight.

You may read in the forum about several posts regarding engines and gearboxes.

regards,

Georg, which gearbox do you have on your boat, original or modern? I'm in two minds wether to change or not

I have the original Gaz 53L engine with original gearbox mounted with intermediate shaft, the original V-drive gears, propeller shaft and original propeller.

If your gearbox is broken and/or V-drive is missing, you should have difficulties to find original replacements (new or old). Besides this, the both weigh together 100 - 125 kgs. A new modern V-drive gearbox ZF or equivalent weighs half of that and will also safe valuable space for all kind of belongings. A modern aluminium alloy blocked diesel engine from Steyr or Volkswagen (approx. 170 HP) weighs 250 - 290 kgs, the GAZ 53L weighs 403 kgs.

Providing that boat weighs approx. 1700 kg, The original russian drivetrain is approx 1/3 of the boats weight. With a modern configuration you would indeed save up to 10% of the boats weight, which will also enhance boats overall performance. Also you may gain valuable safety andvantage of the diesel (vs. original gasoline) + fuel savings and a longer range of the boat (approx +50%).

The cost estimated for such Diesel + V-Drive configuration is 15 - 20.000 EUR. And was not considered by me due to the fact, that my drivetrain was existing and of course because of the cost. However the overhaul so the old equipment costed me atleast 5.000 - 6.000 EUR and valuable time. We also tried to find some 2nd hand diesels and gearboxes but were not successful. Most of these engines were cast-iron and were heavy, needed overhauling+marinizing and were also 30% of the new cost. It was not worth to invest in them!

That's why I'm asking... I'm thinking of renovating my boat and the most difficult question is wether to keep the original power unit or modernize it? To keep is to save money: a brand new GAZ-53 is 2000$ only, to marinize means just to reinstall the equipment from the old one; to get some parts is still not a problem in Russia; f..ck fuel efficiency (in Russia), but the other side is: to renovate the boat is to get leather, mahogony, polished parts, tick wood, special paints and bla....bla, so it really costs as well and what in the end: You've got a masterpiece with a piece of sh...t inside. The old engine is heavy, week, very noisy v-drive, technically outdated and very enreliable.
Another way is to get the used auto engine and marinize, but where to get the marine equipment for the exact model of the engine?
Another way is to buy an original marine engine... for 15-20 grants
P.S. what do you think about that http://www.deckmarstore.com/MSProductDe ... odID=32168
Let's discuss.
The second P.S. Nice work with your boat, so I sirprised that you haven't change the power plant.
Best regards.

Hi,
Tmiş powerplant i sag on a fair couple of years Ago. Looks fine to me. According what i remember it is a Mercedes rebuilt.