Restauration of 6 Volga 70

[Robert]

I have been driving Volgas since 2001, when i pulled the first one from Petersburg to Finland. Now I have 6 boats which will be restaureted during the next few years. One boat is with 6-cyl russian side valve engine, the other with v-8 gaz 53. Will come back later on with pictures.
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[sandflite]

Hi Robert,
Any news on your restoration?

[ollip]

Hi Mr Finland, I am also from finland,, and looking for a Volga for myself! Will you write a word and let's meet with your boats!! Olli Ola39@city.fi

[Georg Weinstabl]

Hi,

I am the new member in the group and own a Volga 70 from 1986 with a V-8 Gaz 53L providing 90 HP.
I allways prefer something I buy to be original, however as you all may know, not everything on our
volgas is made of gold and so I believe the engine is neither. What experiences are there with
V8 GAZ and is it worthwhile to restore it or better to buy a V6 TDI Volks, Ford or V8 Chevy that can
provide a less thirsty trip.

Would you strongly advise engine change ... or not?

Best regards,

[Robert]

Hi everybody,
Summer has gone fast an been very busy, but something has happened on my Volga restauration.
At the first I have 2 Volga 70, of 6, on water and one NEVKA which I sailed from Petersburg one mounth ago.
So now the hydrofoil fleet has grown to 7 vessels.

Nevka is bigger, 11m long with epoxy composite hull and aluminum vings. Engine is a diesel 17 litre !! V- 120 degree 6 cyl 235 hp.

The oldest Volga with 6 cyl engine is allmost ready for final assembly. Engine is put together and painted, hull is straited out and welded a little here and there.
Now painting the hull. New floors have been made, teak on light weight plywood. New red leather sides and panels.
Seats are modernized on original frame. New original instruments, gearbox, V-gear with shaft and propeller.
All cromed part have been cleaned and recromed. New glass window and much more...

During summer I had only two technical problems with Volgas, on total driving time of about 50 hours.
First problem came after 30 min driving, engine lost power. One cylinder had low compression.. might be a valve problem. I have not yet opened the engine because I changed it into an other new 8 cyl which I had on stock. I will see in winter time if I will repair it or not, engine is generally in bad condition... It is easier to by a complete new engine in russia.
The other problem was the steering wire.... it broke off in a critical situation.... but without any bigger hazards.

Just now making plans for a total renovation of the Nevka during next winter.... save original engine and drive line, but new control and instruments,interior and roof. There will also be a toilet and a small pentry.
Within 4 weeks I think all boats will be out of water... to wait for next season in even better condition.

If I would be Y Georg, I should keep the original engine in that boat. It is NOT thirsty.. I am driving at an average speed of about 26 knots with about 25 l / h. With 1 person or 6 persons... it does not make any difference. Engine has good enough performance and it is a light weight engine. And the sound of it... y cannot get that with others..?

[sandflite]

Hi there,

-If you're going to buy a brand new russian V8 for Volga, be aware there is no boat converted GAZ53 on stock (contemporary ZMZ-513 ~3000$ in Moscow)http://www.automotor.ru/ZMZ_513.htm.
It's wisely to find a used converted GAZ53(M8-ЧСПУ-100) and overhaul it (thanks russian parts are cheap )
-Nevka has an old military transporter engine (extremely rare thing nowadays, no parts at all) and very complicated transmission
A friend of mine rejected the restoration after a year of search

Good luck.

[Robert]

Hello sandflite,
Yes y are right about engine, there are no new marine engines GAZ 53 for sale, but the price is about 2000 usd at the cheapest dealer.
For that price I cannot overhaul an engine to like new, when taking in acount that this price include a complete engine with starter, carbutator etc... a running engine.
Any way without marine punps and heatexchangers. These components usually does not wear very much... so they last longer than the basic engine. Just to have valves grinded and done in a workshop cost 500-600 usd. So I think the price for complete engine is cheap, and the y have on stock spare parts from old engine if needed..

Nevka engine 3D20S2 – 235 hp 2200 rpm, is still produced by the company below, and it is possible to get spareparts for this type of engine.
The transmission is really funny, mine has an pneumatic controlled transmission, the older version.
For this boat I have one engine and transmission comlete as spare.

http://www.makos.ru/3d20-en.html

Best Regards

Flying Finn

[Georg Weinstabl]

Hi,

Thanks for your hints regarding the engine and their spares. It was really useful. Due to turkish customs complications, I however will purchase the spares rather than a new engine. It is also cheaper and my heart does not allow me to through away an engine just because it is needing some spares only.

Regarding your Nevka transmission and spare parts if needed. Should you really have problems reassembling it and are in need even to replace it, let me know! I may try to find you a brandnew ZF gearbox for replacement, if you let me know your reduction ratio. You may get it then via your local dealer.

The enclosed picture is for a V-drive suitable for Volga and you may use it with a gasoline or modern diesel in combination with a bell housing + bearing and a cardanshaft in remote location. This gearbox replaces the engine mounted gearbox and the V-drive gearbox (direction changer) and should make you half the weight of those components. The power factor (rating) is pleasure or light and it should be able to cover also the more powerful Nevka engine.

Please mind, that this gearbox has a hollow bored output gear, and the propeller shaft is being therefor led thru the gearbox and then mounted via a companion flange on the forward position. The companion flange is mounted the other way round. A very clever solution as you can place the gearbox deeper inside and access the bolts of the shaft flange from above, rather than fiddling like dentist under the gearbox in tight areas.

There is also a bigger V-drive gearbox available with other angle which might be more suitable. I'll enclose this one next time.

[Robert]

Hello,

If spares needed for different GAZ engines, I may have something on stock, or then get them from Russia rather fast.

Regarding Nevka, I do not belive ZF can offer any replacement for this from any standard series. See enclosed picture of drive.
It is a "High tec" russian design of a Z-drive. Engine, gear, pod all in one beautiful package. No noisy shafts in between.
But thanks any way, I have at the moment one engine and one gear as spares. I also had one complete pod, but it was stolen from a garage in russia last summer.

I will need one gear for the Volga with "western technic" which we are doing at the moment. It certainly will be a V-gear, so we can have one more big breasted on board. At the moment we do the wood work, deck out of teak and mahogany.
I was thinking of using Aquadrive shaft between motor and gear. Have not decided motor yet, but petrol and V-8 american.

About the Volga 275, i will show more pictures next week when I will take the cover off and take it in for more investigation.

BY the way, NO custom is so complicated than Ukrainan custom. It cost me a lot of money and time to get it out of Ukraina.


I just bought Soda Blasting equipment, have cleaned some aluminium boats and Nevka.This is the real thing for aluminium and composite.




br
Flying Finn

[Egil Kampf]

Hello Robert, hello everybody,

I am new in this forum.

you wrote that you still have an engine and a gearbox for a nevka in spare. Do you want to sell it? I am thinking about buying a nevka which has no engine anymore, but i like the idea putting the original one back in.

You also wrote that you sailed your nevka to finland. What are your experiences with the engine and the way driving this boat? Does it make sense to keep this kind of engine? How much is the average fuel consumption?
Are you willing to share some knowledge of your nevka restauration? What is the progress so far? I´m a bit afaid of the fiberglass work which seems to be a hole lot in my case.

I´m living on the island of Usedom/Germany, so we´re almost neighbours.
Hoping to hear from you,

Yours egil

[Georg Weinstabl]

Hi Egil,

I have no experience with Nevkas. The pod-drive solution is the best I suppose. The pod is probably the biggest value on the propulsion line. Diesels can be replaced without problem as long as they come with a proper marinized package. My favourite Diesel is the Alloy Steyr engine, which is powering Mercedes and Jeeps. Low rev and high torque. The only problem is that it is too expensive in Turkey.

Keep an eye on your pod. Anodes, oil changes and sealing are vital. Don't forget this is probably the most precious part in your Nevka and you will not find easily any replacement.

We are looking forward to see your photos in our site!!!!!!

[Georg Weinstabl]

Dear Rob,

Thanks to Egil your part of our site became revived again. We forgot about it. All our mails asking for more photos and news were in vain. Nothing came! You should drop from time-to-time something so we know you and your boats are alive.

[Georg Weinstabl]

I think, that besides me, there is somebody else who has burried himself in a never-ending story. As we do not get any news .. there are no news or they must be bad news. Maybe even very badddd news.

[Robert]

Hi Georg,
No so bbaddddd news here..... just been a hell of a lot of other work the last time. There were even NO Volgas on water here last year, even if there are several just to launch. This is unforgivable, yes I know it.

But something new has been done, a completly new Nevka. Only original, is the outside of hull and the drive line.
Enclosed some pictures.


BR
Robert

Original boat

New Nevka