Volvo Penta TMD31A exhaust elbow replacement

[george123]

I have a 1987 Volvo Penta TMD31A engine that I am replacing the elbow. The exhaust pressure regulator was remove several years ago because of problems. I have removed the elbow and it needs to be replaced because of a lot of rust and blockage. I have done some research on the Volvo Penta web site and have found two versions of this # 861289 for the 31A with the pressure plate and the #859963 for the 31B with no pressure plate. Both are very expensive $475 and $519. They are available from the Volvo Penta store. I was looking at HDI Marine and they have the model VG2 that they claim are direct replacements. The picture look like it is the same but I am a little concerned. The cost is only $346 big savings plus it is made of stainless and it does not have the pressure plate inside. I am not using the feature so it looks like it will work.

Anyone have experience with this company as well as the quality and is it a direct replacement.

Thanks
George

[Lepke]

I've used several of their elbows on Detroit Diesel. I'd be surprised if they ever fail. Like Volvo, a lot cheaper and better than the OEM one. The DD ones installed exactly as the originals. No problems, just wrench work.

[george123]

My only concern would be that we have two dissimilar metals mating the stainless surface mating to the turbo casting and the heat would cause different expansions. Maybe I am being overly concerned. We will be mating two flat surfaces with no gasket.

[DougR]

The coefficient of expansion of grey cast iron (turbo housing) and most stainless steel is very similar, so it's unlikely you will see any problems from different rates of expansion.

I can't speak to the quality of the elbow, but they certainly look good....

DougR

[george123]

Thanks Doug