Mercruiser to Volvo IO question

[bigeasy1]

I may have a chance to pick up a 3 year old 5.7 MPI Volvo Penta engine and outdrive for a 74 Tsunami that i'm restoring.My original plan was to install a new 300hp 5.7 MPI Mercruiser with a bravo drive,but i might be able to get the Volvo for something like $5,000,it has 150 hours on it.The new Mercruiser will run me in the neighborhood of $11,000 to $12,000 bucks,give or take.
The other advantage is the volvo is in a boat,with a decent trailer,so i may be able to use the gauges,steering etc,and be able to sell the trailer and boat,even for a give away price to make it even less costly.
Will the Volvo outdrive be a big problem covering up the old transom cutout,which was a early version mercruiser alpha.I'm redoing the transom from the inside,and am about halfway done.We're laying up a couple layers of 1708 to the inside of the of the outside skin,then marine ply,and new inside skin.
The dealer i spoke to said to leave the cutout on the outside of the transom,as he would use that as a guide to cut through the new ply for the outdrive.
For those of you that did transoms from the inside,did you also glass over the outside cutout?Wouldn't different drives require different size/shape cutouts?
Sorry for all the questions,but any info is appreciated.

Thanks J.R.

[nestorpr]

He will have to cut out a new hole for the Volvo as the Mercruiser uses a smaller and slightly different shape cutout. This should be no problem, when it's the other way around is when it gets tricky, you know, Volvo to Mercruiser. One advantage is that the new cutout will automatically eliminate any deteriorated wood around the old cutout. I would suggest you ensure that the person doing the job fiberglass the inside of the cutout, not just seal it with resin, I understand this is a more permanent solution and I've seen many old 1960's Bertrams that had this done at the factory whose transoms are still like new with no water intrusion.

[motorheadmarine]

I may be wrong on this ..but I believe the late model Volvo transom assemblies have the same basic cutout as merc ..Volvo and OMC held hands a few years ago on some outdrives...OMC cobras' dam sure go in same hole and I think the late (3 yr old)volvos do the same..they use the same u-joint boot...It's not like Volvo used to be ....BIG hole....just my weak input ....I'll check tomorrow and make sure I know what I think I know