I wonder if the alternator is adjustable in that picture. You need some way to take up the slack in the belt. In my case (350 mag), I just looked at the parts diagrams for a version that didn't have the engine mounted pump (hint alpha drives have the raw water pump in the lower unit), and copied that setup. Don't know if such an animal exists for the big blocks...
The idler on the port side above the PS pump adjust the tension
Belt will have no issue with the 3/4 wrap around the ALT
Yep. Here's a video of an older one. Some of the accessories and harnesses have changed, but basically the same as a more modern setup. Water pump/impeller astern. Would not be fun to change, but on the I/O boats, it's a breeze.Does Volvo also offer a vdrive version like merc does? This would put the pumps way in the back, and might be part of the reason merc kept the pump in the same location they always have.
Merc also packaged it with the special pump drain system and is in a great spot to get the hose from the bravo transom assembly. These are the two immediate things that pop out. I don't think their first requirement was to make a pump that was very expensive to replace, though I'm sure they didn't mind that. Every previous water pump was in the same post also. I do wish the stuck with the 7.4 style cheap easy to rebuild pump. Either way, I just went with the hardin marine.