Marinette Boat Forum

I repowered a 32 sedan last year with crusaders. Went surprisingly easy. Used original trans mounts and crusader front engine mounts. The only issue we had was we had to notch the frame member under the front of each engine to clear the pulley and belt on the raw water pumps. Not a big deal though.

Be carefull with chrysler service manuals unless they are the latest edition. I have an original (around 1985ish) and there are more pages of updates and tsb than the original manual. There are at least 10 pages of tsb on the early cooling systems alone.

I assume when you say bellows, you are talking about the hose connecting the riser to the exhaust system. You can try to peel it off, but if it is more than a few years old it will be a waste of time. Just cut it off and buy new hose. Depending on how long it is, and who installed it last, it may ha...

If you want to save on plug wires, buy the wires for the later Crusader 454/502 engines with Delco EST ignition. They run under the manifolds and have 90 degree boots. The cap end is the same as HEI.

School bus heaters for under the rear seat. Self contained, 12v, caged fan and pretty inexpensive. I think the last one I bought was under $100 on ebay. Works great.
You have to be carefull where you plumb it in. I would have to see exactly which cooling system you have to give any suggestions.

If it didn't rattle before, but rattles now, I might suspect the bolts mounting it to the flywheel didn't get tightened. At least those can be checked through the timing hole.

I use my oil pump to remove the transmission fluid. I’ve read that the multipurpose ATF is the correct fluid as mentioned before. I put Dextron in mine a few years ago and haven’t noticed slippage. I will be changing it this spring to multipurpose as recommended. Dexron 3/Mercon is what they call m...

Has anyone replaced the stainless channel and cover that hides the wiring for the anchor light? Mine is in bad shape and I am looking at options. If I can't find a replacement I am looking at welding an aluminum tube or something up the front or backside.
Ideas?

In the last few years I have seen the internal diaphram fail on the oil pressure alarm switch and leak on alot of boats. One broke the plastic housing and pumped all the engine oil out. Cost him an engine. These have all been 1980's vintage Chrysler and Crusader engines.

In all the years I have been working on boats and equipment, there have only been a few "wonder" products that I don't condemn, and even fewer that I recomend. The recomended: Sea Foam (For gasoline ONLY) Stabil Marine (the blue stuff) Stanadyne diesel fuel treatment (this stuff is incredi...