Re: 350 Crusaders -- CCSSC - Chris Craft Sea Skiff Club

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Date Posted: 08:39:31 10/13/04 Wed
Author: Bill
Author Host/IP: c-24-2-204-65.client.comcast.net / 24.2.204.65
Subject: Re: 350 Crusaders
In reply to: Ben Goodwin 's message, "350 Crusaders" on 10:22:54 10/10/04 Sun

Well, if the previous owner said the engines were "350 Crusaders" then they are gas engines and not diesels. If they look like car engines and they have carburetors, they are not diesels. The difference between the 350 Crusader engine and the Chris Craft 327 or 283 that orginally powered your boat is first displacement (the 350 cubic inch engine is slightly larger internally and more is powerful than the originals) and the mounting of accessories (water pumps, exhaust manifolds, alternator, etc.) All of these engines are based on the Chevrolet Small Block V-8 car or truck engine.

Crusader is just one of the companies that buys these engines and makes them suitable for marine use by adding a marine water circulating pump, a sea water pump and various other marine parts.

I doubt that you will find much documentation for Crusader engines that old. However, if you have to replace a pump, for instance, remove it and get a part number. Most suppliers can cross reference it for you. If you need exhaust manifolds or risers (which you will, eventually) Osco or Barr can supply them. Just photograph or match the ones you have to what is on their on-line catalogs.

If you have 350 Crusaders, you actually have the most popular V-8 engine ever produced. Beginning in 1955, it was produced by GM in 283 cubic inch, and over the years it was enlarged to 327, 350 and 400 cubic inch displacements.

There are probably millions of them in service and hundreds of thousands in marine use. Virtually any supplier of parts will recognize it and be able to supply parts for it.

For an older engine, the fact that is was originally made my Crusader or any other manufacturer doesn't make much difference. As a starting point, you might want to charge the batteries and check the compression on each cylinder, noting the readings carefully. If the compression reading are fairly close to one another, install the spark plugs and start the engines (with the boat in the water, of course) and see what happens.

You'll soon see what does and what doesn't function. From there on in, you're the owner of an old wooden Chris Craft and will have to deal with all of the issues that come with that.

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Replies:

[> [> Re: 350 Crusaders -- Ben Goodwin, 12:54:36 10/13/04 Wed (ptd-24-25-182-203.maine.rr.com/24.25.182.203)

Thank you for the helpfull info Bill. There was much debate between my grandfather and I as to the type of engine (gas or deisel) it was...I have had them started and they sound like regular gas engines...and everything looks like a gas engine...they started fine and purr like lions. This boat is in WONDERFUL shape all is good and solid but the paint and a few minor spots of rot aroud the windows. I CAN'T wait to get it in the water. Is There anywhere to post pictures of this project???

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[> [> Re: 350 Crusaders -- ed, 10:18:01 01/13/10 Wed (pool-71-190-84-177.nycmny.east.verizon.net/71.190.84.177)

does anybody know what should be the compresion reading on the 350 engine thank

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