Where to find SB Chevy inboard?

[62 woodie]

I have been looking for a used small block Chevy inboard /1:1 velvet drive set up to repower my 62 Higgins. Ive been looking for months with no luck.. ,(ebay, internet classifieds, etc.)

I know this isnt a classified board , but does anyone have any info on where I can find one? ie, a salvage yard , neighbors garage, etc?

Its getting warmer and Im beginning to think Im gonna have to get the oars out! Thanks!

[ 04-20-2004, 01:04 AM: Message edited by: 62 woodie ]

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Do you have any running gear whatsoever? I have had good luck on ebay, and noticed some complete engines, altho I would hazard they need a rebuild most of the time. You're looking in the right places, altho I would make a phone search of all the older marinas in your area to see if they have something kicking around. A lot of wooden boats gets scrapped and the motors are shoved in a shed somewhere.

[Iceboy]

Try this place. http://www.usedboatsofdetroit.com/motors_parts.htm

[nedL]

The C.C. 185 (283 block) comes up on ebay fairly regularly. There is one there now, only it has the mechanical reverse gear (not what you are looking for) Engine on ebay

[62 woodie]

Thanks for the help! As for the Chris Craft motor on ebay,it is a "bobtail"( I actually found one just like that locally). Im trying to find a flywheel-aft set-up. (I think it'll fit under my engine cover better?).Any thoughts?

I do have a 350 marine motor only ,including bellhousing, that needs to be rebuilt ..thats no problem, Its that the velvet drive #70 I have in the boat wont take the extra horsepower from what I gather..... Do all velvet drives have the same bolt pattern / spline count? What about the coupler/damper? Maybe I can just find a #71 or 72 trans,.... are they directional-specific?
Also this motor had anti-freeze in it , it seems to have a regular water pump,along with a "raw water" pump just above the hull intake fitting? The motor was already out so, Im not sure what type of boat it came from.

Sorry for all the questions..this is all new to me! Thanks for all the help so far!

[nedL]

I'm curious how a flywheel-aft engine might fit under your engine cover better? The highest point on the engine will be the flame arrestor on top of the carb. A flywheel forward will allow you to move the engine slightly farther aft (and lower) in the boat which will reduct the overall height slightly. (Of course you do want to be careful about moving that much weight around (more than an inch or so) in a small boat as it will affect performance.)

[62 woodie]

nedL,
The motor width at the exhaust manifolds is around 28-29". My engine cover is about 26" wide at the top and tapers out to about 31" at the bottom. Maybe I should look a little closer , but the CC motor looks like a tight fit.
I didnt realize that a flywheel forward motor sets lower...is pan clearance ever a problem? I also need to find out what ratio the trans is on the CC.

Another question , do you know if a bobtail CC motor weighs much more than a flywheel aft set-up?

The boat is only a 17' and as you stated, Im concerned about relocating weight too much that it affects planing? This is all new to me.. I have rebuilt a lot of 60s cars and trucks, but this has me a little nervous! [img]redface.gif[/img]
Thanks for your input! Steve

[nedL]

Steve, that engine box width up top does sound like it might cause you some problems with the exhaust manifolds. (I forget, what engine are you replacing? If youare replacing a flat head six you will have difficulty finding anything that with fit that 'package size'.)
As for a flywheel forward engine (Like a C.C.) the pans are tapered on the bottom. If you had a flywheel forward engine installed as low as possible in a boat, and then tried to put a flywheel aft engine in the exact same location, the flywheel would have to swing through the bottom of the boat. - It does make a difference between the two!
Its usually pretty easy to what the reverse gear - gear ratio is (we call them transmissions on cars ). A straight reverse gear(like the one I pointed out on ebay) will be 1:1. If the reverse gear looks 'extended' with sort of a round extension off the back it then has a reduction gear.
I'm not sure what you mean by bobtail C.C. engine & weight (I do know what bobtail means though). The weights for a flywheel forward or aft engine should be pretty close to each other. (I think about 550 lbs for a C.C. 185 (283 block))Hope this helps, Ned.

[nedL]

This Chris Craft 185 (Chevy 283 block) has a direct drive (1:1) reverse gear.

[nedL]

This engine has a reduction gear behind the reverse gear.

[62 woodie]

nedL'
I am replacing a "graymarine 135". Its a small v8 , flywheel aft. The Chris Craft bobtail exhaust manifolds appear to be larger and set higher than the grays did.
Ive got a set of aluminumn exhaust manifolds for a Chevy sb.that are pretty small... so I think I can get them to clear the cover.

I also found out that what I thought was a 350 marine engine I had is actually a 307 .... So I was wondering if I can take a 350 4 bolt main truck motor and "marinize" it with the parts from the 307? I might have found a Velvet drive 1:1 of off a Chrysler v8 to put behind the Chevy.. I think the only thing i might need would be a Gm damper???

THANKS AGAIN for all the help!!! Steve

[Gresham CA]

I have a friend that works for Pleasurecraft Marine (they build marine engines) and I wil check with him about engines will fit in the space you have if you give me the dimensions.

[MG]

We're considering switching out the engine in our Jonesporter. I have no experience with engines so I don't know if mine would be a fit, but I'll mention it just in case. It's a 292 Chevy 6 cyl. & transmission.

Melissa
1930 31' Frost Jonesporter Restoration Album

[Bob Adams]

You can replace the 307 (or 283) with the 350 block. If you have a cast aluminum oil pan, you may have to do a little grinding for crankshaft clearance.