Issues with Chrysler 318 w/ Dana Drive....help?

StarSpun

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Jun 15, 2015
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Salutations:)

Hubby and I just bought a 1970 Searover Houseboat....it has the Chrysler 318 with Dana Drive. Other than that, I really don't have any information....just photos! I hope y'all can help us out!

It started with shifting issues....hubby said it all felt a bit wonky. Shortly after, it was very difficult to put into gear....reverse, forward, etc. Sometimes it would initiate, sometimes it wouldn't. Upon restarting one time, it wouldn't turn over, just clicked. Hubby went out to check and the wires to the starter were a bit corroded. He fiddled with the wires and it started up fine. Shifting problems still an issue.

We took it out to see what was up, just outside the marina, and all of a sudden a VERY loud metal on metal sound happened:
BANG BANG BANG BANG. Lasted about 5 minutes, regardless of the speed, and then suddenly resolved itself. It didn't happen again. I will stress again that it was VERY loud!

We get back to the marina and the shifting is even worse....THAT docking job was very interesting. No more reverse, just forward. Turned the engine off, and when we tried to restart, it was a no go. It does the dead click, no turning over. Thinking it's starter related but we have no idea what replacement starter to purchase....

I figure once we get a new starter, hubby will clean up the wiring and then we can move onto the next problem with an actual mechanic!

Questions!

1. By looking at the photos, can you tell what starter we need to get? We have no idea what model this is....
2. Does anyone know what that loud metal banging was? Why would it stop suddenly?
3. I am reading that shifting issues are common with these. Is it usually the cables or something else?

On a side note, we checked the oil and it almost looks like water got into it somehow. Hubby described it as watery chocolate milk looking. The oil in the can at the back looks fine (not sure where this feeds into) but when we took a look at the dipstick, it looked strange. The level is fine, however. Maybe this isn't even the oil and something else? Again, we have no idea about anything when it comes to engines....the only thing hubby knows how to do is replace a starter, so far;-) It's a learning process....

Thanks SO much in advance!

Link to pics:
(If the below links don't work for you, I've posted them a couple posts below)


https://www.facebook.com/starspun/me...1&l=f254372daf
 
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Bondo

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Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... I've got a houseboat with 2 of those motors, 'n drives,....

Yer pictures can't be seen, probably password protected,....
 

StarSpun

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Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... I've got a houseboat with 2 of those motors, 'n drives,....

Yer pictures can't be seen, probably password protected,....


Heya!

So strange, they are posted on public. The second link doesn't work but the first one should. I will try uploading to the site now instead....
 

StarSpun

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Here we go! Part 1
 

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StarSpun

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Part 2
 

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alldodge

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:welcome: to iboats

Sure sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I would start by removing the battery cables on both ends (Pos and Neg) and clean, sand and wire brush the connections. They need to be clean and tight.

fetch


fetch


fetch


Change the oil and filter along with the fuel filter. You have what I believe is a Crusader brand engine.
Do a compression test and if it is good, then do a complete tune up (Plugs, distributer cap, rotor, points and condenser, plug wires)

fetch


Look for a plate on the transmission, also check the fluid level. It looks a lot like a velvet drive
 

Bondo

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fetch

It started with shifting issues....hubby said it all felt a bit wonky. Shortly after, it was very difficult to put into gear....reverse, forward, etc. Sometimes it would initiate, sometimes it wouldn't.

Ayuh,.... As I mentioned on the other forum, that loose belt drives the hyd. pump that makes the clutch work,....

Probably the shiftin' issue,....
Upon restarting one time, it wouldn't turn over, just clicked. Hubby went out to check and the wires to the starter were a bit corroded. He fiddled with the wires and it started up fine.

That sounds like corroded wirin' connections in the startin' circuit,.....
Start at the battery posts, 'n Clean all the connections to Shiny metal Clean, reinstall, 'n grease 'em to keep 'em corrosion free,...
 
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