1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Glad you made it back safe and sound CJ.... sounds like it is going to be an interesting journey with this one... hmmm hopefully you will be able to get what you want from it!!

J.

I'm older than that, CJ. LOL

Did you get a good motor? And some good booty with it?

EDIT - I see you posted while I was posting. Wow - it looks like the guts are falling out of the lower unit.

Sure hope the lower is frozen and that's why the motor won't turn over.

Glad the trip went well, as GA said the L/U doesn't look so good but a nice looking trailer.

I did get a good trailer which I'll be selling pretty soon. I got a good shifter and marine alternator that I needed. The lower drive has been frozen and is probably junk, but the upper is probably OK. I also needed a rear engine flywheel cover... my other one has a crack down by the starter.

Now, the engine is another story...

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I was able to finally get the engine turned over. A bad battery and starter was the culprit. The numbers for the compression test came in really high around the 175 to 200 psi range. The gauge could be suspect or maybe because I had some marvel mystery oil sitting on top of the pistons.

I ran out of patience for the motor and propane for the heater.... I'll run that compression test again tomorrow and possibly try to get it running. I'm pretty confident that I have a runner here, but ya never know.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

another common reason for inordinately high comp readings is carbon buildup on the head and piston crowns....cuts down on the combustion chamber volume at TDC and thus effectively raises the compression ratio. nothing that will stop you using the motor; it should burn off once you getg it running or at most, hit it with some Seafoam or BG44. bottom line, if you have 175+psi, your rings and valve sealing are probably fine.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I agree B2. I hit the cylinders with sea foam yesterday before I pulled the engine. I hadn't considered the carbon buildup, but that makes some sense. Thanks.

I'm going for some new points and battery tomorrow... maybe you'll see a running video tomorrow night.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

The Seafoam or MMO could increase the ring sealing, too. The juice fills the ring to wall space, even though it's thin. I think you're going to have good comp numbers after she starts and warms up.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I agree B2. I hit the cylinders with sea foam yesterday before I pulled the engine. I hadn't considered the carbon buildup, but that makes some sense. Thanks.

I'm going for some new points and battery tomorrow... maybe you'll see a running video tomorrow night.

Looking forward to seeing it running man! Sea foam really is great stuff.... used it on my 90 and man... what a difference (as well as the lake neighbors I'm sure thought I'd started a forest fire!)

Glad you were able to get some good parts and trailer out of the deal!

J.

 

[wtbarrong]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

cj8mule - Hit me up if you need any parts for that motor - I have most everything including that fly wheel cover sitting in my storage and need to clear them out now that my restore is finished.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

cj8mule - Hit me up if you need any parts for that motor - I have most everything including that fly wheel cover sitting in my storage and need to clear them out now that my restore is finished.

I appreciate that wtbarrong! I believe between the 2 motors, I'll have what is needed now.




Standby fellows..... WE HAVE LIFE! Video coming soon.... :faint2:

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I now have a running engine... woo haw! Compression numbers came in around the 125 to 135 psi. I ordered a new points kit which should make this thing purr. The carburetor even seems to be working good.

Here's a youtube vid: 1977 165 HP Mercruiser - YouTube


Thanks for all the support guys. I was starting to sweat some bullets after shredding all that cheddar to pick up this donor heap. :joyous:

 

[barato2]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

yowsah! the turkey will be on the table and not the lump on the engine stand......

if it's not too much $, i might even throw caution to the winds and drop a carb kit in anyway. but that's great news after all the fun you've been through.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

:thumb: She sounds good, CJ. Glad the American gave it up for ya.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Well that is the sound of a happy man. Do you still plan on rebuilding the other engine??

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

yowsah! the turkey will be on the table and not the lump on the engine stand......

if it's not too much $, i might even throw caution to the winds and drop a carb kit in anyway. but that's great news after all the fun you've been through.

Yeah, I'll probably rebuild it B2. I was pleasantly surprised it ran so well considering how dirty the carb throat is.

:thumb: She sounds good, CJ. Glad the American gave it up for ya.

I tell ya GA... I needed a little break. I didn't say anything to the Admiral when I found out this motor was seized up also.

Well that is the sound of a happy man. Do you still plan on rebuilding the other engine??

That motor is still soaking in MMO. When I get a chance, it might get just a backyard rebuild and see how it goes. It'd be nice to salvage that one and recoup a little bit of $heddar.



I've been using spar varnish as a wood sealant but am considering epoxy this time. I know the epoxy is thicker than the spar and I used 1.5 gallons of spar on the 18' SS. Will the 2 gallon resin and 85 oz of hardner (3:1 medium) be enough for this 21' r?

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Nice stuff man! Glad to see she's up and running!!!!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Jim

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I bet you ran inside and told the Admiral you have a good motor.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

2.5 gal might do it but maybe not. i think i've used nearly 3 gal on my 18' holiner.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Nice stuff man! Glad to see she's up and running!!!!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Jim

Thanks Jim... Same to you.

I bet you ran inside and told the Admiral you have a good motor.

LOL. You got that right. Just as soon as she got home :laugh:

2.5 gal might do it but maybe not. i think i've used nearly 3 gal on my 18' holiner.

Thanks B2. That's what I needed to know.


Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Motor sounds real good, fixing tin boats would be real expensive if it was for old soggy Glassers.

Happy Thanks Giving.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Oh Heck yeah budro!!!! ol Merc 165 power.. roh roh rooh roh rohh..... <---- My best Tim Allen impression via iboats

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

She's a runner man, sweet!!!!:thumb:

 

[classiccat]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Yeah baby! Rumblin grumblin! Get some!!!

(edit: i was yelling but iboats corrected me)