Re: '66 Chrysler 50HP worth fixing?
It is a nice engine and probably worth fixing. If it has compression, turns over, and starts, you are more than half way there.
Parts are still available--you can try
franzmarine@aol.com.
When you say you found water in the bottom--do you mean water inside the lower unit gearcase/ If so, Seals are standard and can be purchased at any bearing supply house. You just need to pull the ols ones in such a way as to preserve the numbers. A good bearing man will know the seal just by looking at it though. Since they have stainless parts, they are not cheap.
If you did find water in the gearcase, now is the time to disassemble it and clean the gears BEFORE they rust. BUT: if water only entered because of a loose fill or vent screw, then simply draining well and refilling with marine grade extreme pressire lube will suffice.
Lack of shifting could be any number of causes from mis-adjusted linkage to missing or worn parts.
However: As I said, If it starts and runs you are good. For a max of a couple of hundered, the seals, water pump impeller, fuel pump diaphragm, and lower unit oil can be changed and you will have a nice running engine.
Even if the lower unit were trashed, that engine is worth about 350 in running condition if also cosmetically good, so a used lower unit could be found for say, 150.
So I say: Go for it and have fun!
