old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

[Ric26]

I am a first time boat owner and have aquired a boat and trailer for a debt owed. Dont know much about boats. This one doesnt run but I am confident in my mechanical ability, nieve as it may sound. It has been sitting in the weather unused for five years, not sure what it is worth. It is a 1976 century sabre 180 with a 318 chrysler engine. I wonder if it is the original engine.

There was a number on the enine block: 4006730-318-13

and on the valley cover: 050110 2846707

The transmission is a Velvet Drive m/n AS1-71C
s/n 109783

The starter is gone and some of the teeth are chewed off of the flywheel. Why did this happen? I need to know what starter and flywheel to go back with. I have seen some people use a garden hose to run through the engine while it is running. Is this good for the engine? How do I do that on this one? What are some good maintenance procedures to perform before I even try to start the engine? (Marvel mystery oil in cylinders a good idea?) There is some black tar leaking out of the black box in the pic of the electrical components. That cant be good. I know what the starter solenoid looks like, but what are these other components for? I noticed that the engine and transmission will only bolt up around the top of the bell housing, problem?


Thanks for reading my post and pointing me in the right direction!

Richard Jones

 

[proshadetree]

Re: old boat, wants to work

Re: old boat, wants to work

Looks like an ignition module and a regulator. Most marine flywheels are standard shift automotive. Is she locked up?

 

[Ric26]

Re: old boat, wants to work

Re: old boat, wants to work

I dont even know, havent tried to turn the engine. Guess I could get a socket and try to turn the crankshaft.

 

[Lou C]

Re: old boat, wants to work

Re: old boat, wants to work

Looks like it needs a starter, flywheel damage is often due to mis-alignment of the starter or loose starter bolts that let the starter bind and then release. I'd get rid of that plastic non-marine fuel filter.

 

[Ric26]

Re: old boat, wants to work

Re: old boat, wants to work

I dont even know, havent tried to turn the engine. Guess I could get a socket and try to turn the crankshaft.

I checked and was able to get the crankshaft to turn.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

How bad is that flywheel? Will it turn over if it had a starter? Change oil, fresh fuel to the pump, and mount starter and see if it will come to life. Worry about fixing the non-marine stuff after you hear it run. If the flywheel is to bad to do initial testing pull the motor and replace the flywheel and ground fire it.Make sure you have an engine before you get to far into this.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

The starter will be a different rotation when mounted from the rear. check your plug wires against a firing order chart to get the rotation. Do not use the numbers on the engine. If your engine is a standard turn you will need a reverse turn starter.

 

[sasto]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

I believe your ratation placard is located aft of the water pump and fore of the thermostat housing. The model # should start with LM318. Good Luck!

 

[wallerus]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

The first problem you have to solve is the starter. This can be a relatively expensive piece since you you must have the proper rear mount starter just to try to run the engine. My recommendations are as follows.

1. Since the engine will turn over by hand check out the transom and stringer to make sure they are solid. Check the steering to ensure it works. If so buy a starter and see if the flywheel will let you perform a compression test. It is my guess that since the starter is missing there was an issue with this. The flywheel is usually a standard trans automotive unit BUT, the ring gear is istalled on the outside of it for the rear mount starter.

2. If all is good the rest is pretty straight mechanics. If the compression is bad you should be able to sell enough of the parts to recoup your starter losses and make a liitle extra for your pocket.

Watering the engine is easy. The water pumps is on the port side with the small belt. The intake hose should lead to a scupper on the bottom of the boat. It should have a ball valve. If it doesn't, install one and a "Y" fitting in the hose with a piece to hook the garden hose to. Close the ball valve, turn on the water and "viola' you in business.

 

[cr2k]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

Hope the "debt" was not too much.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

2. If all is good the rest is pretty straight mechanics. If the compression is bad you should be able to sell enough of the parts to recoup your starter losses and make a liitle extra for your pocket.

Watering the engine is easy. The water pumps is on the port side with the small belt. The intake hose should lead to a scupper on the bottom of the boat. It should have a ball valve. If it doesn't, install one and a "Y" fitting in the hose with a piece to hook the garden hose to. Close the ball valve, turn on the water and "viola' you in business.

If the compression is bad, why not just rebuild it?

Fake a Lake is far easier than pulingl intake hoses.

http://www.alloymarine.com/index/fake_a_lake.htm

 

[Maxz695]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

First and formost PRAY then spray the outside electrical and moving parts with PB BLASTER a great rust inhibitor, also remove all the plugs and soak the cylender walls with PB Blaster turn the engine several turns to make sure rings are free when turning over for the first time leave out the plugs. Then let the cylinders work with the PB Blaster letting it shoot it all out this will not hurt your engine.Repalce with NEW spark plug soon after the first start. Fly wheel is a big issue, and even a bigger job on an IO. the enginehas to be removed. also inspect the boot on the gimble and make sure it isn,t dry rotted or cracked anywhere this will sink your ship.Get a cheap starter from eBay until you know this will run. you can always upgrade later the idea is to not spend tons of money getting this thing goin BOAT --->(Bring On Anther Thousand) You can buy the thing not sure what it,s called to clamp on the outdrive and hook the garden hose up to the outdrive if your going to run the engine for more than 1 minute. if you do you will tear up the impeller in the outdrive. Hope this is enought to get you started. PS use the chewed up flywheel for now if it get stuck simply turn the damper with your hands and until the teeth are good and continue from there good luck

 

[Tahorover]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

First and formost PRAY then spray the outside electrical and moving parts with PB BLASTER a great rust inhibitor, also remove all the plugs and soak the cylender walls with PB Blaster turn the engine several turns to make sure rings are free when turning over for the first time leave out the plugs. Then let the cylinders work with the PB Blaster letting it shoot it all out this will not hurt your engine.Repalce with NEW spark plug soon after the first start. Fly wheel is a big issue, and even a bigger job on an IO. the enginehas to be removed. also inspect the boot on the gimble and make sure it isn,t dry rotted or cracked anywhere this will sink your ship.Get a cheap starter from eBay until you know this will run. you can always upgrade later the idea is to not spend tons of money getting this thing goin BOAT --->(Bring On Anther Thousand) You can buy the thing not sure what it,s called to clamp on the outdrive and hook the garden hose up to the outdrive if your going to run the engine for more than 1 minute. if you do you will tear up the impeller in the outdrive. Hope this is enought to get you started. PS use the chewed up flywheel for now if it get stuck simply turn the damper with your hands and until the teeth are good and continue from there good luck

Dude it's an INBOARD! Not and I/O. drive train is Engine>Velvet drive> prop shaft>strut> propeller> rudder.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: old boat, wants to work, century, 318 chrysler

Old thread!