Need Help Finding Information
 

My brother-in-law has a 34 or 35 Chris Craft (1976??). It is a big cabin cruiser with an aft cabin and a big salon. It has twin 350 CI inboards and one is very sick right now. No.. one is dead right now. The engines are mounted backwards with reference to the flywheels. (The flywheels are forward) What would normally be the fron of the engine is facing aft and has a transmission mounted to it. Anyway, we need to replace/rebuild the engines. Replace with something a little more powerful and economical would be preferred. Very limited to space down there. Does anyone know were I can get help with these? I'm in SE Michigan, but can I order engines that will bolt in? Probably need trannny's too since they are 30 years old.

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

no idea... never saw a set up like this before...

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

I have seen pictures of this set up . I woul try to use an updated smallblock chevy as all small blocks share the same diamentions so you could replace them with 400's or 383 chevys ( 350 block with 400 crank) more power same size and weight.

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

It's probably a 35 Catalina or Catalina double cabin.
Not a 34.

Sounds like you have V drives.
Otherwise the flywheels would be toward the stern on straight shafts.

Your city says "ira."
Is that anywhere near "Ida?"

I would pull the small blocks, take all of the manifolds and accesories off and buy a pair of long block SBC marine engines for about 2 grand for the pair. Put all of your goodies on the new (reman) long blocks.

Have the trannies checked and also the shafts/ shaft seals.

While you are at it... if it has a center mounted genset you will probably have to pull it. Check to make sure that it is good and also vented properly.
Those old gensets were plumbed before we knew what we now know about CO.

You said more powerful AND more economical....
It's a cruiser my friend. Economical means don't try to put hopped up blocks in a boat designed for 260mercs with shaft drives. The other option on that boat was 235 horse crusaders... that would be even slower.

The amount of fuel you would have to burn to see more MPHs with a displacement/semi-displacement cruiser is insane.
Replace what the boat was designed with and go have fun cruising.
That boat was designed to cruise at about 20.
If you want a speedboat I will be happy to sell you mine. :D

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

You need to find out if one of the motors are a reverse rotation motor or do they do the reverse rotation in the transmission. Doug Russel is a good source for small block chevys. They advertize in the back of Boating Mag.

Mark

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

Great point Mark.

From what I have heard so far... probably 1 standard and one counter rotating. The props will tell it all. :D

And while I am posting... I hope that it didn't sound like I was anti cruiser. I love cruisers. I grew up around old Chris Crafts.
I was trying to help.
I have a Chris Craft slow-fast. :D

God luck with the project.

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

Thanks for the feedback. I will pass the info on to my brother-in law. Not really lookin to speed the boat up. Just seemed like cruising speed could be made a little mor economical with a little more power. Seems like a lot of boat for twin 350's. Yes you are right, it is a 35' boat. One engine is definately counter rotating.

Thanks again

By the way... Ira is between Fairhaven and New Baltimore. Nobody knows where Ira is, that's probably why I use it. We are located on the very farthest North waters on Lake St Clair in Anchor Bay. (the best spot on this lake)

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

does it look like this?

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

Hey Chewy...

I would be very interested in how this project goes.
Keep us in the loop?

Re: Need Help Finding Information
 

I have never seen the engines on this boat. I will try to get some pictures and post them. I am kind of curious anyway to see this this set up myself. I'll let you know what he ends up doing.

Mike