gas (crusader) engine rebuilders in Fort Lauderdale area

[lake of the woods]

can anyone recommend a gas engine rebuilder (Crusader) in the Fort Lauderdale area?

They are 1989 vintage 454 CID carbureted engines.

I'm in FL for the winter and would like to visit a shop to see the process (if they will let me).

Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[dsharp]

I can't help you with rebuilders in your area. But, I would put new fuel pumps on the rebuilds. I ruined a new Mercruiser long block when the pump leaked fuel into the oil pan. That's what took out the original motor. You know what they say about hind sight. Are your engines fresh water cooled? Also, I wouldn't take a chance on the risers.

 

[Westfield 11]

I would look for a respected race engine shop in the area or even out of the area. Someone who can do everything in-house and builds a lot of engines a month. Look for a shop that has their own dyno to break in your engines and give you torque and hp data. You can have your motors built to any spec, but I would see how much more cu in and compression you can have and still run on 87 octane fuel. Also consider a conversion to fuel injection for power and economy advantages.

 

[Freeebird]

I think I would look into some later model RTO's that are fuel injected. May as well gain something during the process. Lots of guys pull stock engines and go with something more substantial in go fast boats, and I would think there would be plenty in Lauderdale.

 

[miboatnutz]

Might want to try these guys:

http://www.cylinderheaddepot.com/Contact_Us.html

Cylinder Head Depot - Fort Lauderdale. Full Automotive Machine Shop.

Appears they do marine work.

 

[lake of the woods]

thanks for all who replied.

dsharp: i did replace both mechanical fuel pumps shortly after purchasing the boat.

my engines both run well for being 30 years old and only having maintenance done on them. The boat is fresh water only since launch new in Toledo. not a sniff of rust anywhere including the exhaust manifolds.

They have averaged 30 hours a year (1500 hours total for each engine).

I am thinking ahead and investigating what to do when the time comes (maybe a long way off).

I use shell rotella T6 full synthetic for oil and high quality oil filters. oil is changes once per year (50 hours).

i'm jut real interested in seeing how they rebuild a gasser and is it worth changing to fuel injection.

Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[lake of the woods]

that should have been 50 hours per year on average.

Mark

 

[krush]

Why do you want to rebuild the engines? Are you having issues? Don't fix what isn't broken.


With that said, I would not rebuild old carburetor engines. I'd spend a little more and install new fuel injected power. Crusader is probably the best. Likely have fuel savings and much less maintenance.

 

[lake of the woods]

Hi Krush,
No, I don't have to rebuild my engines. At this time all is well. I plan to baby my engines with great preventative maintenance and close observation for the next 15 or so years. Then it will be my son or daughters problem. I was just interested in what should be done if my plan gets pooched by a blown engine. Would it make sense, if I ever blow my engine(s), to rebuild them and convert them to fuel injection? Or is it not worth converting 1989 Crusader 454 CID engines to fuel injection?

Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[krush]

The 454 is a stout engine and I doubt you will have an issue with them. Do your crusader engines have freshwater cooling with a heat exchanger? If yes, are the exhaust manifolds cooled by the antifreeze?

The only thing that really goes bad on 454's is the exhaust manifolds and risers rot away if they are seawater cooled.

Also, make sure to run oil with zinc for the flat tappet cams...though 1989 may have roller lifters. I just run diesel oil in my 454's.

 

[Bob Bradley]

If you do wind up rebuilding them, I'd recommend having them balanced. I found that made a tremendous difference when I did my old 327F and FA engines in my '65 Chris. I also went with high volume (not high pressure) oil pumps. Not sure if that had much effect or not, but I felt better about it.

 

[lake of the woods]

The 454 is a stout engine and I doubt you will have an issue with them. Do your crusader engines have freshwater cooling with a heat exchanger? If yes, are the exhaust manifolds cooled by the antifreeze?

The only thing that really goes bad on 454's is the exhaust manifolds and risers rot away if they are seawater cooled.

Also, make sure to run oil with zinc for the flat tappet cams...though 1989 may have roller lifters. I just run diesel oil in my 454's.

Hi Krush,

Yes my engines have FW cooling with heat exchanger and the closed loop is cooled with antifreeze. hey are original engines and transmissions and risers. Since i has never been in salt water there us no rust anywhere in he engine room or boat. the boat was only used about 4 months each year. As for oil, since I have had the boat (8 years) I have only used Shell Rotella T6. Does not burn any oil over a season.

Mark
Lake of he Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[miboatnutz]

With comprehensive maintenance and average use I would expect those engines at 1,500 hours to be at their half life or less. Plus all of the Crusader engines I'm familiar with have four bolt main blocks and truck heads. Very heavy duty. Most common failure I've seen on high time engines is low compression from ring wear or occasionally burned valves.