454
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Engine Repair
Forum Discription: Engine problems and solutions
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42193
Printed Date: April-28-2024 at 6:01pm
Topic: 454
Posted By: connorssons
Subject: 454
Date Posted: December-01-2017 at 4:47pm
| looking for a 454 block or complete motor for my bfn project |
Replies:
Posted By: Mountain Man
Date Posted: December-13-2017 at 3:09pm
|
Noticed that your post didn't have any replies so I thought I would take a swing at it. I too have looked at converting a Fish Nautique to a 454. My research found that the PCM 454's were relatively rare in the quantities available on the used market; however, the Crusader 454 was plentiful (at least compared to the PCM) with complete engines and parts still being available on eBay. Word of caution - many of the Crusaders were used in salt water applications - I would try to find one that was either used in fresh water or that had a complete closed cooling system. Good Luck! Steve |
Posted By: shierh
Date Posted: December-27-2017 at 2:14pm
|
Crusaders are made for salt water. They are always heat exchange motors. I had a pair of them in my last boat. They are an industrial block with 4 bolt mains. Not automotive block like PCM or Mercruiser etc. Very buildable engines. They are slightly heavier engines with the heat exchangers and the block being slightly heavier etc. Basically PCM is lake engine and crusader is salt water engine, both made by same company. |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: December-27-2017 at 2:40pm
You should probably look at the Crusader website, you might find some engines that aren't saltwater engines  Unless you think that the engines they supply to Malibu, Axis, Supreme and Heyday are all salt water series. |
shierh wrote:Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: December-27-2017 at 5:00pm
 I feel you need some updating on Crusader engines. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: shierh
Date Posted: December-27-2017 at 5:12pm
|
Crusader and pcm are now owned by same company that owns correct craft. no idea what they have done to them. Like everything else I guess they bought a premium name and producing a lesser product. However in a prior life they were salt water and heavy use engines. They had cast aluminum oil pans and were heavier block engines with 4 bolt mains. All had heat exchangers on them. I recommend finding a model 350 which is a 454 350 hp made in the 80's. There a tone of take outs from larger boats that converted to diesel. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: December-27-2017 at 5:51pm
Steve, I feel you need to take another look at older Crusader engines. They, just like other marinizers were building marine engines off automotive blocks. Yes, fresh water cooling was available but an option. Here's a classic Cal Cadillac Crusader;  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Lakeview
Date Posted: December-28-2017 at 10:08am
|
Jeff-figure a guy like you would be opting for a "572" GM motor !! ------------- Lakeview 1992 Barefoot Nautique 1967 Barracuda SS 1967 Chris Craft Cavalier |
Posted By: shierh
Date Posted: December-28-2017 at 3:52pm
|
Cool engine, wonder how old it is. Turns out crusader was started by a guy who owned a Cadillac dealership and used Cadillac motors. 1950's. I am more familiar with Thermo-Electron/ Crusaders which were largely engines other than standard automotive. even the six bangers had 4 bolt mains. They were not the same as a mercruiser or other cheaper conversions. Bottom line is that the 1980's crusaders make great hot rod engines and are a great platform for rebuild for boat use. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: December-28-2017 at 7:49pm
1958 in a 1958 19' Streblow owned by Eric and Kathy Moberg. The Cal Caddy's were made FWF so the trans comes off the PTO weak end of the crank. Erik did manage to break one!  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: December-28-2017 at 8:12pm
Steve The link below is for a Crusader maintenance manual from the time period you're talking about. It's probably one of the best most complete manuals I've seen Lot's of good information in it. It talks about their cooling systems and also about main bearing caps, 2 areas you;re a little misinformed on. You really ought to read it, you might learn something about them I'd tell you what pages to refer to but..............it'll be more educational if you find the info yourself http://www.silvertonclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Crusader-Engines-Service-Manual.pdf" rel="nofollow - Crusader manual |
Posted By: shierh
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 11:24am
|
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasEngines.htm Pretty much have always agreed with Pasco. |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 11:44am
|
You can agree with him all you want, you should at least spell his name right though. You can also see in the manual that they built engines with 2 and 4 bolt mains and fresh water and raw water cooling and there was nothing extra special about most any of the parts used in and on them.. Your referenced 454's came with 2 bolt mains early on and 4 bolts later on. With their HP levels who really cares about 2 or 4 bolts? Nobody's disputing that they're good engines, just telling you that your statements aren't quite right and giving you the manual to verify things. |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 3:03pm
|
Will the serial number on a 454 tell whether it has 2 or 4 bolt mains? ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: shierh
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 3:14pm
|
63 Skier, I suspect they do but likely the data may be hard to find. I know the model 350 was a good block, I had a pair of them and these are the engines that Pascoe (sorry for leaving off the e) is talking about. The next series was a model 330 which may not have the 4 bolt. The model 350's are popular with hot rod guys because you can build them up. |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 9:28pm
Short answer is........... sometimes Longer answer, A casting number sometimes will tell you 2 bolt only 0r 4 bolt only but sometimes it simply tells you that it's either 2 or 4. For example casting number 14015445 tells you it's a 454 used between 1978 and 1990 and may be 2 bolts or 4 casting number 14015443 tells you it's 4 bolt 454 truck/motorhome engine used between 1987 and 1990 Anything after 1990 was the newer Gen 5 block and they were all 4 bolt mains used in trucks and in 1996 it turned into the Gen 6 with 4 bolt mains Most any good big block Chevy reference material has a chart. The info above came from "Max Performance Chevy Rat Motors" by the way
|
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 9:36pm
|
Honestly when was the last time you personally experienced a lower end failure in a skiboat. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 10:18pm
|
Like I said earlier, who really cares how many bolts ya got at these power levels
|
Posted By: Hollywood
Date Posted: December-29-2017 at 11:04pm
| Yea well hot rodders like them |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: December-30-2017 at 2:09am
Many times I've cut so hard it bent the prop and put too much stress on the crank, no 2 bolt 454 can stand up to my might.  Actually I was asking because I have a stock 454 in a jet boat and someday someday might look into adding power to it. The boat is a 1986, I'll have to get the engine numbers and see what I find. Mostly just curious, nothing is happening soon on this one. ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: December-30-2017 at 9:36am
| If you are going to build a new motor and don't have a block, makes sense to get a 4 bolt, but if you are rebuilding a motor you already have and it's a 2 bolt, it'll be fine unless you're going to have an extreme amount of hp. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: December-31-2017 at 1:04pm
Steve would like this 454 since it's equipped with fresh water cooling.
I do wonder what condition it's in considering that orange oil filter!! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: rosconole
Date Posted: December-31-2017 at 2:55pm
|
Probably blown up if its got an orange filter. ------------- 1989 ski nautique ,1991 barefoot nautique, 1993 Mustang Cobra 1998 5.0 Magazine shootout invitee |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: December-31-2017 at 3:27pm
Maybe it would hold together if it's a 4 bolt main block? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: connorssons
Date Posted: January-06-2018 at 11:51pm
| was just looking for a block, and yes it will not be stock. lol |