76 southwind 19 transmission

I'm just getting started on putting my 1976 southwind together. Bought from a guy who tried to replace the 318 in it with a truck motor. I am going to pick up a running clockwise rotation complete 225 chrysler. It has a paragon 1:1 on it currently. I'm wondering if I should swap it out with the velvet drive I currently have in my boat or should I go the easy route and drop this whole thing in as is? I'm the son of an old truck mechanic so in my world if it isn't an allison product, borg warner is the next best. I'm new to this so let me know!!!

charger496 wrote: The least complicated route would be to repower it with a similar engine to what it had; a small block mopar. A slant 6 is a bulletproof.

David,
I feel Scott above is referring to the 318 but wasn't very clear. The 318 is 225 HP.

Scott,
Starting with a a "truck" block was a good choice. Hopefully he swapped all the marine components. Did he reverse the rotation as well? What's the matter with that engine build requiring you to look for another engine?

Yes, I'd use the Velvet drive.

How about some pictures! Welcome to CCfan.

Well, thanks for the feedback. To be a little more clear, the boat came with a 318 stock. The motor was not winterized. The guy I got it from tried to install a truck engine as a short block. He ditched the marine block! He then realized the motor turned the wrong way. So now I have a nice short block truck engine with marine heads,alternator, starter ect...
Instead of going through a complete rebuild to make the truck motor turn the right way I've found a nice running takeout of a repowered cabin cruiser from lake eerie,$600.It's an electronic ignition 318 clockwise rotation engine. It's almost the exact setup that came in the boat stock. It will basically be a drop in replacement. The big difference is that it has a paragon 1:1 transmission. I'm new to inboards and I had a feeling the velvet drive would be a better way to transmit power. Here is a pic of the new engine. I'll get some pics of the boat and the original correct craft trailer its setting on as soon as I get it out of storage. Hopefully I'll get the chrome skull off the throttle and the bad boy club stickers off the transom before I show it off. BTW any idea on where to get the stainless pins to the engine compartment hinges????

Scott,
Eric our trans expert. He at one time worked for Paragon and is now in the business of marine trans's so take his confirmation of using the Velvet seriously.

You are mistaken on the "truck" block being different than "marine" block.

I highly recommend you stick to a RR engine. Use all the RR components off the frozen block and do the conversion.

The block that came in the boat, went to the scrapyard a year before I picked up the boat. So it and all the internals, INCLUDING THE CAM! are probably part of a Toyota by now. SO FRUSTRATING! I've been posting on forums and picking the brains of a lot of old Chrysler guys. I know some of differences between the marine and automotive engines. The blocks are the same but obviously the cam and distributors(at least the cam gear) are different. Brass freeze plugs, and the biggest thing I don't want to deal with is the pistons have to be switched around to deal with the piston slap in the opposite direction. This engine I'm purchasing is a reverse rotation as well. I've checked the serial number with a Chrysler manual to confirm this. I appreciate all the feedback. I'm surely going to keep the velvet drive and try and sell the paragon. Thanks for all the help. You guys who have dealt with this before are keeping my fumbling around to a minimum.

From one Southwind guy to another - welcome!

Sounds like you have it all figured out - go with the reverse rotation and the Velvet drive and it will bolt right up.

Can't wait to see some picks of the hull!   Post em soon!

Dave

[ BTW any idea on where to get the stainless pins to the engine compartment hinges????]

Not quite sure what you are wanting but I got some for my 79 from Mcmaster-carr A great source I think Pete suggested it and They have everything and reasonable shipping also. Gook Luck on your project. Monty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwxN0DeQS7A

Here ya go

Did you change your screen name or did you buy your Southwind from 'surfnturf'?

Surfnturf's Southwind

I do think he's correct when he referred to it as a '72 though- a '76 would have had a few different details.

I checked that boat out in Plaistow, NH a few years ago. The lady selling it also had a '81 Ski Nautique that I ended up dragging home.

It is the same boat. Surfnturf is my father in law. He is the one running the backhoe in these pics. I'll have to investigate further the age of the boat. We're in the midst of changing the transmissions onto our new engine and have a lot of rust behind the flywheel on this new engine. Does this sound like a blown freeze plug? Or is it a case of the bilge being run full of water? The engine was from a chris craft and sat below deck.

politicallycorrect wrote: It is the same boat. Surfnturf is my father in law. He is the one running the backhoe in these pics. I'll have to investigate further the age of the boat. We're in the midst of changing the transmissions onto our new engine and have a lot of rust behind the flywheel on this new engine. Does this sound like a blown freeze plug? Or is it a case of the bilge being run full of water? The engine was from a chris craft and sat below deck.

Gotcha, that makes sense. Id say '72 is pretty close on the year- Id stick with that story until you get the chance to run the hull ID with the factory. Glad to see you making some progress- you guys are getting closer! Hopefully you lose all the skulls though, ha.

Rust in the bellhousing is normal- its not sealed from the bilge, really. Id clean it up as best you can and reassemble. Dont forget to install a new damper plate! Do a search on here- get the Sachs brand (its cheaper AND higher quality).

Welcome surfnturf and politicallycorrect. I am glad to see you guys saving an old Southwind. I have a '76, and really like it. I would be interested to see what year it turns out to be.

I know the predecessor to the Southwind was the Freeport. Same design, but maybe a few tweaks to the hull and deck. I have been trying to figure out when the Southwind made its official appearance in the CC lineup. According to the Reference section here on CCF, the first year that references the SW nameplate was '73. However, I suspect it may have been '71, or more than likely '72.

Anyway, great boat, and good luck with your engine. Now, I have to get back to getting mine ready for the water.

politicallycorrect wrote: I'm just getting started on putting my 1976 southwind together. Bought from a guy who tried to replace the 318 in it with a truck motor. I am going to pick up a running clockwise rotation complete 225 chrysler. It has a paragon 1:1 on it currently. I'm wondering if I should swap it out with the velvet drive I currently have in my boat or should I go the easy route and drop this whole thing in as is? I'm the son of an old truck mechanic so in my world if it isn't an allison product, borg warner is the next best. I'm new to this so let me know!!!

Welcome man. I am also new on that. I hope that you can put that southwind together with it. :D