"Hello-
New to the site, bu
"Hello-
New to the site, but have had a 1964 32' Roamer Riviera in the family since the late 1970s. It is powered by the original Chris Craft 327 F engines.
I need advice on engine overhaul or exchange. Specifically, I need the names/contact info for reliable and knowledgable shops that owners have had good experience with. I'd rather pay more and get it right the first time from a specialist, I've learned this lesson before with an airplane of the same age.
I took over the boat approximately 5 years ago from my father who kept it up himself as he had been an auto mechanic and auto service manager.
What I didn't know, when I took it over, was that my father had had problems with the starboard engine since he purchased it. The prior owner had had it overhauled by a local shop in a small town in Iowa. Major mistakes were made like crossed oil lines whcih my father discovered fortunately, but is a sign that other things like seals may have been put on backwards or for an engine that turns the opposite direction.
Since getting it, I have had significant oil requirements perhaps a quart being needed for an outing that might consist of only an hour ride at relatively low speeds, eg. 1800-2400 RPM.
It also was not making the power that it used to when I got it. This frankly has kept me from using it much. It would really go when I was a kid, I recall seeing 3600 RPM, though my dad would rarely let us go that fast.
The last few years I would see 2400 RPM for the first 5 minutes out after leaving the no wake area, then progressive inability to maintain power down to around 1800 RPM over the following 10 minutes . If I just rode five minutes and turned the engines off we'd still only get 1800 RPM, so figured it was the coils being affected by heat; replacing them didn't help.
Two weeks ago, a friend put electronic ingnition on it, new plugs, wires, and coils. The distributor caps and rotors are back-ordered. The starboard plugs were all oil soaked, though my dad says the compression was good when he last checked (many years ago).
Anyway, it is running much better now with the electronic ignition. I see 3200 RPM on the port engine and 3000 on the starboard, it idles great and at power feels much smoother. A prior problem of little additional thrust in the last 40% of the the starboard engines throttle throw is still present, though.
I'm satisifed with the speed and power I am getting now, particularly with the price of fuel these days. The problem is, with this new speed, I am losing oil at a great rate. Yesterday in just a 30-45 minute ride, perhaps 20-25 minutes at high power, I lost 3 quarts of oil from the starboard engine. The bilge is an oily mess that must be manually pumped out into gallon jugs for disposal. I lost 3 quarts on the 45 minute sea trial after putting on the electronic ignition two weeks before as well. On a 3 hour ide at 1500-1800 RPM a couple months ago, I used about 2 quarts.
I've previously tried the oil additives that are supposed to help with no benefit, so I assume I need an overhaul or exchange engine.
Thanks for shop recommendations.
My father (who's not from my area, Pickwick lake on the TN river between MS and TN and AL) says that because the 327 is so common and as there are a lot of boats around my area, someone locally should be able to do a fine job. What do you think, local or someone that's worked on this very engine regularly? I am concerned about using an auto engine overhauler.
Where can I actually get an exchange so I can be free of the current engines history?
My local marina recommended a few places when I asked 5 years ago:
Christian Remanufacturing
Grooms (Nashville)
Maryville Marine
Thanks. Sorry to ask, but I burned up 6 1/2 hours so far searching the net.
Justin Graff"
New to the site, bu
"Hello-
New to the site, but have had a 1964 32' Roamer Riviera in the family since the late 1970s. It is powered by the original Chris Craft 327 F engines.
I need advice on engine overhaul or exchange. Specifically, I need the names/contact info for reliable and knowledgable shops that owners have had good experience with. I'd rather pay more and get it right the first time from a specialist, I've learned this lesson before with an airplane of the same age.
I took over the boat approximately 5 years ago from my father who kept it up himself as he had been an auto mechanic and auto service manager.
What I didn't know, when I took it over, was that my father had had problems with the starboard engine since he purchased it. The prior owner had had it overhauled by a local shop in a small town in Iowa. Major mistakes were made like crossed oil lines whcih my father discovered fortunately, but is a sign that other things like seals may have been put on backwards or for an engine that turns the opposite direction.
Since getting it, I have had significant oil requirements perhaps a quart being needed for an outing that might consist of only an hour ride at relatively low speeds, eg. 1800-2400 RPM.
It also was not making the power that it used to when I got it. This frankly has kept me from using it much. It would really go when I was a kid, I recall seeing 3600 RPM, though my dad would rarely let us go that fast.
The last few years I would see 2400 RPM for the first 5 minutes out after leaving the no wake area, then progressive inability to maintain power down to around 1800 RPM over the following 10 minutes . If I just rode five minutes and turned the engines off we'd still only get 1800 RPM, so figured it was the coils being affected by heat; replacing them didn't help.
Two weeks ago, a friend put electronic ingnition on it, new plugs, wires, and coils. The distributor caps and rotors are back-ordered. The starboard plugs were all oil soaked, though my dad says the compression was good when he last checked (many years ago).
Anyway, it is running much better now with the electronic ignition. I see 3200 RPM on the port engine and 3000 on the starboard, it idles great and at power feels much smoother. A prior problem of little additional thrust in the last 40% of the the starboard engines throttle throw is still present, though.
I'm satisifed with the speed and power I am getting now, particularly with the price of fuel these days. The problem is, with this new speed, I am losing oil at a great rate. Yesterday in just a 30-45 minute ride, perhaps 20-25 minutes at high power, I lost 3 quarts of oil from the starboard engine. The bilge is an oily mess that must be manually pumped out into gallon jugs for disposal. I lost 3 quarts on the 45 minute sea trial after putting on the electronic ignition two weeks before as well. On a 3 hour ide at 1500-1800 RPM a couple months ago, I used about 2 quarts.
I've previously tried the oil additives that are supposed to help with no benefit, so I assume I need an overhaul or exchange engine.
Thanks for shop recommendations.
My father (who's not from my area, Pickwick lake on the TN river between MS and TN and AL) says that because the 327 is so common and as there are a lot of boats around my area, someone locally should be able to do a fine job. What do you think, local or someone that's worked on this very engine regularly? I am concerned about using an auto engine overhauler.
Where can I actually get an exchange so I can be free of the current engines history?
My local marina recommended a few places when I asked 5 years ago:
Christian Remanufacturing
Grooms (Nashville)
Maryville Marine
Thanks. Sorry to ask, but I burned up 6 1/2 hours so far searching the net.
Justin Graff"