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power plant help (Read 8827 times)
nathan
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power plant help
Sep 8th, 2013 at 2:36pm
 
Hello guys I need some help/ideas.  as I start to think about the rebuild on my 1983 chaparral 235 xlc I started thinking of what power plant to put in it.  it originally would have came with a mercruiser 260 hp (chevy 350).  I was given the boat with no motor or outdrive.  I picked up a parts boat a few years ago with a mercruiser 888 (ford 302).  also we have another 302 that my dad picked up in a fairlane that has a decent build to it.  my original thought was to do a mild rebuild on the 888 to have a reliable power plant that would make a good cruiser. 

so what would be you all recommendation on a power plant.  I am not looking to make the boat the fastest on the water just a good boat that my family can enjoy. also the "max" HP for the boat is stated to be 260 HP and has an alpha drive.

should I

1. rebuild the Mercruiser 888 with just a mild rebuild with a four barrel carb.

2. used the ford 302 out of the fairlane that is supposed to be rebuilt to be a drag car engine.

3.  look for a mercusier 260 that may need some work.

4. look for a 454 big block. it may not fit and maybe to big for the boat.  I would also have to find a bravo drive.

thank you for your input.  I have to replace some of the floor on the boat before I can get the motor in it. so I have some time.  I wish I could just go buy I boat ready to go but there is no chance of that happening any time soon.  there is no money for that and it would take years to save up for that.
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
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97FASTech
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Re: power plant help
Reply #1 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 3:10pm
 
Option #1 with an alpha drive, maybe even just a two barrel carb, should give you longevity and reliability. Especially since you mentioned your family does not like fast boats.  Use the other 302 as parts if needed.  IMO  .02
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Jay Gadsby
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Re: power plant help
Reply #2 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 4:52pm
 
Nathan, I have a Rochester Quad off my old Pachanga engine if you want it. Let me know if you do, and if you are down my way you can have it.
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nathan
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Re: power plant help
Reply #3 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 4:57pm
 
Thanks Jay I will let you know next time I am down that way.  the only other carb I have is a holley 750 cfm double pumper.  it is not a marine version.  I may go next weekend to pick the chaparral up from my parents place and bring it back here to start on the floors.  if that happens I will make a detour either on the way down there or back.
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
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mobileMERCman
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Re: power plant help
Reply #4 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 7:03pm
 
I know of a complete 260 engine  in spicewood. I recall he wanted 900 for it. It came out of a boat that was junked. It ran when it came out and has been sitting for a number of years. He hasn't found anything to put it in. It has the log manifolds, a quadrajet. It looks like it is between a 78 and 82. He never mentioned having the transom or the drive

A 888 is 188 horsepower 302 and needs premium fuel.

I don't think a drag car engine would do well in a boat.

A big block would probably fit just fine. In 86 and 87 Merc offered a 454 magnum what at the time was a 330 on an Alpha. It would do just fine to put around.

The transom  assembly  will play a part in what you can choose engine wise. The early ones have a 5/8 intake hose. It will not support a BB.

Its been so long I would have to investigate when the number 1 drives became alpha drives. I think it was 85. I would suggest you find something from that year or newer.

I would think it would be cheaper to find a working boat then redo and piecing together what you have. I think a home run would be to find a complete package in a wrecked boat. No telling when or where though.
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Jim
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nathan
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Re: power plant help
Reply #5 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 7:21pm
 
Thank you Jim.  I got the 888 as a whole package in a junk cobalt.  I really have pushed my parents to let me sell this boat and find a complete one but they have it in their mind that they want this one redone.  they are paying half or more of the cost I just have to do the work.  I was hoping to up the power of the ford with cam and a few other mods.  in the end they just want a good cruiser.  I will see if they will put up the money on a motor but I had found one that a person was selling in a boat where I could hear it run for 500 dollars but I could not talk my dad into going to look at it. Huh
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
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nathan
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Re: power plant help
Reply #6 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 7:33pm
 
o and if I am remembering correctly the R/MR/Alpha Generation 1 cam out in 1983 and ran until 1990 then the Alpha Generation 2 came out in 1991.  we made sure to keep the gimbal from the other boat just incase! heck we kept everything!!
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
nathanb42  
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mobileMERCman
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Re: power plant help
Reply #7 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 7:55pm
 
I number one drive came out much earlier. An R drive basically looks the same. It was early 80's, an MR is the Alpha.

I number 1 and R have a pin on top of the driveshaft in the lower. A MR does not.

What year gimble - Transom assembly?
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Jim
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nathan
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Re: power plant help
Reply #8 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 8:05pm
 
I believe it is a 78.
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
nathanb42  
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JC
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Re: power plant help
Reply #9 - Sep 8th, 2013 at 10:44pm
 
Chaparral put 454's in the 235 XLCs. I'm pretty sure they had Alpha drives on them.  I wouldn't wanna go with less than 260 HP. It's a heavy boat. Mine took a looong time to plane with 6 adults and full fuel.
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nathan
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Re: power plant help
Reply #10 - Sep 9th, 2013 at 7:03am
 
in 83 the two options were the 305 chevy or the 350 chevy.  and the hp maxed out at 260hp.  I will say that if I redo the ford motor it will have more than the original hp and torque.  I would prefer to put a chevy in it 350 or 454 but it depends on money in the end.
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
nathanb42  
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nathan
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Re: power plant help
Reply #11 - Sep 9th, 2013 at 7:12am
 
jim you are correct the "generation one" came out in 83.  I believe the ones before that were considered pre-alpha.
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
nathanb42  
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mobileMERCman
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Re: power plant help
Reply #12 - Sep 9th, 2013 at 9:05am
 
0 (Sterndrive) 1965-1966
120/140 1967-1969
120/140 1970-1977
120/140 1978-1982
160 1967-1969
165 1970-1977
165 1978-1981
225-S 1974
228 1978-1982
233 1975-1977
250 1977
260 1978-1982
470 1976-1977
470 1978-1982
485 1980-1982
60 RENAULT 68 I/L4 1965-1968
80 RENAULT 80 I/L4 1966-1969
80 (Sterndrive) 1966-1969
888 1971-1977
898 1978-1982
898/228 1977
ALPHA ONE (GEN.II) 1991-1995
ALPHA ONE (GEN.II) 1996-1997
ALPHA ONE (GEN.II) 1998 AND UP
I 1963
IA/IB/IC 1964
IA/IB/IC (EZ-SHIFT) 1965-1966
R/MR/ALPHA ONE (Sterndrive) 1983-1990
R/MR/ALPHA ONE (Transom Assembly) 1983-1990

These are all number 1 drives. Some of them are alphas
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Jim
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mobileMERCman
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Re: power plant help
Reply #13 - Sep 9th, 2013 at 9:14am
 
even thought they appear in the same break down Alpha I { MR } did not come out in 83 it was a few years later.

I probably have the brochure somewhere.

Non issue as to when it appeared. The important thing to get from this is the MR, the one without the pin on the lower drive shaft, is the good one.
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Jim
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nathan
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Re: power plant help
Reply #14 - Sep 9th, 2013 at 12:15pm
 
Great information Jim!!!  I will keep my eyes out for the MR outdrive!
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My Happy place is on a boat at the lake with my kids!!

current boats:
1983 chaparral 235 XLC (restoration)
1977 playcraft p24 pontoon (parents own now I am the mechanic)
1975 skeeter hawk (on hold)
nathanb42  
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