1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

[slvrwolf1]

I found a 1979 Crestliner AMF Cruiser for $600. and I jumped on it. I asked if it ran and was he said he just bought it himself and was going to repair the floor cause that was all that was wrong with it but wife didnt want it so he was getting rid of it. He said he had it cranking over tho and him being a frined I figured ok. The crack in the floor turns out to be whole floor is soft and stringers are rotten but transom is in great shape. I looked at it first and thought didnt look too bad, I paid for it and took it home and started digging. The hull is in great shape, seats are in great shape, motor doesnt turn so I dont understand what he meant by getting it to crank. It hasnt been cranked in about 10 years it looks like.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

I dont think I got a bad deal for the $600 but my wife isnt happy LOL. I have already been offered $1000 for the boat but I think I can restore this boat and have some fun times on it. I know I have some hard work ahead tho. It has mercruiser 165 in it.

I got the rusty alternator off, it turns but pulley was rusted and belt wouldnt come off of it.

Took starter off it was completly rusted and locked up.
I tried to put prybar on flywheel and get it to turn but it wouldnt and I didnt want to push hard and break a tooth or anything. The bolt on the front pully attatched to the Crankshaft is gone so I couldnt use that.

Will any cranckshaft bolt work out of a junkyard or do I have to get a specific bolt for it???

I took valve cover off and rocker arms and valves all seem to work and look great so problem is either piston rings froze or crank.

I am going to put some oil in the cylinders and let it soak and keep trying to free it.

This is not my first boat. I am also working on my 75 HP Evinrude putting a carb kit in. I am waiting on the kits to come in from I boats and working on this one. The Evinrude works great and I have had the Ensign boat that the Evinrude sits on for about 3 years. I changed prop on it and I didnt think I had prop pitch right (another thread) and tashas daddy said to rebuild carbs they sounded gummed up. I figured I neede something to do while I am waiting on the mail LOL.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

I had a very productive weekend. I removed the head off of the mercruiser and found the pistons didnt look too bad but were froze. I poured oil in the cylinders and let it set overnight. I went out Sunday Morning to look at it and had my daughters fiance' take a 2x4 and put on top of the pistons and tap it with a hammer while I kept pressure on the crankshaft. We got it to turn fairly easy. I am now waiting on parts to come in and money to build back up so I can start putting it back together. While I am waiting I am going to start tearing out the floor. I was just happy to see it turn and doesnt seem to be hurt.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

WHat kind of mercruiser 165? Is it an inline 4 cylinder with a really big head similar to a head on a 460 Ford engine???

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

It is a Mercruiser 165 inline 6 cylinder. I have a question aboutthe gaskets. I was checking for all my gaskets and if I go to a marine store the head gasket for an inline 6 is $36-$40 and if I go to an auto store the head gasket is $15.

Would either gasket work or do I need the more expensive gasket and why is it so much more expensive??

Also I was wandering about startes and alternators. Can I go to an auto junk yard and pick up these parts or do I have to get marine parts. Baiscally it comes down to a $10. starter or a $136. starter. I am just anxious to see this new to me boat run and can get it done faster if I am not waiting on funds to build back up.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

I got home last night psyched about getting started tearing out the floor and wife had other plans. Instead we went and visited friends we havent seen in a while. It was a nice visit but I didnt get home till about 10 pm and I really wanted to get started on floor.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

It is a Mercruiser 165 inline 6 cylinder. I have a question aboutthe gaskets. I was checking for all my gaskets and if I go to a marine store the head gasket for an inline 6 is $36-$40 and if I go to an auto store the head gasket is $15.

Would either gasket work or do I need the more expensive gasket and why is it so much more expensive??

Also I was wandering about startes and alternators. Can I go to an auto junk yard and pick up these parts or do I have to get marine parts. Baiscally it comes down to a $10. starter or a $136. starter. I am just anxious to see this new to me boat run and can get it done faster if I am not waiting on funds to build back up.

Ok..I thought I'd let somebody else jump in here but, well seems nobody has..
Silverwolf, Welcome to iboats first off!
Ya can NOT use an autoo starter NOR alternater on your boat..Must be marine rated which ='s spark prevention built into the internals of these items.
You can not have the chance of a spark igniting gasoline vapors under your engine cover...The only time I would even THINK of an auto starter was if the engine was OUT of the boat on a stand to do a test fire during a rebuild..
Same goes for carb..Must be marine as well..Auto carbs drain excess fuel down and out the engine compartment, Marine carbs drain any excess back to the motor so that you dont have a bilge full of gas..Thats where the marine starters and alt's come into play..Bilge full of gas, one spark..Ka-boom.

You can see if your items can be rebuilt by a local elect shop to marine specs..They sound pretty far gone though..

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

thanks for the info. Yeah they are pretty far gone. Starter is completley locked up and alternator turns but has a few catches in it while it is turning. I thought about putting alternator back on it and see if it is gonna charge first. This boat has been setting for about 10 years and engine was rusted alot. I have plenty of plywood from a previous transom I rebuilt so I guess I will be working on the floor till I get the money for good quality marine parts. I already have it apart and it is worth it to do it right the first time.

 

[system-f]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

I am curious to watch your progress on this. I just purchased a 1977 Glastron with the 165 straight 6 but mine seems to run ok for now. What condition is your outdrive in?

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

1977 Glastron sounds like a nice boat. This is the biggest boat I have owned and never had one with an inboard so I will probably have some questions on it. The outdrive looks in real good condition. I dont know much about them I ordered a book on it. After I got the motor to free up I was turning the crankshaft thinking the prop would turn but it didnt. I am kinda confused about it. I watched the shift cable move as someone shifted and it seemed to work and I noticed it moved linkages that went to a hydrolic pump so I have a question. Does this boat have hydrolic shift or something or am I in for more work. THe prop just free spins when I spin it by hand but when I turn the motor it doesnt turn prop.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

I was able to get back to the boat for a little while tonight. I started taking up the soggy drenched wood and digging out the old stringers. I can see now it will be a chore to get all that junk out.

Picture of the gas tank and all the rotten wood around it

I am going to cover the block up before I do anymore so I dont do anymore damage to it or get anything in it.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

inspect the oil first, if theres water in it the boat is toast due to the expense of repowering. I think you'll find the transom is shot before you're through.
If your wife isn't onboard with this boat then its a lost cause, my wife seems to think its great I'm out there tearing this old boat apart.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

inspect the oil first, if theres water in it the boat is toast due to the expense of repowering. I think you'll find the transom is shot before you're through.
If your wife isn't onboard with this boat then its a lost cause, my wife seems to think its great I'm out there tearing this old boat apart.

I checked oil and it looks like new oil, but someone could have just changed the oil to make it look good. I took the motor apart and it really looks good. There was rust on the wall of cylinder 1 and 6 but I turned the motor over and now the cylinders are as shiney as the rest. I was going to disassemble all the way and do a total rebuild but nothing really looks bad on it. The bearings all looked good and the connecting rods from the pistons dont have any play to them so now all I have to do to the engine is get it back together. There is no place around here that I can get parts tho so have to order everything. I was wandering about the transom cause it looks like there has been wood bees digging in it. It looks and feels solid tho. I bought this boat because I needed a project to keep me busy but now I am too excited about getting it going and wife is a little jealous I am spending more time with the boat LOL. I have been married for 20 years and she understands tho. She just likes to give me hell. She actually got in the boat with me yesterday and I asked her why she dont dig in with me and we can make it a project together. She didnt stay long LOL. I think she is more aggrevated about the fact I have 3 boats in my backyard.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

OK I have a question. A friend was over and saw the sterndrive when I had the steering turned and he said he saw there was a boot in there on the left side of it that is ripped. I didnt see what he was talking about but does anyone else know what he is talking about or what this boot is called on the sterndrive so I can order one.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

I finally got the head cleaned up and ready to go back on and some more of the floor ripped out.
I disassembled the carb, it is a 2 barrel Rochester. The throttle body was all rusted up could not even move throttle. I soaked it overnight in some carb cleaner and it is able to turn now but still a little stiff. Now I just have to wait for my gaskets to come in. It seems like this motor is hard to find stuff for. The marine shop didnt even have the gaskets. I had to go to an Auto store and they ordered the marine parts for me. I should have just stuck to ordering from Iboats. The only reason I didnt order from I boats is because I wanted to talk to someone face to face to make sure I was geting the right parts and that I had the right serial numbers.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

That was probably the bellows your friend found torn. There is something called a Transom seal kit you should invest in that comes with all the rubber parts and a bearing you will probably need to replace to make sure the drive won't leak when you finally drop it in the water. The forums on the drive will have more info on that kind of stuff.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

ok thanks. I will check on it. I dont see any problem with the transom. so I may not have to do anything there but I will keep checking to be sure. I am still teaaring out on the floor. I didnt think it would be so hard to get all this foam and wet soggy wood out seeing that it is so rotten. THat is what surprises me about the transom, floor and stringers mush and transom is solid. I think maybe the boat was left uncovered for years. The stringers are more solid as I get closer to the transom and there is bigger pieces of the floor comming out. The middle of the boat closer to the gas tank and all the way to the front is all mush. I cant do as much tonight to the boat cause I signed up for some overtime at work to pay for my new money pit

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

OK I got done with my overtime and then the rain hit but now I got back to the boat got most of floor out except close to sides where it is real hard to get at. I need a small grinder to get to it I only have a 7 inch. The stringer down the middle is all rotten but I have a question if someone can please answer thank you in advance. The stringer in the very bottom center of boat is wood wrapped in glass and up higher on the sides there is thick glass not like the stringers, it is more round but solid not in the shape of wood. There isnt anything in them just hard glass. My question is are these stringers as well and are they suppose to have any wood in them? Also they stop just short of the console not quite all the way to bow. If that is all there is to it then I just have the one stringer with wood in it I will have to replace.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: 1979 crestliner AMF Cruiser

Things like you are describing need to be seen,as in,where's the pics! If your stringers are rotted your transom will most likely need to be replaced as well. Do a search on core samples. Basically you take a 1/4" drill bit and drill into the transom wood in several places and inspect the shavings that come out. This is done from the inside making sure you don't go through the outer skin. The holes can be filled with 3m 5200. I would take the head in and have it worked over before I put it back on. The rust in the cylinder is probably from a head gasket leak but can also be from a warped head and could need to be planed flat.