new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

[twentybelow]

Greetings. I just purchased a 1992 Chris Craft 18 foot boat. Engine is a 302 mercruiser transplant. Was running fine during testdrive but popped freeze plug. I am ready to pull engine but am wondering about where to hook up at. There are too eyelets bolted to the exhaust manifold but I am worried this will not support all the weight. Please advise. Full story of purchase below.

Engine was originally a 4 cylinder. Was not winterized correctly so previous owner put 302 in. It is very obviously a well used motor. When on testdrive, previous owner was yanking on shifter to get it into gear, boat would lurch forward when it finally caught. While on testdrive everything went well for awhile, thermostat was visibly kicking in, boat had good power, then everything started smoking and there was water spewing into engine compartment from motor. Motor still cranks, just need to find freeze plug. Took on ALOT of water in a short time. Anyway, I got a huge discount and a huge project. please advise.

 

[cr2k]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

You will have to pull the drive first. Put in forward (important) and pull 6 nuts on either side of the drive and yank it out. If it is an Alpha you will need to pull the speedo tube from the front of the drive (vertical) right behind the front nut holding the upper and lower together.

The eyes should hold fine. Easiest way to pull and reset is to just take out the lag bolts that fasten the mounts to the stringers. Make sure you get the washer/spacer/spring pack back in exactly the same order. (on the back of the bell housing mount to the transom plate.)

You will need an alignment tool to check/adjust alignment before you put the drive back on. Also spline grease.

If you are not too familiar with this procedure download the Manual from the sticky at the top of this forum.

 

[gadget73]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

If you have enough access, and the core plug is the only problem you should be able to replace those without pulling the motor, unless it happens to be the one right where the motor mount is, then you could probably get by with slinging the motor up and pulling the mount for access. 302's have 3 plugs on each side of the block, and one at the front and back of each head for a total of 10.

 

[meesh]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

Dont want to be a downer but I think you are going to have bigger problems than a core plug. Unfotunately, bet this one was frozen too.

 

[twentybelow]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

Dont want to be a downer but I think you are going to have bigger problems than a core plug. Unfotunately, bet this one was frozen too.

I really hope not, but then again I only paid 2K. It has a wakeboarding boom and the previous owner threw in skis, wakeboard, and lifejackets, motor has new edelbrock intake and carb. Also it has a trolling motor built into the main prop. It is exactly what I was looking for, besides the whole not running part. How much for a new 302.........what about a 351......right now I just need to concentrate on getting to know it a little better.

 

[meesh]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

Hope it works out for you, but core plugs rarely fall out. They get pushed out by expanding ice. Keep us posted.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

Now I`m curious
"Also it has a trolling motor built into the main prop. "

 

[twentybelow]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

Now I`m curious
"Also it has a trolling motor built into the main prop. "

Its not actually on the prop, i meant to say on the prop assembly. It is a 24 volt trolling motor mounted right there. There is a switch in the dash and it rotates in both directions.

 

[twentybelow]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

If you have enough access, and the core plug is the only problem you should be able to replace those without pulling the motor, unless it happens to be the one right where the motor mount is, then you could probably get by with slinging the motor up and pulling the mount for access. 302's have 3 plugs on each side of the block, and one at the front and back of each head for a total of 10.

I found the plug that fell out. It is the frontmost plug on the left side of motor. All three plugs had been replaced in the past it looks like because there is a bunch of visible JB weld and the plugs are shiny. One of the other two is even leaking a little. The right side of the motor looks to have all original plugs.

I have resigned myself to pulling motor though because ALOT of water was in the engine compartment after freeze plug fell out. I would like to replace oil pan gasket and really get those plugs in correctly, it looks like a real sloppy job. I am just trying to find some literature on pulling the drive the correct way so i don't duff anything up.

 

[proxyx]

Re: new lucky owner of 92 Chris Craft, where do I Hook up to pull engine?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1693398#post1693398

you'll find similar or exact manual