Renault Motored I/O

[rayjay]

Anybody here ever work on any 4 cyl Renault powered I/O's? I think it was a Mercruiser since it was black. I saw it back in the mid 90's. It was in a bass boat from the early to mid 70's. These motors had an alloy block with separate, removable liners. The cam was very high in the block. They would have come in R12 cars in the states. I used to auto cross a tricked out LeCar and got to know Renault's pretty well.<br /><br />Did these motors hold up in the hi-load marine environment ? Just curious.

 

[kiwiguy]

Re: Renault Motored I/O

Hi, You have a Renault DROFIN Marine engine. They were made from the late sixtys through to about 1981. They made combustion and diesel models. I have a parts list and service manual if you want.

 

[rayjay]

Re: Renault Motored I/O

Kiwi, I don't have it, I just saw it many years ago and thought it was interesting. It seemed like Renault auto engines would get to around 100k miles and a piston skirt would break off. Did the marine motors have better pistons ? For awhile I was comtemplating a mid-engined LeCar with an R17 Gordini engine and transaxle. I even started collecting parts. The block was super light.

 

[kiwiguy]

Re: Renault Motored I/O

Rayjay,<br /><br />Our engine has done about 75000 nautical miles and the only thing I have replaced was the injectors. Grand little motors. They sound like a small tractor engine when running at crusing speed but hey..... fitted in a 50 year old boat just seems to make it all the better.

 

[Joe Heaton]

Re: Renault Motored I/O

Kiwiguy, Can I have more details on the Drofin engine,particularly the gearbox

 

[Bondo]

Re: Renault Motored I/O

I Think you guys are talking about Several Different engines........<br /><br />The 1 used by Mercruiser was in the Early 60s,+ only for a couple of years... <br />It was bolted to a drive known as the Model 0..........<br />That's the Pre-Prealpha........<br />I believe it produced a Whopping 60/80hp......<br />The 1s I've seen remind me of the Tractor motors they used to put in the old 50s Dauphines........<br /><br />Merc. came out with the GM 120hp a year or so later,+ the Renaults were Never seen again..........

 

[mkast]

Re: Renault Motored I/O

I have a 1963 Skeecraft. This boat was made in Intercourse, PA. It uses a Renault, 80 HP, single carb, Volvo drive, mahogany hull. <br />kiwiguy, what are the chances of getting a copy of your material?

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Renault Motored I/O

The Clymer Mercruiser 1964-1985 manual has a whole chapter on the Renault 60,80 and 90 gasoline engines with specs and rebuild procedures and lists the 60 from 1965-68, the 80 from 1966-69, and the 90 from 1970-72<br /><br />

Originally posted by mkast:<br />This boat was made in Intercourse, PA.

how have I made it through life without ever passing through there ... wonder if town council has ever proposed a twinning with Dildo, Newfoundland...