1986 454 Crusaders, Synthetic?

[Phishin]

Yeah, everyone just about uses GM blocks. But I think Crusader does a better job at "marinizing" a GM engine than does Mercruiser. They seem to always hold up better, be higher quality. Have a higher value in a boat.

No one here on the Great Lakes would choose Mercruiser 350 or 454 engine over a Crusader of the same displacement.

In freshwater, our engines last forever if maintained. Boats with inboards from 17' to 60' from as early as 1950 still have their original risers and manifolds.

Outdrives are another thing. I know nothing about them. Period. To me, you either have an Inboard or an Outboard. Not an I/O

 

[hattaresguy]

Do your Crusaders have cast aluminum or tin pans? Another thing that rots out in salt water. Chris Craft always replaced the stock tin pans with aluminum so they wouldn't rot out after a few years.

You freshwater guys have it easy, stuff lasts forever!

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Do your Crusaders have cast aluminum or tin pans? Another thing that rots out in salt water. Chris Craft always replaced the stock tin pans with aluminum so they wouldn't rot out after a few years.

You freshwater guys have it easy, stuff lasts forever!


Aluminum pans in the Tiara.

Yeah....fresh water is so much easier than salt. After being spoiled up here, I'd have a hard time ever buying a salt water boat....or being a salt water boater.