1985 Chrysler opinion

[carbineone]

I do not want people to get in a big argument over this but are the mid 80s Chryslers a good dependable engine or a piece of junk.I know the Force motors are a junk and maybe Chrysler had something to do with them so maybe the Chryslers are too...Considering a 55HP 1985 but want some advice on them.I like Johnson-Evinrude best but am considering this Chrysler as the others are eluding me...thanks

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

Chrysler became Force ~1984. Many of the parts are the same. From what I understand the engine blocks pretty much stayed the same until the end when Merc pulled the plug on Force.

I had a 1984 75HP Chrysler up until last year. It ran like a clock up until the day I sold it. I thought it was dependable. I towed some much more expensive rigs in with my old Chrysler. When ever I wanted to use my boat, the motor always fired up, with the exception of when the carbs had to be rebuilt. That was my fault because I did not treat the fuel before I put the boat away for the winter.

It was easy to work on. I'm an accountant and I was able to do all the major maintenance to it. Water pump change, fuel pump, carb rebuild, and a few other odds and ends.

However, it put out a fair amount of smoke, drank the gas, & some parts are no longer available.

If the motor you are looking at has good compression, and well maintained and the price is right, go for it.

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

Chrysler, Force, and USMarine built good stuff. Nothing fancy. A nice simplistic engine that ran and ran and ran ... and ran ... and then ran some more. IMO Mercury Force was junk. Half baked ideas and corner cutting all over the place led to self destructing motors. Mercury Force is more like a Franken-outboard than an actual machine.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

YUP! You're wrong on all counts. You are listening to the common and incorrect line of thinking. Chrysler engines were well built for their time, it's just that they were entry level priced engines and did not run as fast as the competiton--for everyday use--Race engines were competitive.

Force engines are the direct decendants of Chrysler and are not junk either. Many of the problems stem from the owner/operator. Just like the girl in high school who had the undeserved reputation, Force engines suffer from the stigma of bad press.

If you buy one, it will most likely run well and forever, assuming you do the preventive maintenance. However, most mechanics no longer want to work on them; if you are willing to do the work yourself, you will get an inexpensive (as opposed to cheap) engine that is easy to repair.

 

[carbineone]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

Yes I do all my own mechanical work on everything I own and am a Mechanic/Truck driver.I will more likely buy it as the price is good.I do not understand the relationship as to where Mercury comes in to all of this though? Thanks

 

[thompy]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

merc bought out force

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

The relationship is this: Back in the mid 1980s, Chrysler Corp. got into financial difficulties. As part of a federal Govt. bail-out--remember banks just recently?--Anyway, as part of the bail-out, Lee Iococca agreed to terms and Chrysler Corp. was forced to divest everything except automobile manufacturing. US Marine, a division of AMF Brunswick (want to bowl?) took over manufacturing the engines with no change at all except for decals and called them Force. Some time later, AMF conglomerate acquired Keikshafer Mercury and the engines were now made by Mercury. From 1990 on, Mercury Marine started making small changes but the block was kept basically the same.
Mercury dropped the Force line in the late 1990s for a number of reasons.

And that, my friend, is the story of life.

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

small changes??? like reed valves that crack, powerheads that burn up, and stators that come unglued? Perhaps the parts were small but the results were big. Chrysler, Force, and USMarine took some pride in their work. Mercury didn't care as long as it wasn't under warranty.

 

[carbineone]

Re: 1985 Chrysler opinion

Good info,AMF they made Harley Davidsons too.And you know how well they went over....Thanks everybody for the replies too....