What year did Chrysler cease production ?

[wolfie-uk]

as in title, what year did Chrysler cease production, and what was the most reliable engine they built / most sucessful model ?

 

[mariodg98]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

I am not expert, but I think 1984 was the last year that the engines were tagged chrysler.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

Yep! 84 was the last Chrysler BUT the white 85 and 86 Force engines were just Chrysler engines with different badging. Up until 89-90 the major changes were cosmetic--Different hoods and rear shrouds but that's it. After Merc bought them around 91-92, more changes were made but the block was almost exactly the same until they went out of production.

If treated well, almost all the Chrysler engines were reliable. The only exceptions were the ill fated, failure prone, Magna-Power II ignition engines and the newer 55, 60, 65 HP "big block" series engines. These large bore 2 cylinder engines were great, well designed engine blocks with gobs of power, but the lower units had small gears that tended to self destruct.

If you are thinking of buying an engine with Magna Power II ignition---DONT!
Do not confise it with regular Magna Power ignition though. Only some 120 and some 55, 60,65 engines were made with Magna power II and only for a couple of years.

 

[wolfie-uk]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

interesting stuff, you definately know no all there is to know i think Frank, when you say magnapower 2, do you mean the Prestolite system, or was that a different thing again ? only i have been given a 55 with prestolite ignition, the PO said he could not get it to fire and run, i removed the flywheel and found that the wheel was out by a mile due to the woodruff key having sheared, hoping i can just repair it and who knows, does anyone have a wiring diagram for this ignition system, as it is not in my manual which covers 35, 45, and 55's and i would not want to connect it and burn ut what could be a little bargain of an engine.

regards

Neal

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

Magna Power II looked like Prestolite but was a different operatuing system. It is not to be confused with the regular Magna Power which was a Motorola system with a large finned aluminum CD box and a distributor (on 3 and 4 cyl engines) There were many variations of ignitions priduced during various years and many were referred to as Magna Power. BUT: Magna Power II was always marked Magna Power II.

I am not 100% certain, but I believe that 2 cylinder Magna Power II engines had the coils mounted INSIDE an aluminum cover on the head; you won't see any wires or sparkplugs, everything is enclosed. Under the flywheel, the combination stator/module is black.

Parts for the prestolite system are easier to get but I just came across CDI (google it) and they have rebuilt magna Power II parts. So, they may be getting easier to find. In the past, you needed to be lucky enough to find a good module. The system was so poor and failed so often, that chrysler offered a retro fit kit to regular alternator ignition for engines with Magna Power II (under warranty, I believe)

If you know for a fact that your engine has the Prestolite system, replacing the key may just get it running again. If it is the "big bore" engine, You have one sweet running machine. That engine can easily be identified because it has two carbs and the thermostat is located on one side of the BOTTOM of the head.

It is a very strong running torquey engine with only one precaution: Do not under prop it. The lower unit gears are too small for the horsepower developed and if the engine is allowed to rev up at low speed (Hole Shot) with a small pitch prop, it may or will strip out the gear teeth. If acceleratred slowly top speed poses no problem and the gears are adequate.

 

[wolfie-uk]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

Once again Frank i am overwhelmed by your knowledge, it has two carbs with a plastic "air box" on, and under the cavitation plate is a outlet that from the side looks like a sacrificial anode shape that is found on most other engines, i am guessing it is the exhaust outlet, below is a couple of links to photos of it.


http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww203/wolfie-uk/rear2.jpg

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww203/wolfie-uk/rear3.jpg

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww203/wolfie-uk/side.jpg

I have searched all over and can not find the serial number, looks like the plate was under the carbs at some point but is missing now.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

Although it has an open hub prop on it, your engine is a single exhaust through the exhaust snout (first photo). While the splines and diameter may be correct, that is either an after-market or Mercury prop. The original prop had a closed hub and a black "Flare washer" held on by the nut. Then a nicely tapered tailcone completed the assembly. It was a very elegant looking gearcase torpedo, long and streamlined.

I can not pinpoint the exact year but it is a newer model since it has the one piece lower unit like the larger engines That puts it at about 1979-1983.

It is not an 84 because I have one and the decals are different.

You do not need to know the exact year because all parts were swappable between engines, horsepower sizes, and years. HOWEVER: If you go over to The Chrysler Crew (Questions) and describe your cover decals, Franz will almost certainly be able to tell you.

Contrary to usual Chrysler practice, the ID plate (if present) would be at the bottom of the starboard side of the block, right at the head and under the CD box.

Are you located in the UK as your name implies? If so, that would put you at about 3AM when the chat room tonight starts at 9PM eastern time USA. That would be a reach for you. Regular forum has no specific times, just like iboats.

 

[wolfie-uk]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

Frank, yep i am in the UK, would you be able to post a photo of what the prop should look like with the tailcone, also what prop size should i have fitted, as i would not want to strip any gears in the unit, i need to change the prop as half of one of the blades is missing,

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: What year did Chrysler cease production ?

This dang computer is giving me problems reducing photos to size the forum will accept. Send me your email address in a private message and I will forward photos of the stock prop to you.

With my 60 on a 14 foot hull, I used a 14 pitch prop for two weeks with no problems. I also used a 13 pitch prop for a week with no problems. As soon as I tried the 12 pitch prop, within a few seconds, the first hole shot, it stripped out the lower unit pinion and forward gear.

Because the 14 foot hull is so light, both the 13 and 14 pitch props delivered the same top speed--I don't remember the RPM. I never found out what the top speed would be on the 12 pitch prop because the gears stripped before the boat got on plane.