Ford diesels how reliable today when fitted in the 60s

justdrifting

justdrifting

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Im presently looking for a "new" boat the ones ive found so far have been rejected by swambo because of limited space such as a dragon as a liveaboard or an old fishing boat for lack of head room

Now weve found an old 26 foot cris craft built in the 60s its fitted with a pair of 120hp fords at least thats what were told.
they do start they do smoke ! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Im going to look at a few other options but so far price location condition??(if we are interested ill haul her) is promising

My question is very general for now Are fords good reliable engines? Are spares easly available even for older models?

Thanks;cant wait to be back in the med backed on to a town key glass of local wine in hand bar b que in action the water crystal clear as it is in winter! and the sun walming the dew off the decks /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
I have two fords (D Type) that smoke too...give a modest amount of trouble...but I can put it right myself...had the heads off reseated all the valves...new head gaskets...all in Cherebourg marina....heaven knows what that would cost for a boat yard to do....and i work in IT

They are very reliable engines that will take all types of abuse...spares a re still available...nearly everywhere...and advice is everywhere...not the fastest...but so reliable....

Two big 6 cylinders like yours should be the mutts nuts...marinised truck engines i believe...they do sound nice....and are very economical....thats a lot of power for a 26 ft boat so i'm guessing its a planing hull

If you need a manual...let me know

Steve
 
We found it its not in the best of condition hasent been used were told for about 4 years, I wanted to see if the engins WOULD start which they did and still had the batteries in place used to move it which it seems they did without a tow

Sounds very promising and ideal for the med?
 
No problem, cheap spares and easy to service/repair if needed. If they started after a four year lay-up they can't be too bad and the smoke may clear after a blast out of the harbour. I'd rather have an old Ford than a new Volvo!
 
Thats great just my thoughts haveing had three volvo engines all expensive parts wise

I was told they had started her to move her may have been quite some work
 
Our Sabre's 180 hp, are ford based, but much younger than yours 1973, they smoke at start up, but once under load they are fine, easy maintenance, cheap spares (lorry parts), and reliable, it's the marinising equipment that wears out first, but if they are Sabre or Mermaid you should have no trouble, but we do upset a few folk when we start them, therefore we are ready to go as soon as they fire.
 
you may find they make less smoke:
- when they are hot
- if you have the injectors serviced
- if you have the injector pump serviced at some time
I think these engines are pretty indestructible. Marinising parts/spares from Lancing Marine.
 
On the subject of injectors a friend of mine has striped his engine for a total refit pistons liners crank bearings but hasent intended to replace the injectors

Hes taken them apart and managed to break the last millimeter if bit that pokes out of the injector nozel /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I said it could cause the cylinder to burn? Anyone any idea what will happen?
 
OK........

The Ford engine I assume you are looking at are the Dover Dorset type which are 6ltr or there abouts.

They were a favored engine by many boat builders due to there reliability, they were in production for approx 25years and used for everything from boats to generators and came in several disguises. You will find them marinised by Lehman, Sabre and many others.

If they start they must be in fairly good condition but will after this length of time require some general maintenance.

Smoking when cold is one of the traits of this engine, it should once fully heated greatly reduce, that said this will depend on the condition of the injectors (approx£200) to refurbish. These engines don't have the advantage of modern fuel injection systems and therefore will smoke and leave a film on the water from unburned fuel whilst cold.......... that on it's own is nothing to worry about.

I run one of the naturally aspirated ones in a 32' displacement cruiser and it burns approx 1 1/2 or 2 galls at WOT galls per hour.

As stated above I think I would prefer this engine to a Volvo for reliability, cost of parts (everything is still available) and maintenance.

Which Cris Craft is it..............

Tom

PS if you want any more info on these engines PM me and I will see what I can do.
 
Thanks first im going to look a lot more closely at it; I was afraid the engines would be "past it" which is when a good value boat isent any longer!
 
My pair of 30+ year old Ford Dorset 120 hp engines have done 3600 hrs plus each. This year again over 200 hours with the only problem being a split water hose that took me 45 minutes to replace. Easy to maintain with a ready supply of spare parts they are low stressed reliable plodding engines.

Heavy, inefficeint, and smoky on start up they may be. But they will go on and on pushing you at displacement speeds at smooth low revs.

From long experience with these they have only have two significant problems.
1. No cold start assist and low compression. You need high powered well charged batteries to start on a cold day.
2. Fuel dilution. The injectors are inside the cylinder head and any leaks can cause fuel dilution. Therefore a close eye must be kept on oil levels. There is a hostory of crankcase explosion from poorly maintained examples of these engines.

Other than the standard diesel regular oil and filter change warning recomendations, the only advice, other than watching fuel dilution, is to maintain a check on fuel injector pump oil level. The oil in there is slowly displaced by diesel due to leaks so every service drain and top up with engine oil if you do not want a seized fuel pump.
 
I have just replaced a 1986 Ford 6 with a 1980 Ford 6 only had 1500hrs on it.
The reson for the change is that the previous owner had used it mainly as a battery charger and never moved the boat.
Smokes on start up but clears as soon as its warm.
As said above watch the oil in the injector pump the book says change it every 50hrs, takes 3 minutes and its less than a pint so worth doing.
Spares from
htp:\\www.seahorsepower.co.uk They have been excellent with their service.

Julian
 
That injector will need a new nozzle, I got a serviced set of six exchange for £ 120, from a diesel engineering shop, you will find many bits lying in breakers yards at give away prices. As stated keep the oil levels good and enjoy.
 
Two questions
1 do all injection pumps need oil & oil changes?

2 will any injector that fits do from the scrap yard? Though as hes buying a full overhaul kit i know for £120 hell buy new.

He was REALLY upset that HE broke it he said the injection had been the best bit
 
Thats interesting as ive been wondering why a small 3 cylinder ford has had a little man banging away with a hammer for a while after starting

The second we thought so!

Thanks
 
Your engines will have cav, or simms, in line pumps, and they need their oil changing, remove level plug, then drain plug, both are at the timing case end about an inch back, and are 1/2 AF, TO REFILL REPLACE DRAIN PLUG AND OPEN FILLER PLUG THAT'S ON TOP in the same plane, fill till oil runs out of level plug, job done. I doubt you will find new injectors and if do the price will scare the pants of you, get yours overhauled, then look around for a breaker and get the injectors from that, then have your service shop overhaul those as well then you will have spares should you need them. Straight from a road going version will not do for a stationary engine the nozzle's are different as is the release pressures.
 
this may help
simmspump.jpg
 
stephenmartin said:
I have two fords (D Type) that smoke too...give a modest amount of trouble...but I can put it right myself...had the heads off reseated all the valves...new head gaskets...all in Cherebourg marina....heaven knows what that would cost for a boat yard to do....and i work in IT

They are very reliable engines that will take all types of abuse...spares a re still available...nearly everywhere...and advice is everywhere...not the fastest...but so reliable....

Two big 6 cylinders like yours should be the mutts nuts...marinised truck engines i believe...they do sound nice....and are very economical....thats a lot of power for a 26 ft boat so i'm guessing its a planing hull

If you need a manual...let me know

Steve
Click to expand...
Please might i have a copy just bying boat with dorest no manual its 4 cylinder 90 hp so seller says year 1980 thanks
 
2 x 250hp turbo Sabre motors in Tolerance, just changed the engine oil and filters and oil in the PRM gearboxes, I love the howl of the turbos kicking in and how easily it pushes 12 tons of boat forward. Sure they smoke on start up but I have a full parts catalogue onboard and Lancing Marine seem to be able to source pretty much everything, a new lift pump was with me within 24 hrs. Dead easy to work on, no Volvo Penta ECUs or fault codes to worry, not cutting edge technology, not the most fuel efficient but just crack on and enjoy boating.
 
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