Which inboard petrol is best

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ErikBenson

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Maybe someone has an answer. I have a RN- 1953 wooden Fast Motor Dinghy. with no engine at all. Originally the Admiralty specs said-diesel,or, petrol. Mine had a Coventry Climax KF4 2stroke diesel with Rootes blower, which are unobtainable and very heavy. I am considering something light and modern in petrol( don't like smelly diesel) that I can pick up at the local car breakers. It had 50 hp at 2000rpm I believe. What should I look for please.Marinised or not.
 
I confess I find it hard to imagine what would be suitable. Presumably, if its coming from a breakers yard you will want something that doesnt have complex electronic engine management system. (Old Escort engine ?) Then you still have to deal with marinisation because you will have to address that aspect and what parts you need to do the job. (manifold, heat exchanger etc). A lot of the lower powered petrol boats were powered by an engine based on the ford 1600cc crossflow engine giving maybe 50 to 75HP but I would think they are geeting a bit old now (Sheridan Marine) ... or maybe Lancing Marine might have something in a used trade in petrol engine that you could use.
If you were not hell bent on petrol I would suggest maybe a recon BMC 1.5 diesel which I think knocks out about 45HP and will go on and on. Hundreds of UK canal narrowboats are running this engine.
 
Looking for something light, I guess you would want an aluminium block, as I believe the Coventry Climax engine would have been.. This would effectively rule out raw water cooling but should otherwise not be a problem. I believe that Renault engines have been used in marine applications but don't have any other information. Your problem with a petrol engine will be to get power so low down the rev range. Your other problem will be to find a marine gearbox that will fit, unless you propose using one you still have. In that case, I suggest you take a template of the gearbox flange to your scrapyard and find something that comes near to fitting, reducing the need for a very complex adaptor plate.
 
Oh dear !. . . .Maybe I'll just have to go diesel and put something in the fuel to make it smell better !. . .Castrol R?
In which case. . . .any suggestions of a light modern diesel that would do the job,please? sorry to be a pain .
 
You could burn diesel and mix in some old oil from your local chippy, should give everyone an appetite. Seriously, many cars and vans are running on mix of diesel and cheaper oils, these will remove the diesel smell.

Avagoodweekend.
 
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