Newbie here!! F28 single engine?

[celicajoe2]

Hey guys ive been trolling the sight for a week or so now and im going to look at a F28 this weekend that apparently had a single Chrysler 440 paired with a paragon Vdrive.
From the research ive done the F28 came with twin gas jobs or a single diesel engine? Is this correct?... Also the boat has had the 440 Chrysler pulled and trashed due to a water intrusion problem in the block. Apparently the guys that own the boat got it with the damaged motor pulled it and bought a non marine 440, attempted to convert and realized that the marine 440 was a reverse rotation crank. The new non marine 440 is not.
Now from most researching I've done the paragon Vdrive is able to have the pump turned 180* and install a different prop... Anyone actually done this before?

Im new to the boat world but a long time auto mechanic/shop foreman... Don't mind buying a project boat but for $3000.00 am I getting in over my head?
The $3000.00 includes boat which is in beautiful shape, new 440 (automobile), all accessories off of marine engine. and other misc parts.

[prowlersfish]

What year is this F28 ?

[celicajoe2]

Wow cant believe i forgot to mention that. Its a 1977.

[The Dog House]

Boat engines operate very differently than automobile engines. Boat engines typically pull heavy loads for long periods of time. I would be hesitant about using an automobile engine in a boat. I know people have used truck engines in boats successfully but truck engines are typically designed for heavy duty use. If the engine is for a car I would consider it useless for your application.

It is possible to rotate the Paragon pump and use it with a left hand rotation engine. As you said, you would also need to switch the prop to a left hand prop. What model Paragon V drive is in the boat? That will determine the maximum rpm and horsepower you can put through it.

If you decide to repower the boat I would research a marine long block 440 (preferably right hand rotation if you can get it). Subtract the cost of the long block from the $3000 asking price and offer to buy the boat for that amount of money. I wouldn't consider using the automobile 440.

[prowlersfish]

I have seen automotive engines used with out issue . But you need to make some changes . Brass freeze plugs and if raw water cooled you need marine head gaskits . .


Your boat most likely came with the single 440 (or 400 ) I have not seen one with a diesel . i will look at my spec sheet when I get a chance .

[celicajoe2]

The 440 engine that needs to be converted to a marine is pulled from a motor home. Im well aware of the changes needed to be made i/e head gaskets freeze plugs, water pump, electrical parts, carb. When i go to look at this boat on sat morning I will take a ton of pics and post them on here.
Curious about designing a closed loop cooling system as i will be running her in salt and kind of like a design project. Possibly use some sore of large diesel EGR cooler for a heat exchanger? anyone do anything like this with a Chrysler 440 before. Any major disadvantages of a closed loop with a big block?

I dont know the model of the Paragon V drive yet but i will find out and research some more before making an offer.
Anything else i should look for for problems on this boat when I go?

Thanks for helping guys really appreciate it!

[larryeddington]

Welcome, I have a 78 F28 with twin 318 Paragon V drives. The pump section of tranny can be reversed for either engine, however that works only for the pump section not the gear section. The gear runs one way only and to run it in forward would be actually running the tranny in reverse, which board member have said that something would break. In the F28 twin the starboard tranny is only for reverse rotation and the port is for standard rotation only and from the factory were marked with red arrow stickers near the tranny output indicating rotation.

after pauls comment below I now have not idea.

[prowlersfish]

You change pump to match the engine prop it to match . Forward is still forward . What Larry is thinking is you can change direction by using the reverse position on these or velvet drives as the reverse can not take full load

[larryeddington]

Regarding changing rotation with 318s the only difference is the camshaft and the distributor. Different firing order but distributor turns same direction, not 100% sure but I would bet the 440s work the same way even thought it is the big block.

[celicajoe2]

So I looked at this boat this weekend and it is in extremely good condition all around. The boat has a Paragon V P42R serieal #Z7745R, Which is obviously a Right hand rotation trans. I have a fully built Chrysler 440 out of a Motor home ready to go in. Im going to pull the trigger on this week, from all the research ive done i can change the rotation of the trans to work with a LH engine. The fun begins... Ive looked for these boats all over and have really had a hard time finding any single screws, are they as rare as it appears? anyone know how many have actually been built in the late 70's?

[The Dog House]

FYI, the PV42 specifications are 300 hp @ 4000 rpm (max. hp and max. rpm).

[celicajoe2]

So the 440 puts out more than that if im correct... how is it possible this was the setup before the engine was pulled from this boat? Do you know what the original trans would have been if the paragon thats in here wont handle the engine?

[mikeandanne]

Those 440's came in many HP versions all the way from low 200's which were the real low compression to the high 300's so I guess it would have mattered which version engine they had in there----- what is the compression and HP of yours ?--- Mike