Projects Crosley engine build

Finally got started on the new engine for my 1948 Crosley. This is a "Late Crosley" engine, actually it's an Aerojet marine engine (after Crosley quit making cars a few companies made marine engines based on the Crosley) that I am adapting to run on the street. Should be pushing close to 50HP when done! That's a big increase from the stock 28HP..... these Crosley engines are about the strangest engines I have ever rebuilt.

 

Very interesting. Keep us posted.

 

They look like very interesting engines...Check this picture out..The P/U belongs to Tim Freshley .He was @ the Maxton LSR meet in June and set a record of 78+ MPH....and with the 5:13 rear gear..That thing buzzed like a mad bumblebee!! Thats Tim on the right...I think he has a website & makes/sells some repro Crosley sheetmetal..

 

In what way are you having to adapt the Aerojet? Plan on chaginging the trans or rear end?

 

Plug off an unused water hole for the wet manifold that it came with, change out all the long manifold studs. Not much more than that.

 

I would like to talk to others who are familiar with these engines, this one and all the others I have do not have an oil filter and I would like to adapt an external filter to the engine, I am just not sure of where to tap in for the inlet side of the filter.

 

Than engine is a thing of beauty! nice work!
The Aerojet is a killer variant on the crosley- overall sturdier and I think they all came with a steel (vs cast iron) crank. I've got a much-abused Aerojet in my '49 convertible and it's taken everything I've thrown at it.

I see you've got the good Braje stuff- hoping you have the Braje pan to go with? They are a huge improvement over the stock crosley Pan and add a lot of stiffness.

Did you use the stock Aerojet cam?

 

I do have a Braje oil pan, and a Braje cam cover... both will be used on this engine. I have a brand new 3/4 cam that's going in, and the dual carbs too.... should be a fun engine! Do you know anything about plumbing an oil filter on these?

 

It's a very common add on, but none of my cars have one. I know this has been covred ad nauseum on the Crosley Gang website - I'll try to find the appropriate posts and copy the info for you here when i've got a few minutes today. if i remember right, the big thing is that the oil flow is the reverse o fmost engines so you've got to be careful to put the filter inline the correct way. I'll dig out the posts...

if you haven't already found the Crosley Gang yahoo site, it's here: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Crosley_Gang/
More Crosley engine geniuses collected here than any single place in the world. Barry Seel's words of wisdom would make it worth checking even if nobody else ever posted!

 

OK, went though the site and the descriptions were for Crosley blocks- since i'm not positive that your Aerojet will have the same machining, I'm just gonna send you to Barry Seel directly. He can walk you through it and may have some suggestions on best filter system to use. I'll PM you his number

 

Didn't a major outboard manufacturer buy the rights to the Crosley and make a vertical four cycle water cooled outboard? Seems to me my grandparents neighbor worked for the company and I heard about it as a youngster (yeah I know that was a long time ago). Homelite sort of rings a bell.

 

Anyone know how to get in touch with Tim Freshley for the sheetmetal?

 

BEARCAT 45

Nick was a friend for years and a real cl*** guy

I still have my factory valve spring installer/remover

Many years ago there was a wagon chopped into something that looked like a So Pacific Super Chief....... left town I'd sure like to find it

Bearcat 85 was a Coventry Climax ...... I still have parts around of both.

 

That would be Bearcat 55 not 45.
Crosley engine off shoots were Aerojet, Crofton, ***eol 44, Elgin, Homelite,and Bearcat55. A good book on Crosley engine hop up is Bob Foley's book, Inboard Racing, A Wild Ride. His life racing Crosley powered Hydroplanes. Tells you how to hook up remote oil filter . Lots of great pictures too. About $20. John

 

looking good Jim!

 

A few of mine.

 

Here's the link http://home.roadrunner.com/~tfreshley/

 

I'm looking at an old Chris Craft kit boat powered by one of these Aerojet engines - extremely cool little inboard. I'll have to find a copy of that book.

Steve

 

I've owned two Crosleys - a '48 station wagon that I used as a DD and then flipped (I still run across it from time to time at local car shows), and a homemade doodlebug with three transmissions plus reduction chain drives - in low-low-low you could leave it running in gear and walk away for lunch and it had only moved a couple of feet. Both of these had iron motors, not the CoBra brazed-up blocks.

 

"Yellow Jacket" boat had in board Crosley/Aeroget/***eol/Crofton depending on year..Not sure if a model of Chris Craft..The one I saw even had Crosley Gauge set, all wood boat..***eol and Crofton had Super Charged models, 45 hp rated, in both verticle and horizontal installations..Poke around here some..http://crosleyautoclub.com/EngineTree/Crosley_Eng_Tree.html

 

Dude, RUB IT IN!

That's OK, neither one of us is at Bonneville, so I guess we've got nothing better to do.

 

Thanks, just ordered the book! Also I owe you a thanks for setting me up with Blaz...

Thanks Barry is who I bought the cam from. Nice guy... I'll call him.

 

Dale Liebherr and the Never Paid 4 Racing Crosley at Bonneville 2009

 

I like it!!!

 

Anybody ever see the "88" or a supercharged version?? Pretty nifty, in my book.

 

Like these? Stole these pictures off the web!

 

45? 55?

It's been almost that long since I put my working hands on a Crosley

 

Okay, now I want to build a blower motor...

 

'nother vote for 'Wild Ride.' Really fun book for Crosley engine geeks.

 

Yep, like those! Thanks, now I want one.