Chris Craft 283 V8 engine

[Don Ayers]

The Chris Craft 283 marine engine was first introduced in 1959. Here are some early documents. Early Rivas such as the Florida used the 283M version rated at 150-160 horsepower. In 1959 Riva fitted six Aristons and two Tritones with the 185 HP 283 V8's

[Don Ayers]

John from the Chris Craft Boat Buzz Forum posts this:

http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/v ... 5575#35575


It's been some time since I've posted, but one area I've spent a lot of time on is the 283, while restoring my 1962 28' Constellation. My engines were long gone, so I had to learn what they were from scratch.
In the process of this research (general 1962 research as well) I was able to buy a binder of 1962 correspondence and sales data for 1962.
I'm not attaching anything yet, as it could be many pages, here are a few tidbits to start:

Jan 10, 1962 announcement for the 16' Jet Boat: "...selected the Buehler Turbo drive unit powered by Chris*Craft's own 185 horsepower V8 marine engine"

March 29, 1962 28' Constellation availability (listed by engine):
Single Screw V8 engine June 1
Twin Screw 100 June 1
Twin Screw 185 Manual April 10
Twin Screw 185 Hydraulic June 1

March 29 1962, Letter to Customer:
"A recent change by Chris*Craft on the 283 engine lists the alternator as standard equipment on all engines."
(the 1962 283's I found came with generators)

April 4 1962 Letter from Cavalier Sales Manager:
"The 283 engine equipped with a 40 AMP alternator is being worked into our boat program gradually as these engines become available."
This was in response to a dealer inquiry several weeks earlier clarifying the Bulletin P93 1-15-62.

Jan 10 1962 Cavalier Sales bulletin:
Single 185 HP V8 with manual or hydraulic reduction
dual 185 HP V8 with manual or hydraulic

Dec 21 1961 Sea Skiff Sales bulletin, Accessories:
Alternator, 12V, 60A amp w/2-6V batteries - 185 HP engine, $265.00

1962 Sea Skiff Price Schedule lists both the 185 in manual and hydraulic

1962 (Jan 10 eff) Marine Engine Price Schedule:
8 283 models, direct drive, R15, R20 and R25 in manual and hydraulic versions.

Yachting 1962 ad:
"This is the Chris-Craft 185-hp V-8, Model 283. There are over twenty-two thousand of them in use throughout the world..."

undated brochure on the 283:
12-Volt 40-Amp. Alternator-Generator (std equipment)
manual transmission in dimensioned drawings

Another as above but mentions hydraulic trans.

Aug 1 1960 283 Operators Manual:
Full height intake manifold pictured, hydraulic and manual gears, generator.

Oct 1 1963 283 Operators Manual:
Low rise intake manifold pictured, hydraulic (HF-2 & HF-7) and manual gears (first reference to 283M with 2bbl vs 283 with 4bbl I've noticed), alternator and generator mentioned.

? date 283 Operators Manual (Mariners Museum copy, 1 page has 1967 drawing):
283 (4bbl), 283M (2bbl), low rise manifold, alternator & generator, manual and hydraulic gears referenced.
First time I saw reference to Carter 4bbl.
Only place I've see the opposite rotation referred to as 283L, but contradicts later page where the port engine is "formerly marked O now marked R" and the stbd engine is "formerly marked S now marked L".

From my research, although not documented:

First 4 bbl carbs were Rochester 4GC (not Q-jet!), and the Carter came later. The Q-jet replaced the 4GC some time after 1962.
My 1962 intakes are low rise aluminum.
All started with the Can Type oil filter, and at some point the spin one adapter was used, but may not have been stock (ie from car sources).


John

[Don Ayers]

For all our EU classic boating friends...

What would you like to learn the most about the Chris Craft 283 V8 engine series??

What would help you the most??

We look forward to hearing from you

[Rivaskipper]

Congratulations, it is and will be a brilliant forum.

This winter, my Florida will get some attention.

Where do I get parts for my CC 282 - like oelflilter, blue marine paint ... - in europa or even germany.

Any advices are welcome.

Regards

Jens

[Don Ayers]

Jens;

Thanks for the post and welcome to the Riva Forum.

We will do our best to answer your questions. First, please tell us some more information about your boat and engine.

There were many changes to the Chris Craft 283 V8 through its production. Knowing the serial number will help.

1. What year is your Florida and hull number?

2. What is the serial number of your engine? (usually found on the plates on top of the exhaust manifolds, see pic)

3. Can you post any pictures of your engine so we can see the oil filter unit you have as there were different types?

Ciao

[Rivaskipper]

Many thanks Don....

The hull number is 619, unfortunately I don't know the serial number of the CC.

I'll check it after pulling "her" back home, but it looks like the darker blue of your foto's.

Be back, with my serial engine number.

So long

Jens

[Eric T.]

Jens,

The 283 is one of the easiest engines to source parts for... Very popular.

Many of the parts have been recently released

The oil filters can be sourced in Europe through Marina Riva (Sarnico) , Morossini (Sarninico) or Riva-World (Netherlands) .

[Don Ayers]

Here is some more pictures of the very early 1959 283. Thanks to Brian Robinson for sending them to me.

[SuperFlorida]

Hi everybody,

with my Super Florida I got the original CC283 Manual in italian language.

Does anybody have the english version (scanned) to swap?

Thanks in advance
Hans-Peter

[Don Ayers]

I certainly do have the English version of the 283 manual.

I will see about scanning it.

[SuperFlorida]

Hi,

I just did the oil change of my CC283. According the manual there shall be 4-5 litres of oil in the engine.
I just could get 3.5 litres out, the dip stick showed before nearly maximum.

Is this normal?

Best Regards
Hans-Peter

[SuperFlorida]

Hi,

the oil filter I bought in Italy, that should fit into the CC283, did not fit

The one built in was a Delco PF25. Luckily my local car parts dealer had the compatible filter from Tecnocar (R-134) available.
Another one that fits is the MANN W936/5.

My engine has the same oil filter arrangement as the one in the picture from the above post

283 11.jpg

I hope this helps others to find the correct filter.

Best Regards,
Hans-Peter

[SuperFlorida]

Hello,
does anybody know the order code for the two v-belts that drive the generator and the water pump?

Best Regards,
Hans-Peter

[Don Ayers]

Hans-Peter;

Do you have the serial number of your engine and the serial number of the generator?? There were two different models used and each had a different belt.

Thanks

[Eric T.]

I've used 3L300 belts on both Generator equipped and those that had an alternator conversion but ran the water pump from that drive.

Use 3L series belts as the 4L series ride to high on the groove and after some use, they no longer function well.

[SuperFlorida]

Thanks for your answers!

The serial number of my engine is 828822, but I don't know the number of the generator.

@Don: Could you scan the user manual in the meantime?

Thanks
Hans-Peter

[Don Ayers]

Dayco and Gates websites crosslist the L330 and 6730 as interchangeable.

You need to understand which Generator you have, a Delco or Auto-Lite

See pics

[Eric T.]

Don

What year is that parts manual from?