1974 Chris Craft Dory - Holding it’s own.

It’s the damper plate , it’s broke off near the bolts to the flywheel. It’s thin and rusty….original 21 years old.
It’s stuck on the trans spline …for now .
Work in progress…

Here we go…what’s this we? I go…yay!
Cheap three bolt damper plate. My Crusader parts manual shows a 6 bolt plate. Lame . I’m 99% sure this is original factory plate. Factory blue paint was still in tact.
Ya even get Screwed from the engine manufacturer don’t we.

Jess,….I mean yes I did . The best I can.
Got that low profile rule pump.
Work well. It will always get some water in there. Now that I’m into it
motor sits about 2” above the hull.
Oil pan and trans sump in some water most of the time.
I did look over the dry bilge solutions. Good ideas but my little Dory doesn’t have much room in the bilges ( I have three bilge compartments, forward, center at motor and aft.) it’s completely open to the rain etc. it would be a never ending task to keep all the water out.
And a few rough speedy trips out would knock the pumps about especially in the forward compartment.
Even if they were fastened down.

Hey CR!
I really appreciate the input and your advice.

The oil pan is OK I did check that out.
The trans seal seems ok.

I just got the parts and I’m not planning on painting the flex plate I just don’t have enough time and too much to do managing two boats and work etc.
I have to draw a line in the sand at some point. Or it never will get done.
Got the better 454 six bolt flex plate, which was supposed to be on there in the first place.

Putting it back together next Friday.

I also got an oil and transmission cooler.
Changing that out while I’m into it.
It’s the all in one U-cooler mounts on front of the engine.

Update
This project is generally so far kicking me squarely in my transom!!

Having a grand time getting the old flex plate off the transmission spline….

Yeah , yeah I know . It’s been soaking in PB blaster for more than a week.

Using a puller and still not moving .
Tried heat also.
I’ll get it some how.

Had to cut and cut some more to get the old flex plate off the transmission very carefully with my 4.5” angle grinder.

The proper new one installed.
6 bolt flex plate .
Everything back together now bell housing , trans , motor back in place today.
A little more to go yet.

Uh …CR to late .It’s back together.
You know that isn’t happening.
Don’t believe I got it that hot.

Got 8 hrs in on it .
So far so good .

Did have an ignition switch in line fuse go on me though … had to borrow one from my old pump switch to get back in.
Fuse holder was shot .. replaced that with a Blue Seas water proof ATC job.
Lol!

I’m like a bull in a China shop CR!
Lol. Cringe away everyone .

Nothing a can of paint and a brush can’t fix.
Roll and tip, tip and roll. Pettit Easypoxy Platinum on the hull last week . Also new half round stainless steel rub rail attached to the existing gray rubber rubber rail to dress it up a bit.
Taking a trip to Naples area this March for two weeks got a look good down there!

A good splash of Penetrol helps too!

Carl…I don’t know …? It worked this time! No tricks .
Lol

Before photo….chalked up hull.