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Forum Rules (Click Here) -> Ontario Rodders -> Tech -> Olds 455 marine engine for a jet boat, best setup and looking for a builder
Post Info TOPIC: Olds 455 marine engine for a jet boat, best setup and looking for a builder
ChrisW


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Olds 455 marine engine for a jet boat, best setup and looking for a builder
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Hi all. My name is Chris and I'll introduce myself by way of my background. After university, I tried a couple of jobs but ended up working for J Craft Boats in Pefferlaw, learning composites building these great boats. The company is gone now, although I do know of one shop that is still making one model of the J in Ontario. I have my own business now, making composite(fibreglass) parts for a variety of customers but the boat builder in me is still active. I have restored/modified my own family 19 J Craft and have bought a bunch more old hulls to do more restorations.

The subject of this post is a 1976 J Craft with a Jacuzzi jet and an Olds 455. This was very common back in the day, apparently, as it is a great torque motor and very durable, plus being inexpensive.

The boat is amazingly original, right down to the matching factory trailer but the owner I bought it from unfortunately did some work on the motor. He had bought it three years ago with its original, 37 year old 425 Olds with a stock intake and a 600 Holley carb and proceeded to change the cam and upgrade the valve train and COMPLETELY IGNORE the bottom end! A thrown rod ensued and he bought and installed a bone stock 455 from a 1970 Delta 88 and also an aluminum air gap intake with an 800 double pumper. When he went to run it this weekend, it has what sounds like a rod knock but intermittent. I heard it also but I'm not a motor guy so take my opinion for what it's worth! The setup is no good anyways as it has no choke for cold starting and the engine is not built for the constant load of a marine life.

So now I am looking for a good setup and an engine builder who knows these motors and how to build it for a marine application. I am sure many of you out there know of J Craft. This is a ski boat and runabout, not a drag boat so it needs a smooth running motor with a good idle and the ability to run at higher rpms continuously without starving for oil or overheating. It doesn't need a lot of hyper expensive race parts, just a solid build.

John Rossiter probably built the original motor as he supplied motors to John Jones during the 70s. If anyone has contact info, I'd like to contact him, if he is still available.

Any advice,contacts, recommendations for engine builders would be most appreciated!

That's my son Alex, next to the J. He heard it idle for about 5 seconds and was completely won over. 

 



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BARRIE, ONTARIO

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rollingthunderz.com on the engine and maybe a fuel injection set up ??

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Smokin Joe


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I remember when J Craft where off Kennedy Road in the late 60s. I had a 401 / 425 hp. Buick in mine. Ever consider putting in a diesel as you can get performance parts and set them up to haul a_s. If you are thinking that way I would talk to Steve Sawyer at Steve's Diesel for an honest opinion 905-623-4441. I know they have done their fair share of marine work and you want a builder that understands marine engine builds. He does do gas engines also.  His 55 Chevy pickup he is building has a true 600 Hp. triple turbo Duramax. He is not in the shop much of the time so leave your number with Ann who runs the place in his absence ( would like to retire ) to call you.



-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Tuesday 30th of May 2017 08:19:58 AM

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Active engines in Mississauga has a tonne of experience building for marine applications. Bruce Rossiter is a member here not sure if related to John: ontariorodders.activeboard.com/t53174281/hi-from-the-east-end-of-toronto/

Active Engines: www.activeengines.com/

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Smokin Joe


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A good friend had his engine done at Perry Engines in Orillia. Spent another $4,000. at another shop having redone what Perry did before it went on the road. They even had to change the valves as the first set had the wrong angle on them plus the roller lifters were worn out. Perry would not even come good for the valves at least admitting the parts did not fit the engine. Perry has been in business for over 50 years but they changed hands a couple of years ago. This all happened last years not sure how their work is now.



-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Tuesday 30th of May 2017 11:39:59 PM

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Pete Moss


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Aaron Pilatzke of Orangeville Ont has (or had ??) a '33 Willys with a Rossiter Racing Engines built engine according to the article linked below. If you use Canada411, you can find Aaron's contact info in Orangeville. Aaron may have info regarding getting in touch with John Rossiter.

www.hotrod.com/articles/1304sr-aaron-pilatzke-1933-chevrolet-willys/


As for R o l l i n g t h u n d e r z (letters space out so an internet search won't find this post) ... one must first understand that Ned is NEVER WRONG. EVER. Due to his attitude (personality??), I refuse to deal with that shop (and I've known him from long before the shop opened). Serge (Ned's founding partner and honestly a great guy) is no longer associated with the shop.


Entec Racing in Scarborough is EXTREMELY well versed in marine engines (and racing engines in general) and they would absolutely be my first choice. I have not personally had any work done by this shop but know several people who have, and all with outstanding results. Below is a link to their Instagram. An interesting tidbit, former US National offshore champion, former two-time Superboat World Champion, and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame member (all the same person) is one of their customers and this guy can well afford to have (quite literally) any shop in the world do his work. He chose Entec. Just sayin'.

www.instagram.com/entecracing/




-- Edited by Pete Moss on Wednesday 31st of May 2017 06:59:24 AM

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ChrisW wrote:

IMG_0407.JPG

 

John Rossiter probably built the original motor as he supplied motors to John Jones during the 70s. If anyone has contact info, I'd like to contact him, if he is still available.

 

 

 

 

I doubt the original poster will see this as he appears to have only one post on this site but here goes ... Rossitter (note the two T's) Hard Core Racing Engines Mississauga Ontario 647-283-6584.

 

 



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ROSSITTER HCRE w info copy.jpg



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Smokin Joe


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This guy has probably left the building and since May has the boat done and in the water.

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Smokin Joe wrote:

This guy has probably left the building and since May has the boat done and in the water.

 

That's my guess too but when I stumbled across Rossitters info and remembered this post, I'd thought I'd throw it up there.

 

Be fun to hear more about that boat though, I've always liked that "J-Craft" look with a big V8 in the back.  Not sure I'd be too happy filling the tank as often as it probably requires though.



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