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Message |
    
bhendrix
New member
Username: bhendrix
Post Number: 2
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 06:36 pm: | 
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I found two GrayMarine 244 Express MS engines that were freshly rebuilt and properly stored. Internally, they are in great condition (compression variations of less than 2 pounds). I got one to use and one for parts.
Externally there are a few problems:
1) On the one I am setting up to use, I replaced the two stacker oil filter with a spin on and the small rubber hoses with copper tubing.
2) EVERYTHING was spray painted olive drab. I have restored the appropriate colors and polished the brass.
3) Being MS, they have the full explosion proof ignition system. The high tension leads are shielded and screw down at both ends. I have a mechanic and machine shop working on adapting a more conventional distributor, but there is a problem with the military type spark plugs. We could not find any kind of cross reference for the military type (screw on high tension leads) spark plugs.
I could probably find an appropriate conventional plug and heat range by trial and error, but it would be much less expensive if someone had some idea what plugs were used on the civilian version of this engine.
Anyone have any ideas? |
larry_from_maryland
Senior Member
Username: larry_from_maryland
Post Number: 256
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 07:09 pm: |
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Its D14 in the champion catoluge. In a farm tractor its D16,in an industrial engine its UD16. You can buy new or rebuilt distributors from sevrall differant sources. You need a restrictor or dense filter media in the bypass oil line to ensure you have plenty of oil preasure in the engine. |
bhendrix
New member
Username: bhendrix
Post Number: 3
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 12:14 am: |
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Thanks for the spark plug information and for the heads up on the oil filter. The filter I put on is from NAPA, listed with their remote filter heads, and specifically for use as a bypass filter (for some reason they had it in stock in the California foothills). It has two eighth inch holes on the inlet side and a single eighth inch hole on the discharge. Very defferent from the typical automotive type filter. When I took it out of the box, it took a few seconds to realize the purpose of the "strange" configuration. It makes perfect sense when you think about it. Also, it will leave less oil on the galley sole when it comes time to change it (though it does cost more than a couple of rolls of toilet paper). |
bhendrix
Member
Username: bhendrix
Post Number: 4
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 01:34 pm: |
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OK, I'm getting confused. My local supplier did not have Champion D14s, but he was able to cross them to Autolite 386. Those plugs are too large for the holes.
Sparkplugs.com does not list the Express 244, but it does agree with the information from Larr y for other engines that my manual says use the same plug. However, the manual has the 244 and the six-91 listed for the same column of specs. When I run the six-91 (which it does show), it comes back with a Champion D6. Is it possible that the difference between the 244 and the 91 is that one was a civilian version and the other was adapted to take a standardized military plug? |
larry_from_maryland
Senior Member
Username: larry_from_maryland
Post Number: 257
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 04:03 pm: |
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My book shows six 91 listed in 2 places one shows 244 on the same line and the plug is D14. The other listing shows the plug as D6. All the D series plugs are the same size. A seascout 91 uses a RJ12C which is the next size smaller plug. Do you have a number for the military plug? |
bhendrix
Member
Username: bhendrix
Post Number: 5
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 10:21 pm: |
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One engine came with Champion and the other with Autolite. I do not currrently have the Champion available, but the Autolite is labeled "Autolite Resistor 2243" it also has the number MS 35909-1. The thread has a diameter of about 0.5 inch and a depth of about 0.4 inch. It uses a 13/16 wrench rather than the 7/8 required for the D series. The RJ12C sounds like a good bet for an engine of that vintage. It has been a long time, but I think an RJ12 something was what was in my '54 Chrysler hemi. It would probably make a good starting point for trial and error investigation.
My GrayMarine handbook shows the Sea Scout-91 using a J-11J (same ballpark). Maybe my 244 was late production of the old series.('39 - '58). In any case, with your help, I think I am making some progress. Thanks |
larry_from_maryland
Senior Member
Username: larry_from_maryland
Post Number: 258
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 03:41 pm: |
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Both numbers apper in my book. The ms is military ordinance number. Both cross to AC delco 44 or 43 plug which is common for a contintial engine. Champion would be J6,J6J or J6c. J6's are hard to find and most new champion books recomend J8 in thier place. I think i have muddied everything now,but most likely there is a mistake in the catoluge and the D6 SHOULD READ j6. I have never heard of a D6, howver the J6 was common. |
bhendrix
Member
Username: bhendrix
Post Number: 6
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 10:39 pm: |
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Your help is greatly appreciated. You clearly have considerably more knowledge and resources than I.
Now -- about the non-military distributor you mentioned. Where do you suggest I look? My searches on GrayMarine only bring up limited parts (like exhaust manifolds). Again, thank you very much for your help. This is going into THE FIRST large pleasure cruiser built by Stephens Bros. in Stockton CA (47 foot, 1926). I don't have the time or resources to match the original Hall-Scott, but an old GrayMarine is close enough. At least I'll be able to get rid of the big V-8 Crusaider someone put it (hull speed 2000, max torque 4000). |
larry_from_maryland
Senior Member
Username: larry_from_maryland
Post Number: 259
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 03:45 pm: |
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I was thinking about the farm engines like yours,but if your distributor is moved to a differant location they wont work. On farm industrial engines the distributor sticks right up through the head. I can check some cataloges tonight. |
bhendrix
Member
Username: bhendrix
Post Number: 7
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 - 06:13 pm: |
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A distributor and spark leads and she'll be ready to go. I went back and checked after I printed the photo -- that's not a sharp bend in the oil return line. It's just a strange viewing angle. |
bhendrix
Member
Username: bhendrix
Post Number: 8
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 - 06:22 pm: |
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Sorry, I'm a Mac person. I'll try adding a PC extension. |
