Logo
FULL SITE MENU

454 crusader hp ratings

S

sammi

Regular Contributor
I have 1986 crusader engines that are rated at 350hp. later 1990's carburetor engines were 330hp, was anything different or did they just have to rate hp at the shaft not flywheel or something like that?
 
I'm not positive, but I think you are correct. SAE gross is engine output without accessories. SAE net accounts for losses in the water pumps, etc. Also, the transmission is good for about 3% ~ 10hp as well.
 
It's the ratings game, played by the marketing department. Crusader, Mercruiser, and nearly every other engine marinizer (in that era) bought their long blocks direct from GM, using the GM marine baseline specifications. Same heads, same pistons, same camshafts....only two ways for output rating to change: where you measure or the RPM used for the measurement.

I have the 86's as well. turns out they are identical to a Mercruiser 330 which is also the same beast as their 340 Blue Water rated package. All in all, I find the WOT HP rating somewhat irrelevant as it is the torque produced that turns the wheel. And the torque applied to the shaft will vary with the gear selected, etc, etc.
 
I agree. I don't really care what hp rating it says on the valve cover, my 31 tiara does great with them, I just wondered why they would have lowered the hp in later models and figured they probably didn't.
 
Sammi,

By the ID's on our 1992 engines, we run a a screaming 700HP..... :) My 1966 VW had 36HP and was much faster than the boat !!!
 
Back
Top