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Considering 7.4L Crusader XLi TBI Issues ?

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tom_p_n

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I'm considering a 1998 boat with twin 7.4L Crusader XLi's, throttle body injectors. Are TBI replacement parts and ancillary components such as fuel pumps, relays including the ECU unit readily available. I'd like top have 7 years of reliable service and I'm not interested in hunting down parts, been there and done that with previous vintage Chris Crafts. The engines have approximately 950hrs on them.

Comments appreciated.
 
Are they available - yes, but not everybody has what you need. That said, there are several TBI specialists that are will to work the mail order system.

You can figure the engine is well into its service life...and how far along is driven by 1) user operating habits and 2) maintenance done.

Like their automotive cousins, the TBI units in the marine world had a very short service time...so there were not that many made and many shops never really understood their operation...
 
I appreciate your response and your comments confirm my concerns. Actually I wish they were XL engines with carburetors as opposed to TBI, XLi's rebuilding or replacing a Holley or a Rochester is easier than hunting down TBI parts. The boat also has Velvet Drive 5000 transmissions which is another negative, whereas the same year boat might have ZF-63 Hurths. Between firm asking price TBI's and VD 5000's I'm leaning on passing but I might have a look at if the price was 15-20K lower.
 
Firm asking price...on a hull that old....amazing!!!

Your money, your risk - buy what makes you happy and keeps the hair on the back of your neck flat...
 
tom_p_n said:
I'm considering a 1998 boat with twin 7.4L Crusader XLi's, throttle body injectors. Are TBI replacement parts and ancillary components such as fuel pumps, relays including the ECU unit readily available. I'd like top have 7 years of reliable service and I'm not interested in hunting down parts, been there and done that with previous vintage Chris Crafts. The engines have approximately 950hrs on them.

Comments appreciated.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing you already passed on this one, but in case not, my two cents as a TBI 454 owner. It's a bit of a pain in the butt, diagnosing and finding parts. When you do find parts on some obscure corner of ebay, be prepared to pay $200 for an OEM idle air control valve. I'd also suggest going carbs, or modern MPFI. Or diesel, but that's a whole 'nother level of purchase price.
 
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