Chris Craft 283/350 Flywheel Forward Conversion Engine

[@internalcombustion641]

Seems odd, what was the logic behind a flywheel forward configuration?

[@glassgoat9601]

@@internalcombustion641 Chris Craft wanted to create a way to easily replace all of the flathead engines that had been used for decades and were becoming relatively obsolete. Turning the engine around allowed the V8 to fit in the same location as the flathead it would replace. An engine with the flywheel forward could sit lower and it put the transmission closer to the block. Inboard Runabouts don’t have a lot of room when passengers sit in front of the engine. The replacement didn’t take a lot of labor or parts, motor mounts were often in the same location. The same or lower weight and more horsepower. They sold many thousands of these as replacements.