Bonneville towers and Chrysler racers

[Modhydro Steve]

Can anyone provide some info on Bonneville towers? I have one for a Chrysler and would like more info on them. What all did they make? When did they make them? Does anyone have more info on Chrysler racers than what is in the factory brocures? I have a 105 and a later one that was supposed to have been built my Mercury under the Force banner. Any info is welcome and greatly appreciated.

[spn#43]

Can anyone provide some info on Bonneville towers? I have one for a Chrysler and would like more info on them. What all did they make? When did they make them? Does anyone have more info on Chrysler racers than what is in the factory brocures? I have a 105 and a later one that was supposed to have been built my Mercury under the Force banner. Any info is welcome and greatly appreciated.

Look for T-Rex over on www.byuboyz.com forums, he knows all about Chrysler.

[Mark75H]

T-Rex knows how to make them go fast, but he's not a big historian.

Chrysler built racers from 1968 until 1976, ranging from 105 hp to 150 hp. Chrysler got out of the outboard business in 1983 when they sold the outboard stuff to an investment group that called itself "US Marine". I think US Marine sold out to Merc in the early 1990's. I've heard the Merc/Force racer rumor many times, but I very much doubt Merc had anything to do with any Force racer given the stretch of years between the Chrysler racers and the year Merc acquired Force.

There are a few simularities between the Chrysler racing lower unit and the McCulloch racing lower unit. This is because when McCulloch got out of racing in 1967 their racing R&D team became available and was picked up by Chrysler. The team consisted of Bob Kies, Jack Oxley and Danny Snead. I located and interviewed Kies and Oxley a few years back about their involvement with both companies. The early 105 Chyrsler racers just had the racing lower unit bolted on to a std short shaft powerhead. There were also racers badged as 120 and 135. Next they added the open megaphone exhaust and finally larger carbs, L-shaped piston rings and a higher compression ratio on the 150 hp racer. The early racing lower unit used a fat 7/8" prop shaft and couldn't use Merc Speedmaster props. The 150 type racing lower unit used the same splines on the prop shaft, but had more space between the shaft and exhaust outlet, so a larger diameter prop could be used compared to a Merc Super Speedmaster. There was also a 2" longer racing lower unit for bigger boats with taller transoms (the extra 2" is all under the cav plate). Chrysler never made a big splash in APBA OPC racing, but did very well in outboard drags, holding many speed records over the years.

The Bonneville mid sections were made by Bob Florian in California during the time Chrysler motors were popular and fast at the drag races. Bob also made short mids for 6 cylinder Mercs and 4 cylinder D Mercs; again popular with drag racers. The time frame was probably 1969 to 1972 for all Bonnies.

The Bonneville mids were intended to be used with Merc D clamps & swivel assemblies. The gear ratio is 17:15 (7% overdrive). There were optional 7% reduction gears, but they are very rare.

[OLEGATORXX]

For Some Reason, There Are People On This Site, Who Think, Just Because They Never Saw A Good Running Chrysler, They Were Not Competitive. I'm Here To Tell You That Is Bs. Bobby Soles Ran One For A Couple Years That Was, Not Only Competitive, But Was A Many Time Winner. Since We Both Were From Florida, We Ran Against Each Other All Season Long. Neither He Nor I Were Able To Win 2 Heats In A Row, Including The Nationals. Had I Not Run The Nationals That Year, A Chrysler Would Have Been The Champion.

[spn#43]

....

[Mark75H]

For Some Reason, There Are People On This Site, Who Think, Just Because They Never Saw A Good Running Chrysler, They Were Not Competitive. I'm Here To Tell You That Is Bs. Bobby Soles Ran One For A Couple Years That Was, Not Only Competitive, But Was A Many Time Winner. Since We Both Were From Florida, We Ran Against Each Other All Season Long. Neither He Nor I Were Able To Win 2 Heats In A Row, Including The Nationals. Had I Not Run The Nationals That Year, A Chrysler Would Have Been The Champion.

Jim is absolutely right. For example in 1970 Chryslers took 25 firsts, 29 second places and 30 thirds in OPC racing. Respectable in the least.

[59powercat1400]

Hey Steve, here's the 135 Chrysler I'm currently running on one of my 14ft. Fantasy Hydros. Dick.

[brichter]

T-Rex knows how to make them go fast, but he's not a big historian.

Chrysler built racers from 1968 until 1976, ranging from 105 hp to 150 hp. Chrysler got out of the outboard business in 1983 when they sold the outboard stuff to an investment group that called itself "US Marine". I think US Marine sold out to Merc in the early 1990's. I've heard the Merc/Force racer rumor many times, but I very much doubt Merc had anything to do with any Force racer given the stretch of years between the Chrysler racers and the year Merc acquired Force.

There are a few simularities between the Chrysler racing lower unit and the McCulloch racing lower unit. This is because when McCulloch got out of racing in 1967 their racing R&D team became available and was picked up by Chrysler. The team consisted of Bob Kies, Jack Oxley and Danny Snead. I located and interviewed Kies and Oxley a few years back about their involvement with both companies. The early 105 Chyrsler racers just had the racing lower unit bolted on to a std short shaft powerhead. There were also racers badged as 120 and 135. Next they added the open megaphone exhaust and finally larger carbs, L-shaped piston rings and a higher compression ratio on the 150 hp racer. The early racing lower unit used a fat 7/8" prop shaft and couldn't use Merc Speedmaster props. The 150 type racing lower unit used the same splines on the prop shaft, but had more space between the shaft and exhaust outlet, so a larger diameter prop could be used compared to a Merc Super Speedmaster. There was also a 2" longer racing lower unit for bigger boats with taller transoms (the extra 2" is all under the cav plate). Chrysler never made a big splash in APBA OPC racing, but did very well in outboard drags, holding many speed records over the years.

The Bonneville mid sections were made by Bob Florian in California during the time Chrysler motors were popular and fast at the drag races. Bob also made short mids for 6 cylinder Mercs and 4 cylinder D Mercs; again popular with drag racers. The time frame was probably 1969 to 1972 for all Bonnies.

The Bonneville mids were intended to be used with Merc D clamps & swivel assemblies. The gear ratio is 17:15 (7% overdrive). There were optional 7% reduction gears, but they are very rare.

The most common ratio was the 15:14 (7% overdrive) and the much rarer 14:15 (7% underdrive). Strangely, there are also some units that were made with 19:18 gears (5% overdrive). I wonder why they would bother to make a second ratio that was so close to the standard one? Maybe the original ratio was 19:18 and later changed to the 15:14 to beef them up(???).

[Mark75H]

Strangely, there are also some units that were made with 19:18 gears (5% overdrive). I wonder why they would bother to make a second ratio that was so close to the standard one? Maybe the original ratio was 19:18 and later changed to the 15:14 to beef them up(???).

Kies strongly believed in alternate gear ratios and non-synchonized tooth ratios. The Mac's had many ratios and probably no matched tooth ratios.

A clue as to whether the 19:18 ratio was early or late would be whether the prop shaft was 7/8" or splined.

5% was probably to appease some racers that wanted a ratio closer to the Merc 1:1 ratio without going to 1:1.

1:1 gears wear out quicker than one tooth off ... after Carl was gone even Merc admitted this and change the Super Speedmaster to one tooth off.

[brichter]

Kies strongly believed in alternate gear ratios and non-synchonized tooth ratios. The Mac's had many ratios and probably no matched tooth ratios.

A clue as to whether the 19:18 ratio was early or late would be whether the prop shaft was 7/8" or splined.

5% was probably to appease some racers that wanted a ratio closer to the Merc 1:1 ratio without going to 1:1.

1:1 gears wear out quicker than one tooth off ... after Carl was gone even Merc admitted this and change the Super Speedmaster to one tooth off.

I had always thought it was the other way around, My reasoning is 1:1 gears always touch the same tooth so they will wear in to a tooth.
That is why you mark them before you take them apart.
When we ran the OMC V4s, we had a 1:1 that we put about 30 hours on and never had it apart. The 15:17 case lasted 3 hours and that was it.