Perkins ST.63544M manifold / heat exchanger

[scope1969]

Hello TF friends,

I recently purchased a Californian 34 LRC with twin Perkins ST.63544M 200hp diesel engines. It's running good but my mechanic recommends that I replace the heat exchanger/manifolds to ensure reliability. I have made a few calls and can't seem to find the parts in stock anywhere (TAD, Southwest, etc). However, Mark at Marine Exhaust Systems in Alabama can fabricate them but it's prohibitively expensive. To bring the cost down, he says we could order several (e.g. 12) and spread the design/fabrication costs (economies of scale) down considerably. It's a long-shot but I am hoping to find a group of people out there who need the same thing and make this happen in the next year or so. Beyond that, if anyone here on TF knows where I can find some used ones in good shape, that could also work.

Cheers,

Sean

 

[scope1969]

I have already contacted all 3 of the above (TAD, SW, MrCool) and none of them have what I need but thanks...

 

[Sidney]

Can you confirm your Engine models? I can't find anything to match that in our systems. (Trying to see if we have these manifolds in our service inventory.)

Thanks,

Sidney

 

[scope1969]

Perkins ST.63544M

My engines are Perkins ST.63544M and according to Southwest Products, the manifolds are no longer available.

Sean

 

[scope1969]

Here is a link to the product page which is, apparently, no longer available.


image2020-08-20-155527.pdf

 

[Max Simmons]

What is specifically failing in the heat exchanger? I pulled mine off a couple years ago (around 2,200 hrs I think) and had them cleaned and inspected at a local shop, got a new gasket kit and put em back to work. It looked almost new after the cleaning.

 

[scope1969]

Perkins ST.63544M

My mechanic thinks it would be risky to detach/clean - too much corrosion, etc. Recommends just keeping the rpm around 1000-1500 and keeping it light duty which is fine for now...but it would be nice to fix/replace if possible.

 

[mvweebles]

Suggest a second opinion to evaluate your manifolds. I see you're in Sausalito. I'd call Eric Mashbir (510-851-1246) who is out of Oakland. He's not cheap, and he's damn busy, but he's a helluva wrench. I've known him for almost 25-years. If you see him, tell him Peter on the old Willard from Treasure Island said hello.

Peter

 

[sunchaser]

Paying the money for a new pair of coolers may well be a smart investment. How much did MESA quote? Are yours the manicooler design where one unit does all? I agree with your having the manifold removed and inspected.

Also check the TF archives for a thread on removing a hard to find and expensive Perkins manifold. The thread described building up the unit to near new condition. Welding and shop skills required.

Then you've got the inevitable exhaust elbow check and replacement. Forty year old marine diesel "hang ons" like a Perkins elbow and manifold are well known trouble spots. These failure points are not unique to Perkins. Be patient, the right option will appear.

 

[Lepke]

It may be cheaper to have a welding shop build manifolds out of stainless and add a stand alone heat exchanger.
If you had accurate drawings, there are companies that make 3D printed sand casting molds. Probably cheaper than the average foundry, but still expensive.
Contact Parts4engines: https://www.parts4engines.com/
They sell lots of Perkins parts and may know of a replacement. I buy my Perkins parts there.

You might keep checking on ebay, there are people there that part out older engines.
Also https://www.surplusman.com/ has some Perkins parts. You could leave your name and needs.

If you take the manifold off and clean it, you could have it audio gauged and know how much metal remains. A good welding shop can weld cast iron and build up thin areas if they can be reached.
As a last choice, you could fit a tractor/industrial manifold.

 

[mvweebles]

If you take the manifold off and clean it, you could have it audio gauged and know how much metal remains. A good welding shop can weld cast iron and build up thin areas if they can be reached.

I forget exactly, but some (not all) of the 6.354's had integral heat exchanger/exhaust manifolds. I forget exactly where, but they had aluminum mated to cast-iron with an o-ring separating them. Any amount of weep would cause some fairly fast oxidation of the cast aluminum. Definitely the weak part of the engine.

The OP posted that his mechanic said to keep the RPMs in the lower range. I really think a second opinion would be helpful here. SF Bay has some decent Perkins' mechanic's around there. I would definitely query someone else just to make sure.

I too would be curious to know the cost MESA quoted. I have purchased some exhaust parts through them and while diesel exhaust components are not cheap, I thought their prices were reasonable for the quality/work involved.

Peter