42hp Pathfinder Marine Engine

[lfreeman]

Shoalcove,

Thanks for the reply, I'll give the email a try.

Larry

[delmarrey]

I have a manual, if you need any special info.

[martincn35]

Hi,
Is there anyone selling a used Pathfinder VW diesel engine in good or bad condition?
I know those engine pretty well, so it would not be too hard for me to fix it.
I have installed one in my VW Westfalia van.

Martin, in Montreal.

[clockwork orange]

I love the VW diesels,my Passat is a 1.9L tdi with 230k and has been totally reliable,my son has just put the same engine in a VW Corrado.I too would like to pick up a used Pathfinder or the parts to convert a Rabbit engine.
Steve.

[Captain Lee]

I was in Montreal last month and called Pathfinder. John answered the phone, confirmed Pathfinder is a going concern, selling engines. I do not recall whether they sell parts, but he said he is able to provide me a manual specific to my own Pathfinder if I provide the engine serial number.

A search of www.ic.gc.ca, a Canadian government registry of companies, lists 514-695-6676 as the phone number, 514-695-1080 as the fax number, and pathfinder@pathfinder.com as the e-mail address. John Scherer is listed as a manager.

Of interest, I found Pathfinder Marine Inc. by following one guy's online rant about the company. Not having had any contact with either the boatowner or the company, my sympathies go to the company. For me, it proves the old saying that all publicity is good publicity-it was my fastest route to finding Pathfinder.

I have no useful comments yet about the engine-I have become the volunteer mechanic for an Islander 44 schooner and this is the original engine-still running despite a truly reckless and irresponsible owner (my friend) who has done next to no maintenance on it for 20 years.

[delmarrey]

Well, tell him to keep an eye on the 'timing belt idler pulley'. This one broke the cam in two places, bent 4 valves, toasted 6 tappets and three shims. Around $900 just in parts.
It was idling when it went so no harm to the pistons or cylinders, other then that it ran pretty good w/just 7000 hours. I've talked to some guys with them in the little Rabbit trucks and they have 3 times that 7000 (350,000 miles).

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Captain Lee.

Thanks for the Pathfinder contact information. We look forward to hearing more, as you gain practical experience with your friend’s abused engine.

[Captain Lee]

Thanks for the comments, GordMay and Delmarrey. Delmarrey, the photo of your engine is excellent because the idler pulley does look prominently missing. Mine is that same bright orange color-quite a standout.

[delmarrey]

Yeah! It's called Chevy Orange. One can get it in the auto parts stores.

[nhschneider]

I owned a '78 Rabbit with a diesel engine in it (first new car I purchased) and it ran great. Turned it into a delivery car for my company when it had about 100k miles on it and it continued to run fine. Eventually, it rusted out and had to be junked but not before it gave many years of economical service.

I also owned an Islander Freeport 36 that was equipped with with a Pathfinder. We found the engine to be very reliable - in 1994, we cruised up into the Sea of Cortez and then bashed back to San Diego. The location of the engine made it very quiet in the cockpit, relatively speaking. We had installed a high-output alternator on it but other than that, it was original and virtually trouble-free.

Fair winds and calm seas.