ttdjm has posted some photos of Crofton sales pamphlets.
on one page there is a mention of a 53cu in 45hp CROFTON engine.
Is the 53 cid 45hp engine based on the CROSLEY block?? Is it a
bolt in replacement for the car engine. The sales lit mentions HD
rear axle, brakes and other parts. How much of a CROFTON is
interchangeable with the CROSLEY Car.
Crofton 53 ci with 45 hp was the same as the 44 except
bore was 2.75, same as Homelite, keeping the 2.25 stroke. Don't
know if was lefthand ports or standard right or if came either
way. I have Crofton sales pamphlets listing the engine for boat
applications. The Homelite I looked at had more material on
outside of block, between the waterjacket covers and the mounting
flange. There is not enough room for the hold down nuts so they
drilled and tapped from flange face side and screwed in studs that
were long enough to go all the way through to main caps! I imagine
that the Crofton 53 was done the same way. The Homelite also had a
camshaft that was twice the size of a Crosley but kept the same
gear drive.
Doug – Summer 2008
I need the correct air cleaner for my 58 Crofton Bug.
BrawnyBug – Summer 2008
It will be very very difficult to find an original air filter. Your best bet is to use a K&N filter. Which one depends on whether you have a right handed engine or a left handed engine. (Serious, not kidding). A standard Crosley engine is right handed, both manifolds are on the right side (passenger side) of the engine. Crofton had right handed and left handed engines. Many of the Bugs had left handed engines. As such you have different throttle linkages and they can interfere with an air cleaner.
The original air cleaner was a canister connected to a 90 degree rubber tube into the carb. The canister then hung from the radiator support rod. Bad design. The canister would constantly vibrate loose and fall into the fan.
On my own Bug with the left handed engine I am using a K&N filter #RU1429. A small filter with a 45 degree bend in the neck. On a Bug the carb is very close to the firewall, you need the bend to get the clearance.