pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

[rirory]

I Am New To This Site But I Love It And I Have Learned So Much. 6 Months Ago I Bought A 19'6'' Chrysler/lonestar Aluminum Boat. The Hull Looked Perfect.

First I Rebuilt A Used Galvanized Trailer And Coated It In A Product Called Hammerite. This Stuff Is Incredible For Rust Protection. In Salt Water, Coated Trailer Springs Used Once A Month Did Not Show Rust For 3 Years--on My Bay Boat.

Next Project--rebuild The Transom--went Way Better Than I Imagined. 2 Pieces Of 3/4'' Plywood Coated With Epoxy And The Edges Sealed With Steel Flex. I Was Even Able To Modify The Old Transom Cap And Reuse It.

The Floor Had 6''-8'' Of Poured Foam As A Base For The Floor. When I Removed It, I Found Some Small Areas Of Decay. After Reading This Site And Learned Of Gluvit. Here In Florida There Is A Product The Aluminum Airboat Builders Use Called Steel-flex. I Believe It Works The Same. After I Repaired Those Areas I Launched It In A Local Canal--no Leaks---however---lots Of Oil-canning---then It Hit Me--there Are No Ribs Or Stringers In This Foolish Boat---the Foam Was It's Only Support. I Had Aluminum Stringers Made At A Machine Shop--15 For $165. I Will Be Having A Friend Air Rivet Them In Place As He Is An Amatuer Airboat Builder. Has Anyone Ever Heard Or Seen An Aluminum Boat From The Factory Without Ribs??? Supposedly Chrysler/lonestar Invented The Poured Foam Process Between The Hull And Deck.

I Will Try To Post Some Pic's But My Files Are Coming Up Too Large. Thanks To All Who Have Made This Site Such A Resource For Those Of Us Who Enjoy Projects.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Like New 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: Like New 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

PLEASE, loose the all caps, extremely hard to read, also considered YELLING, on forums.

 

[rirory]

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Sorry about the caps--bad habit out of laziness. thanks for the tip.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

pictures http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=285637

 

[rirory]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Here are some pic's of this beautiful --19' deep vee aluminum

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Please resize the monster pictures to 640 x 480 in photobucket and re-post them.

nice boat

 

[rirory]

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

thanks---lots of work left. i may be asking for advice soon---rory

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

that is a LoneStar Hull, right after Chrysler, bought Lone Star.

 

[rirory]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Yep==you are on the money.

It is a Chrysler/Lonestar hull after Chrysler bought Lonestar in 1965. I was even able to buy an original brochure and parts list off e-bay.

I still can't believe there were no structural supports except for the poured foam.

thanks


rory

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Lone Star was way ahead of everyone else, the structure on that boat is in the Cap that runs around the boat. they were the ones who basically started trailer boating, as they also built there own trailers.

 

[rirory]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

TD-

I did not know that--but i liked hearing that because the cap is staying in tact as i build this side console fishing machine.

thanks for your knowledge.



rory

 

[tygurtail]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

I am re-doing my Polara as well. Transome was in good shape, but wood floor was rotted out. I did not remove the foam, so I hope there is no degradation of the aluminum. It sat for a few years with freshwater inside. I've had it "drying out" in my garage.
Ribs: Mine has ribs on the side that come down less than an inch from the floor. I intend to cut some aluminimum "L" (angle) and create some simple clips to tie the sides into my newly replaced floor.

Floor: I made the floor out of two layers of marine grade plywood which I cut and sealed with paint before installation. I intend to cover the new floor with Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Panels (white - like in restrooms) then seal the edges with a combination of aluminum flashing, expandable weatherstipping foam, and white emulsion roof coating (Henry's).

Advice: If you intend to repour the foam, I'd put some pressure treated 2 X 4's in strategic locations where you can fastend down your floor. Mine are rotted out and I'm relying on my rib clips and liquid nails to hold things in place. I've also beefed up the support under the dash so it feels more solid. I can send you photos of what I have if you'd like to restore yours in a similar fashion.

Best Wishes!

 

[redfury]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Chrysler wasn't really all that good on coming up with nautical boat names were they? I've seen Valiant, Fury and now Polara. I bet if they kept making boats, you could have gotten a Barracuda eventually, or maybe a big offshore boat with a wing called the Superbird

 

[rirory]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

new pic's coming--

chrysler did have ridiculous names--polara 254---254 was the cubic measurement

I am glad to see other Polara's out there. My advice to all-when it is time---remove the foam carefully, have a machine shop make high hats and have an aluminum person air rivet them in place. My Polara had decay--(tiny pinholes through the aluminum hull) under the foam even though it was a lake Erie boat. I then Steel-Flexed the entire inside of the hull. Steel Flex is like Glu-vit.

I will post pictures soon of where i am at in the rebuild. I just purchased a 2003 Yamaha 130hp in new condition for this project craft.

I am turning mine into a side console fishing boat.

Rustoleum's topside oyster white is very close to original---
Inter-lux's vermillion is very close to the ugly 1960's orange trim

any question--let me know

ri rory

 

[jonesg]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Chrysler wasn't really all that good on coming up with nautical boat names were they? I've seen Valiant, Fury and now Polara. I bet if they kept making boats, you could have gotten a Barracuda eventually, or maybe a big offshore boat with a wing called the Superbird

I like my chrysler commander,
the name indicates I'm in complete and full control...of something?:redface:

 

[diowrigh]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Pictures of my 1966 Lone Star.

 

[rirory]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

I finally finished my lonestar---2 years of labor----it is awesome--130 hp yamaha--40 mph, 2 livewells--interior lights, storage, stereo, ---going to lake Burton in georgia thi week----thank you to all who helped me through this process, it would not have been possible for a rookie like me.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Congrats! Happy Boating!

 

[rirory]

Re: completed pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: completed pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

once again, all of you helped me through this project. all of you starting project boats---push on--2 years later i have my dream fishing boat thanks to i-boat forums.

 

[pmillar]

Re: completed pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Re: completed pictures of 1966 Chrysler Polara 254 Aluminum Rebuild

Your boat looks fantastic. And as a bonus, it's nice to see an old thread revived by the original creator with a nice update.