1959 Lone Star El Dorado "Project Texas Tornado" - Winner 2016 Resto SOTY Award

[Luke000]

Looking good so far, with the attention to detail the trailer should hold up really well over the years. Bed liner is good for trailer step areas, I used it on my trailer step pads.

Thanks for the info on the bed liner- I am going to go that route!

 

[Luke000]

Today, I got a more paint on some pieces- nothing much to report. The frame will need a good sanding and a final coat. the other parts are in two groups and either waiting for their final coat or the first top coat. More painting tomorrow and sunday and possibly monday YAY :happy:

 

[Watermann]

Thanks for the info on the bed liner- I am going to go that route!

I don't like cluttering up guys threads with my pics so let me know if you want me to take it off, I don't mind. Here is what the Rusto bed liner in a spray can does, 2 coats an hour apart and pull the tape before it dries otherwise it will tear into the finished surface.

 

[Luke000]

I don't like cluttering up guys threads with my pics so let me know if you want me to take it off, I don't mind. Here is what the Rusto bed liner in a spray can does, 2 coats an hour apart and pull the tape before it dries otherwise it will tear into the finished surface.

I dont mind the pictures at all! It is all good references I can use. That is just the look I am going for and I am glad to see it turn out nice. I just did a bunch of smaller parts to the trailer today- they all turned out looking great Tomorrow I will do a little sanding on the trailer frame and tounge as well as the final coat of paint. It is all going to dry for a day or two then I am going to spend Tuesday putting it all back together and probably Wednesday too between my classes in the afternoon.

 

[Luke000]

It took a LOT of work and a pretty penny, but the Lone Star's chariot is finished! The assembly took a little longer than I expected, there was lots of measurements and adjustments that I had to make on everything from the rollers to the new, longer, fixed bunks and the winch mast.

New parts to the trailer include:
all rollers, bunks, fasteners (grade 8 and 5), winch, bearings, seals, side marker lights, coupler, safety chains, entire tongue bar, tires and wheels, fenders, tie-down anchors. The tail lights and jack are almost new but came from the PO.

The center walkway of the trailer was painted with bed liner today, I planned to use some roll-on bed liner but when I went to do it, I found out that it had solidified in the container over the last year, So I picked up some rustolium rattle can bed liner and masked the trailer off with plastic and sprayed away! It turned out quite nice!



Again, this is the look I wanted to copy and keep the original look of the trailer (with a few modern touches)



And the final result!



​

 

[Luke000]

And some more pictures!

 

[Tnstratofam]

I have serious trailer envy right now. Great job!:thumb:

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Nice job! It looks great!

 

[nurseman]

Just read through your thread, very cool boat, can't wait to see your finished work. Trailer is looking very sweet! I'm going to be re-working my trailer this winter, so I am paying close attention to what others are doing with their trailers. Like the bed liner on the walkway, very functional and looks good as well. I am subscribing to follow along!

 

[Luke000]

Thanks everyone for the good words! Finally got the boat back up on the trailer again and it only took 3 people and an engine hoist . The bunks and rollers needed a lot of adjusting but I got it tuned in right and she sits nice and snug now, better than ever. The next project I have lined up is to remove a bunch of bad rivets, along with the transom and a few other items. Then it is time to make a new transom and start bucking some rivets! Does anyone know how to measure and find out what size rivets I need to order? I found an unused rivet embedded in the foam but I cant find it anymore

On the towing rig during a quick test ride.



I also have my eye on a donor boat for a new motor- I will have to see what the price is, but if it right, I think I will have to grab it. The motor is a '94 Evinrude 70HP tripple. This is the motor I have been wanting for a while after doing some research in the engine section.

 

[Tnstratofam]

The rivet sizes will vary based on how many layers of metal you are putting together. I ordered 4 different lengths of 3/16 rivets from rivetsonlie when I redid my transom. Don't forget to get rivets with aluminum shanks not steel. The steel ones rust. I ended up replacing some along the hull in different spots after I re did my transom due to a leak. My deck had been replace by the previous owner so I couldn't easily access the leaking rivets to buck them or use gluvit on them.

 

[Arawak]

Don't forget to get rivets with aluminum shanks not steel. The steel ones rust.

AND will be a massive PITA to remove in the future! Grrr....

 

[classiccat]

I don't know about lone-star but StarCraft uses brazier head rivets. You'll need special rivet sets for these. 3/16" is a great all around diameter with lengths ranging from 3/8" through 5/8". If holes are larger than 3/16", you may want to have some 1/4" diameter on-hand (along with the appropriate rivet set)...or consider patching.

I've found that longer rivets are a little more challenging to buck; the tails will have a tendency to curl-over on you...which of course is no good.

The rule-of thumb is to have 1.5x the rivet diameter exposed before bucking; for a 3/16" diameter rivet, total length = total material thickness + 9/32".

Hope that helps!

 

[Luke000]

Well I ordered up the punch and set for my air gun. I got the stuff for 3/16 brazier head rivets, I was about to place my order of 200 rivets (100 7/16 length and 100 1/2) and I noticed that rivetsonline is only 20 miles from my house so ill save the $10 shipping and go pick them up sometime this week.

On another- more disappointing note, I lost the auction for my engine donor boat. It was a 1994 Alumacraft Dominator with shoreland'r trailer and a 70HP Evinrude triple (1994) The boat had a rotted transom and floor. I topped out at $1351 and it sold for $1376 on ebay. I was getting pretty excited about picking it up, but I guess it was not meant for me out:

 

[classiccat]

Bummer on the auction! The good news is that 3cyl Johnny-rudes are a dime a dozen...and for good reason...Darn things are bullet proof, easy to work on and parts are abundant! I'm confident that you'll find another one! :thumb:

 

[Tnstratofam]

We've got a lot of good donor boats showing up on our local cl I'm sure that with boating season winding down you'll find another good motor combo. Keep us posted. Some of us are living vicariously through all the other restos as ours are stuck in limbo. I for one can't wait to see where you go with this one. I think your Lone Star is going to be awesome.

 

[Luke000]

Bummer on the auction! The good news is that 3cyl Johnny-rudes are a dime a dozen...and for good reason...Darn things are bullet proof, easy to work on and parts are abundant! I'm confident that you'll find another one! :thumb:

We've got a lot of good donor boats showing up on our local cl I'm sure that with boating season winding down you'll find another good motor combo. Keep us posted. Some of us are living vicariously through all the other restos as ours are stuck in limbo. I for one can't wait to see where you go with this one. I think your Lone Star is going to be awesome.

I have been scouring CL all across michigan and it is surprisingly void of good donor boats! I was expecting to see a bunch of them for the picking. The one I lost was in Chicago, so I am willing to drive about 300 miles if the deal is good (I am in metro Detroit) There is one I found down in ohio with an evinrude 70 with a new powerhead, Ebbtide boat, and a trailer. I sent the guy an email and waiting on a resonse. The motor I want is a johnny-rude 70, long shaft, with power trim and hopefully an oil-injection system. I have a max budget for about $1500 for a boat/motor/trailer. The good news is I have a new cherry picker and a heavy duty outboard stand from the last restoration ready to go!

 

[Woodonglass]

Have you ever used AdHuntr. It lets you search every Craigslist in every city in the US. You can filter it my region.

 

[64osby]

http://dayton.craigslist.org/boa/4707325460.html $500

http://lexington.craigslist.org/boa/4649579641.html $1200

http://southbend.craigslist.org/boa/4666663776.html $1200

1 or 3 would be my choices, #3 gets you another tinny.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/4677592545.html $950

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/boa/4680504958.html $500

http://southbend.craigslist.org/boa/4660088463.html Motor only $400 Saw PTT in Ohio for $175.

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/boa/4657205538.html Ugly $450

http://fortwayne.craigslist.org/boa/4686529610.html $800

You can send a check for the difference to me. :laugh:

 

[jbcurt00]

Yeah, 64's posted a few good choices.

Keep plugging away at the boat, and just keep an eye out. Between now and xmas, I'd bet quite a few more pop up, probably even closer to home...