1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

That was easy! Your second pic looks you're trying to crank her over. You may have celebrated one too many.

Looks like you have a nice, big work area, Show. Good looking tractors too.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

I make broom broom noises in my boat sitting in the garage entirely sober, I see no issue here

Ok, maybe a big glass of KoolAid down the hatch just to loosen up a little

 

[Grandad]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Ok... while I was flexing and patting myself on the back for getting the drive unit off. I wasn't really set up for pulling the motor so I got to pulling trim and bumper rubber (is that what it's called?) off the stern end of the boat.
It looks like the plywood expanded or swell up and pushed up on the top of the cap piece of AL.

So... I was lookin at the starboard and port side (look at me using all the dang fancy nautical terms) lol.. and well am I going to have to pull off the bow cap and push out the bumper rubber towards the front to be able to bend up that stern cap???

As Jas said, you need to access the screws holding the last couple of feet of rub rail in place. The screw heads are behind the rubber, so you need to force it out of place first. Once the aluminum trim is pried (minimally) away from the sides of the hull and the aluminum angle trimming the cockpit is removed, the entire stern deck skin can be removed by drilling out only a few pop rivets. I found removing the aluminum sheet was the most expedient way to clear the way for transom work. I replaced the skin with a new sheet and relocated some of the deck fittings while I was at it. Note that once the rubber is no longer held in place by the screws through the corner castings, it may shrink substantially in length as mine did. I sacrificed the transom rubber piece to add length to the side rubber pieces. - Grandad

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

As Jas said, you need to access the screws holding the last couple of feet of rub rail in place. The screw heads are behind the rubber, so you need to force it out of place first. Once the aluminum trim is pried (minimally) away from the sides of the hull and the aluminum angle trimming the cockpit is removed, the entire stern deck skin can be removed by drilling out only a few pop rivets. I found removing the aluminum sheet was the most expedient way to clear the way for transom work. I replaced the skin with a new sheet and relocated some of the deck fittings while I was at it. Note that once the rubber is no longer held in place by the screws through the corner castings, it may shrink substantially in length as mine did. I sacrificed the transom rubber piece to add length to the side rubber pieces. - Grandad

This is exactly how I did it last night....

Ohhhhh SNAP!!!! Gots my inner transom plate out, outer gimble housing and all that stuff out...


Oh, you thought that I was done for the night, Mr. Vin"TIN"age" boat.... HA! I pulled that stern aluminum plate off..... en deeen you say??? ennn deeeennn????? Well then all the screws came outta the old transom, but some of them were just spinning and wouldn't come out so i had to get my side cutters and pretty much just pull them out. Then broke out my handy dandy cherry picker and strap and uppsy daisy the old transom came outtie...

Today is gonna be yard work day I think... I see the neighbor has a line of little evergreens he wants put in (not the most physically able guy).... Good excuse to use the post hole digger and a tractor , then mulch etc... maybe with some of that outside of the transom :facepalm: .. it was rough and rotton there mostly. Not as bad as a few others I'd seen here but will be a good template....

Prolly some pics tonight or this afternoon. I had to have the gal take pics for me since I left my camera at work..

Have a good weekend ya'll.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

A bit of a set back on the whole overall project on the Chieftain..... Guess I should've done a bit more due dilgence on the overall lookie on the boat. Got me a cracked block found it when I was running it on blocks today.. UGH! SOAB.....

So I'm looking for thoughts on where to go... Longblock, etc? Kinda bummed as I got alot done on the boat before finding this out.... Not sure if I'll sink much more into it.....

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Sorry to hear that Show. Is it donor boat time?

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Would this work in the boat? There is something different on the right side of it that isn't on the one I have now...???? It's in Missouri so that would be nice.. and price seems right..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/mercruiser-..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item231b56a036&vxp=mtr

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

If you are talking about the cylinder along the right side, it's the heat exchanger for a closed cooling system. It should work fine.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

OK wait, hang on a sec...

First thing I'd do if I were in your shoes is make sure that outdrive is 100% before you grab a replacement engine.

Why?

Well, like GA mentioned, maybe it might be time for a donor boat.

See, if the outdrive is shot than you may as well pick up a whole total package from a donor boat rather than piecing together a driveline. And in that case it may be worth considering a V6 as an option as well.

If the outdrive is all good, than an I6 replacement would probably be the best route to take.

Good news?

You are still only into this boat for $650. You can probably part out a few things off that shot I6 and recoop a little cash

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

OK wait, hang on a sec...

First thing I'd do if I were in your shoes is make sure that outdrive is 100% before you grab a replacement engine.

Why?

Well, like GA mentioned, maybe it might be time for a donor boat.

See, if the outdrive is shot than you may as well pick up a whole total package from a donor boat rather than piecing together a driveline. And in that case it may be worth considering a V6 as an option as well.

If the outdrive is all good, than an I6 replacement would probably be the best route to take.

Good news?

You are still only into this boat for $650. You can probably part out a few things off that shot I6 and recoop a little cash

Ahh very true you are. I'm not up to my eyeballs yet with money in this boat yet! When you say test the outdrive, can you elabroate on that? Just a pressure test or what exactly?

Sorry to hear that Show. Is it donor boat time?

It very may well be.....

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Just a pressure test or what exactly?

Well, I am a total rookie. So I won't be of any help. I took my outdrive off and stuck it in the corner of my basement and haven't looked at it since.

First, easy step, is drain the oil to check for any water intrusion. Check for rust/slop on the U Joints. Check the water impeller. Pressure test. General stuff like that.

I'd certainly head over to the Merc forum, check the stickies, read a whole bunch, and ask questions instead of taking my word for things though.

Cheers

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Show - Jason made a good point which I glossed over. Check the outdrive. No sense picking up a motor and finding out the the rest is bad too. How To FAQ's are at the top of most the motor forums include links to pressure and vacuum test the LU. The Mercruiser forums have some pretty smart fellas. Kinda picky about wanting the model and serial numbers for some reason. Scan through some of the posts and you'll see why. LOL That eBay motor would be a good choice depending on $$$.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Yup, plus it would be wise to take a close look at trim pump, rams, gimbal housing, transom shield.... All that stuff can really add up, fast! That's where a donor boat has a huge advantage. But, if all you are in need of is an I6 replacement, than grabbing something like that one on eBay may be just the ticket

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Yup.. You guys are on target I think.... I just want to try to keep from putting/buying someone else POS and be in the same situation I'm in now....

But without further adooo.... PICS!!!!!!

No motor.. just the inner transom plate.

Mint condition cabin...

No motor or inner transom plate....

Pulling the transom out

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Transom all the way up and over... thing is pretty heavy.

Some Corrosion on the inside of the transom plate. What do you all do to clean that up? Just sander?

The GSD Jazz'r says.. how do I get in there???? lol

No floor cleaning up

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

A Mercruisier 165 with a cracked block running.... :facepalm:

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Excellent progress Guy! Fur your inside transom skin, yah a sander should clean that right up no prob.

OK, question on your I6 there...

Really should have asked before....

The crack, is it just on the outside water jacket? Or are we getting water in the oil?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

I was wondering the same thing. Lots of guys running with external only cracks that have been JB Welded or stitch welded. Drill the ends so it doesn't grow.

You have very little corrosion on that hull. It is in exceptionally good condition. I'd sand that corrosion off, and hit the inside there with some etching primer and then Rusto or POR15 or something like that.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

I was wondering the same thing. Lots of guys running with external only cracks that have been JB Welded or stitch welded. Drill the ends so it doesn't grow.

Yah baby, that's what I'm hoping for here

Give us some good news Guy!

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Well, When i drained the oil it had quite a bit of water that came out first.. I guess I could try to run it some more and see what happens.. I didn't run it all that long.. Not sure how long it needs to run to get water in the oil.... It was lookin nice and black as I used me some used oil from my car that gets religiously changed every 3k.... didn't wanna put new oil in it to find out it was just gonna get immediatly mixed with water....
I might put that manifold back on it and run it a good 30-40 mins and go from there....