1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

the epoxy coating is always frustratingly slow, esp if you have to do panels one side at a time. other projects to do in between batches actually can be good.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

No major progress but I did finish up the transom epoxy with the exception of the gimble hole cutting. I've been kinda leary about cutting it out of fear that the donor will have the newer transom upper two holes.. I got my inner transom corrosion JB Welded last night. Will be sanding it tonight. Then test fitting the transom board again.

But on a side note.... I did get my 100ft of #2awg cable pulled in and hooked up the disconnect and service panel so I can stop back feeding my breaker panel out at the shop from a ext. cord.. AWESOME FEELING right there being able to do all of it yourself....

 

[North Beach]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Showme I pulled a running I6 out of a 75 Islander here in VA and I'm pretty sure it's still available from the guy I sold it to?

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

SMG, you've just described why i tell my wife that TOOLS = EMPOWERMENT in our modern world where we have almost no power as individuals.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

B2, All I can say is trenching and dropping my own conduit pulling my wire, hangin my disconnect, hangin my new breaker panel, hanging and wiring all my overhead lights, and all my outlets as well as putting it into my Service meter panel saved me over 1500-2000 buckos.... That right there made my time learning ac/dc theory back in school and the little side work i've tagged along with some of my construction buddys being the gopher and just learning paid off big time..... BLAM!!!!!! Feels good brother.. feels good....

I have a line on a boat locally with an I-6 but it's one of those "ran when Parked" kinda deals... we will have to see fri night or sat. AM.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Thats cool. Just wanted to let you know. He bought it from me and I have video of it running on my Islander to CC conversion thread.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

prolly saved you more than that, plus you didn't have to wait for them to come do it. what drove me to buy the 20 ton press was being unable to find a machine shop that could/would do the rear wheel bearings on axle shafts of my wife's pickup. and finally, given what passes for "code" even in commercial bldgs, you know it was done right.

i don't think i'd kill myself too hard looking for an I6 when there are plenty of donors out there with the V6 and you get to update the whole 9 yards to more modern stuff. if you haven't done your floors yet, you could prolly also reclaim about 6-12" of cockpit space if you built a new doghouse.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

OK! Got me some progress news. I was able to pick up my donor boat (No title) and Trailer (with title) over the weekend. It has a Merc 165 and what looks to be a little newer outdrive? The boat is a Fiberglass 1976 Glasstron. The guy I bought it from said no cracked block and if so he will give my money back..... But for 300 bucks I'll prolly never talk to him again either way, even though he was a good enough guy.

Ok.. I was able to get the Merc. fired up and running in the old boat as sort of a test to see if I even wanted to bother trying to pull it from the boat. There is a fair about of water coming from under under the exhaust manifold. I am hoping either a gasket or a even a cracked manifold as I have a good one from the other motor. It does want to die after rev'ing it up, so I'd bet a carb rebuild will be in order. I did mean to get a compression test done but just ran outta time. I fought a no spark condition way to long till I broke out the service manual.. DOH!

Well anyways.. I'm kinda excited to get back to making some good headway again.

Pics later this week hopefully! Any idea on the best way to get the fuel tank outta the boat???? I really want a belly tank.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Sacrificial glasser, love it!

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

you mean getting the fuel tank out of the glasser? sawzall!

one of the few forms of unabashed juvenile destructive fun that's not too socially obnoxious is cutting up glassers.......

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Yeah.. I guess I'll have to do some research as I've no idea even how to start sawzalling a boat.. lol.... I'm sure there will be beers during the initial cut.....

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Yeah.. I guess I'll have to do some research as I've no idea even how to start sawzalling a boat.. lol.... I'm sure there will be beers during the initial cut.....

Let's see. Uummm. Get a case of beer - the cheap stuff, it gets all dusty chopping a glasser. Drink a toast to Neptune. Plug in the Sawzall or charge the batteries. Drink another toast to Neptune. Test the Sawzall for proper operation. One more toast to Neptune. Aim the Sawzall at the glasser, pull the trigger and go to town. Stop frequently to check proximity of the cut line to things you want to save - like the tank. And to toast Neptune for allowing you the honor of eliminating one of these from the seas. Proceed as necessary. If you run out of beer send the wife because you shouldn't be operating heavy equipment given the amount of toasting you've done. Oh, and be careful. Those glassers are a hazard to your health.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

SMG, you might also consider using a circ saw set for shallow cut to open things up around your tank....less chance of cutting through thre wrong thing. GA is right on the beer, but he forgot to mention goggles dust mask and the all-important Apocalyptic Soundtrack.....think the old Blue Oyster Cult number "Godzilla" for the proper feel:

HE PICKS UP A BUS AND THEN HE THROWS IT BACK DOWN
AS HE WADES THROUGH THE VILLAGE TOWARD THE CENTER OF TOWN
HELPLESS PEOPLE ON SUBWAY TRAINS
SCREAM TO GOD AS HE LOOKS IN ON THEM

Sevl old BOC songs have the right feel, as does Iron Man. if you get timing just right, you yank the tank as you sing along with ozzy I AM IRON MAN

or was that TIN MAN?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Or you could just...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nAZdqcsvuE

Whole lot less work for ya

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

SMG, you might also consider using a circ saw set for shallow cut to open things up around your tank....less chance of cutting through thre wrong thing. GA is right on the beer, but he forgot to mention goggles dust mask and the all-important Apocalyptic Soundtrack.....think the old Blue Oyster Cult number "Godzilla" for the proper feel:

HE PICKS UP A BUS AND THEN HE THROWS IT BACK DOWN
AS HE WADES THROUGH THE VILLAGE TOWARD THE CENTER OF TOWN
HELPLESS PEOPLE ON SUBWAY TRAINS
SCREAM TO GOD AS HE LOOKS IN ON THEM

Sevl old BOC songs have the right feel, as does Iron Man. if you get timing just right, you yank the tank as you sing along with ozzy I AM IRON MAN

or was that TIN MAN?

You're absolutely right, B2. What was I thinking? You need loud music to protect the ears from the wails and moans from the grinding campers.

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Word of warning SMG. If the foam is wet in the hull it will be a real mother to cut up. That's the voice of experience. The wet foam grabs the saw blades making it an absolute nightmare. Hopefully there is no foam.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

in which case you definitely want to start with the circ saw set for shallow cut, then use the Long Knives on the foam.

one thing i use to cut insul foam for the cabin is a push button torch and old butcher knife that i heat up with it....bet it would work for old hull foam too.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Great Info guys!!! He!! I'm just about ready to pour some Friggin gas on the dang donor boat already and toss a match to it..

I'm about fet up with people.. Not sure I could flat look a guy in the eye and tell him that no cracked block. Even what I thought was good guy, guess that shows how good I can judge a guy... I sent him pics of the yet again crack in the block on this boat. Note that he said he wouldn't even sell it if it had a cracked block and would give money back if so.

I will see just how true to his word he is. Not sure I could flat look a guy in the eye and tell him that. Especially as he looked/acted like me, a guy who gives the impression he knows how to work on stuff, as he was a bit of a farmer and was working on a hay rake when I showed up.... Makes me wanna drive it back dump it with gas tank included tie it off to a fence post and drive off with the trailer only and then match stick the boat in his driveway... KAAAABOOOMMMM!!!!!! GRRRR...

Man I need to get a bit of sleep and get off my soap box.

ATTN! If anyone is needing any sort of Merc 165 parts well guess what? I AM YOUR MAN!! Just don't be wanting a crack free engine block... Just sux..... I'm confident I can get my money back out of this boat but it's gonna take work and time I don't really feel like investing in it...

MF'r.... Over n Out.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

I still haven't drilled any holes in my new transom..........

Anyone have some links to some threads that when I/O to OB? How much work is that gonna take? I'm about ready to start looking for a big OB to hang off the back of this somehow......

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain owner.. SKEWWWWWIE!

Make an offshore bracket. I'm already planning mine when the white leg gives up the ghost. It's easy, I've been checking many brackets. I have the benefit of the large "stringer" drive stringers. Lots of metal to bolt too.

I still haven't drilled any holes in my new transom..........

Anyone have some links to some threads that when I/O to OB? How much work is that gonna take? I'm about ready to start looking for a big OB to hang off the back of this somehow......