1974 24' Chieftan Express project

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Boy that looked like quite the challenge getting that power plant out. I never knew they made something like that.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

View attachment 222253

And this is just after I got the engine and shift out. That mid engine placement made the task much harder

Chief --- lovin' your're new bird feeder --- must be for some big birds man!

Seriously though, nice work on getting that out! No doubt it's good to get that part over and be moving on to the next part of the project!!!

Jim

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project



A moment of silence for poor SLAMM... Now I have a sweet empty trailer to paint once it gets a lot warmer!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Looks like SLAMM got ........um..... SLAMMED.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Hey did you already get the good stuff out like the fuel tanks and such?

What did they charge ya to dump that anyhow?

Bye, bye nasty glasserainkiller:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

OK - Moment of silence over. Back to tin, Chief.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Jas, I stripped everything worth while out of her. Seats (nice ones, will use one in each of my SC's I think), tanks, steering, gauges, swim platform, lights, horn, drive train of course, and most of the scrap metal. The trim tabs were broken so I left them on. I sold the tanks last month for $120 on ebay.
Cost $54.75 to dump if

GA, yep back to tin.... I maaaaaaaaaaaay have stood in the Chief making vroom vroom sounds this afternoon....

SLAMMs hull was pretty stout though, we watched the guy spend 2 minutes trying to cracking it with the loader with no success. He was driving over it as we left and it still was holding together!!

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

That was cool, I always like to see glassers destroyed by heavy equipment.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Since it's too cold and snowy to do much on the boat, I've been pondering kicker engines and how to mount one while having a full swim platform. First, what size engine would you think would be needed for this size boat? I don't fish much so this would be to get me back to the dock should the main engine die. There's a great looking deal on a 7.5 hp Game Fisher right now on CL, but I'm wondering if that's going to be big enough.

How much fuel would a 7.5-15 hp engine use? My thought is to have a 6 gallon tank set up for it and have a short length of rubber tube aboard should I need to siphon off my main tanks.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

I'd think on a nice calm day on Lake Huron, that 7.5 should get you back.

Of course you know that your engine will give up when you have 4 foot breakers, 30 knot winds, you'll be 20 miles from shore, and that wind will catch that big chief like a sail, you know that right? Yup, that's prolly what's going to happen.:embarassed:

I'm thinking 9.9 at least with a 15 hp being ideal for what you are looking for, prolly. :thumb:

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

I went with a 15 hp 4 stroke, would have settled for a 9.9 but this was the deal I couldn't refuse. The boat in my sig line is 4000 lbs dry and pretty tall. I chose the 4 so I do not have to have the external tank - just another thing to take up space. My main tank is 75 gal so unless I pull a big stupid and run out I'm going to be able to go a LONG time on the kicker.


We broke down in on lake coeur d'alene years ago in dads 25 mid 80's Sea Ray Dancer (pretty tall as well) and his 6 hp 'rude did fine in medium wind. Sitting at the tiller was an unpleasant part of the journey. I'm adding a steering bracket to mine.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

On an 18-21ft, 7.5hp maybe, but on a 24ft'r there's a heck of a lot of broad side to catch wind in less then ideal conditions. So agreed, 15hp.

Might even try to wait for a deal on a 4stroke & tap into the main fuel tank. Problems w/ the fuel IN the main tank would be low on the what's wrong list, IMO, when the main engine won't run. Using the same tank to feed the kicker would be my preferred choice.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

oh and when buying the bracket watch the capacities closely - I'm not real bright and kinda got confused but int he end got the right one.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

She is a tall boat so the wind would push her quite a bit. I will keep my eyes open for a larger engine. Like a Game Fisher 15hp for $300.....

A 4 stroke would be nice, I'm just wondering if it will be too heavy since it will be hanging 14" or so off the transom. Looks like a game Fisher 15hp weights 58 lbs vs 115 lbs for a 15hp 4 stroke

 

[laurentide]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Much smaller boat, but an old evinrude twin 4hp 2 stroke pushes my 18' Chief at hull speed, 5-6 knots I'd say. Of course that's only in moderate wind, but you might be surprised how a 9.9 or so will move that boat.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

The 15hp game Fisher for $300 sold.... why don't sellers remove their listing off CL once sold????

Here are the brackets I'm looking at. One goes under the swim platform and bolts directly to the transom. The other bolts to the swim platform. Both are only rated to 9.9 hp high thrust and 141 pounds. That's enough for the 15hp 4 strokes (about 115 pounds) but not the HP. But I've seen several 4 strokes for about $1300 on CL. I wonder if it's worth it for an extra $800-$1000

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Just buzzed by your dry dock, pretty nice Chief you have there. We have a crowd of Chief restores going on right now. When the weather warms up some my donor glasser is going to suffer the same fate as Slam.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

I found 15 hp 4 stoke for $650 on CL. New their only about $13-1700 so if you cant find too good of a deal, buy new.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Quick engine question for you guys. I have pulled the outdrive off, removed the engine mounts, and disconnected the cables- is there anything else holding the engine in place? I'm particularly interested in the shaft area... I cannot see it due to the 1' wide molding on the transom. I need to lift the engine off the mounts and slide it forward a foot before lifting it out.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Quick engine question for you guys. I have pulled the outdrive off, removed the engine mounts, and disconnected the cables- is there anything else holding the engine in place? I'm particularly interested in the shaft area... I cannot see it due to the 1' wide molding on the transom. I need to lift the engine off the mounts and slide it forward a foot before lifting it out.

You will have the water hose from the out/drive, should be on the port side of the intake manifold / thermostat housing. The rubber bellows connector between the cast exhaust elbow and the down pipe. and the shift and throttle cables. I think that should have it.