1974 Chieftain 25 "Adventurer" Restoration

[IslandExplorer]

you will figure it out lil grasshopper.....lol

Hopefully! lol I think I found the timing info bc it seems to match how this thing was set up. Was too dark way too early last night to get any good pictures but all the plugs, wires, coil and the new distributor are now in. Hopefully I'm not a whole tooth off on the distributor timing! Going to tackle the motor mounts now and try to wrestle out the last rotten freeze plugs...

 

[IslandExplorer]

Freeze plugs are in and all set. When hooked to garden hose block now fills with water and then starts spilling out the exhaust risers instead of just pouring out the side of the block so that's a plus! First quick test spin of engine no-go. Seems like it is not firing. Worried when I swapped distributor I may have screwed the timing all up. Was dark and hard to tell what I was doing so will try again tomorrow...

 

[IslandExplorer]

Fuel pump, lines, and filter removed. Peering in a little through the port it looks pretty clean inside for a 15-20 year abandon job I think. The oil pan dipstick port is leaking after messing with it and the motor mounts so that's going to have to be resealed somehow. Wanted to do a new oil pan gasket anyway.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Fuel pump is on! Need to get a new hard line from pump to carb but have a hose hooked up to test.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Started right up super easy! Engine sounds awesome. This thing is just dripping with good old American pushrod horsepower!! Can you believe it runs at all never mind actually even idles at lowest throttle setting despite never having rebuilt or even opened up the old Holly that has been dormant for 15-20 yrs? Accelerator pump diaphragm is still leaking but other than that, think she's good to go!

 

[1975oday22]

Started right up super easy! Engine sounds awesome. This thing is just dripping with good old American pushrod horsepower!! Can you believe it runs at all never mind actually even idles at lowest throttle setting despite never having rebuilt or even opened up the old Holly that has been dormant for 15-20 yrs? Accelerator pump diaphragm is still leaking but other than that, think she's good to go!

DAMNNNNNN!!!!!! Shes purrin like a kitten ...... awesome.... im sure your happier then a pig in **** right now. raises a glass of whisky and says cheers.......

 

[IslandExplorer]

DAMNNNNNN!!!!!! Shes purrin like a kitten ...... awesome.... im sure your happier then a pig in **** right now. raises a glass of whisky and says cheers.......

Hell yeah I am, finally some mechanical progress! Thinking I'm going to do the oil pan gasket too before I set the motor back in its home. Cheers!

 

[piperjoe]

Very impressive start up on your engine, especially the idle. I am always amazed at the mechanical knowledge shared by those who know what they are doing. Happy day indeed!

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[IslandExplorer]

Very impressive start up on your engine, especially the idle. I am always amazed at the mechanical knowledge shared by those who know what they are doing. Happy day indeed!

Safe boating,
Joe

Thanks Joe, I still can't believe it idles now. In my experience sometimes a steady idle can be the toughest thing to achieve. Thinking the previous owner must have legitimately drained and winterized this thing all those years ago. It started up on the old ignition system months ago but I had to constantly rev and pump the throttle to keep it going. Thinking it was running on all of about 4 cylinders then!

 

[piperjoe]

You might want to change out the belt too, if you haven’t already done so. Don’t want that breaking under extended use and hard telling how old it is. Nevertheless it sure is nice to see and hear the engine running!

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[IslandExplorer]

You might want to change out the belt too, if you haven’t already done so. Don’t want that breaking under extended use and hard telling how old it is. Nevertheless it sure is nice to see and hear the engine running!

Safe boating,
Joe

Oh for sure, definitely want a nice new belt on there. I took the belt off to clean the pulleys real quick with a wire brush and it seemed surprisingly flexible but it's being replaced. It's nice how it is such a simple one-belt, three-pulley system! I'll probably zip tie this old belt to a hose or something in the engine bay as I like to do so it is poised as an emergency spare.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Oil pan is off for gasket replacement and to see what the deal is with the dipstick. Posted a separate thread asking about the look of the pistons as far as being stock and if they look like they're in good shape or not. I'm definitely seeing some blue paint around the block that may have had black over it but not sure. Thought Mercruisers were 100% painted black back then. Anyhow, here's where it is now.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Too bad they didn't include this with my gauge cluster. I don't have an idiot light, I have an idiot GAUGE!

 

[jdvasher]

Mercruiser 3 button control ready for action.
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man this looks awesome

 

[IslandExplorer]

man this looks awesome

Thanks! I might be building the helm today and mounting that control finally.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Stripped the old paint off with a wire wheel. Did primer last night and doing 3 coats of Old Ford Blue like she deserves today, this is first coat. Man I love the darker Old Ford Blue color, should've stayed with it.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Been trying to figure out what I will make the helm out of now that new materials are out of the budget. After discussing an idea with a friend I decided to incorporate some cool local history into it. These pieces of wood are part of a WWII supply crate that was sent to an island amphibious aircraft and torpedo base here in RI. There is a rich Naval history around here that I love and what better way to enjoy and share it by making an artifact like this part of the boat! I have another piece of wood (that I am saving) that has an original SeaBees logo stenciled on it if you can believe it.

United States Naval Construction Battalion, aka "CB's", aka SeaBees. An awesome and very important part of US Naval history.

 

[1975oday22]

gonna be a very unique and center of all talks on board...

 

[IslandExplorer]

gonna be a very unique and center of all talks on board...

I hope it works out looking alright, I'm more of a metal worker to be honest!

 

[IslandExplorer]

Mock up of helm, styro rectangles represent the instrument panel and throttle/shift control box. Going to try to make a recessed area for the plotter built in so it can still be tilted easily but be off the dash.