1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I see one of the seat supports right here in the cabin, on the deck between the two berths...the u-shaped aluminum tube:

Eagle Eye Chem found the feet. She may only have one folding seat for the helm. I don't see any hardware to port.

Man, you guys are wicked smart, with super human eyesight!

Heckavagoodlookin too:eyebrows:

You got that right JAS! Thanks guys

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I got to spend a hour on her today. I'm still trying to decide if I need a donor boat or not. Check this picture out... Holy Bat Juice, man!!!

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LOL... I've seen oil and water mix and create that chocolate milkshake color before... but never have it come out in clumps. No wonder this thing is seized.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Yeesh, what a mess.

Yup, time to hunt for a donor!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I got to spend a hour on her today. I'm still trying to decide if I need a donor boat or not. Check this picture out... Holy Bat Juice, man!!!

LOL... I've seen oil and water mix and create that chocolate milkshake color before... but never have it come out in clumps. No wonder this thing is seized.

Don't even need to squint on that, cj. I hate to say I told you so but -

Of course you need a glass donor! Isn't that the only way to rebuild a tinny?

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

That looks very similar to the trailer under my 21' Cheiftain. I added tongue reinforcements, new springs (broke one), added longer bunks, recently swapped the 2,000lb axles (12" tires) for 3,500lb axles and 15" tires added surge brakes.
You have project ahead of you.
Are you going to fish the salty big Blue.

Couple of things I did that I really like is the cabin door swings in (that way you can leave the cab door open and still use the passenger seat).
Where are your fuel tanks? Mine are mid way and if they were in the stern it would be way too much weight in the rear.
Ideally I would like a below floor tank mid ship. I have twin 16gals under the seats.
Have fun.
Not sure what shape your outdrive is in, but if all you want is a fishing boat. The 140hp I/O is good. Mine is a 140hp Chevy, at sea level it tops out at 28mph, cruises at 22-24 @ around 3,500 rpms. Not a fast ski boat. With the 4 cylinder you have more fishing room, less weight. But less hp so less top end speed.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

That goop coming out of the engine looks like a milkshake gone bad, yuk!! Nice to see that another glasser will find is way into the doner family.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

View attachment 217433That looks very similar to the trailer under my 21' Cheiftain. I added tongue reinforcements, new springs (broke one), added longer bunks, recently swapped the 2,000lb axles (12" tires) for 3,500lb axles and 15" tires added surge brakes.
You have project ahead of you.
Are you going to fish the salty big Blue.

Couple of things I did that I really like is the cabin door swings in (that way you can leave the cab door open and still use the passenger seat).
Where are your fuel tanks? Mine are mid way and if they were in the stern it would be way too much weight in the rear.
Ideally I would like a below floor tank mid ship. I have twin 16gals under the seats.
Have fun.
Not sure what shape your outdrive is in, but if all you want is a fishing boat. The 140hp I/O is good. Mine is a 140hp Chevy, at sea level it tops out at 28mph, cruises at 22-24 @ around 3,500 rpms. Not a fast ski boat. With the 4 cylinder you have more fishing room, less weight. But less hp so less top end speed.

Hey ElkHunter! I agree that this thing is a big project. I have 2 each 18gal poly tanks under the seats. I appreciate the idea about swinging the door to the inside!

I think that I will be sticking with the 165 I6 and just found a donor boat that's 4 hours one way from me.:facepalm: It a fiberglass 22' closed cabin 1979 American StarCraft for $500. It looks to have lots of goodies for me and a running motor/outdrive.

I drained and pulled the outdrive off of my Chief yesterday and the fluid had a burnt smell to it... so I might need an outdrive also.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

That goop coming out of the engine looks like a milkshake gone bad, yuk!! Nice to see that another glasser will find is way into the doner family.

Everyone around me thinks there junk boat is worth $2000 here. I've had to open up my distance on the CL search. Heck, my last donor in TX cost me a case of beer.

If my wife didn't have 12 iron skillets hidden throughout the house, I'd go buy this thing for $1200:

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25 ft. starcraft

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I haven't used one, but the 165 straight six is always touted as a great motor. Good power but also good fuel usage too. Hope the American works out, motor/outdrive and lots of goodies.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Can't beat the straight 6, not sure what you were going to find for a donor boat so wanted to let you know what type of performance you would see out of the 4.
If the outdrive is junk don't for get SEI, so far mine has been fine for 300 hrs plus. They even warranty an issue that was not their fault.
Happy donor hunting.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Good news . . . and some bad . . . :facepalm:

Here's the good:

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Now the bad:

You know how some people are bull headed and just won't give up. Well, I went back for seconds on that.

I had just a little bit of a mishap trying to get the boat to the only accessible tree to chain hoist out the motor.

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[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Ouch! Well, that clinches the talk about changing out the tongue. Could you put the motor hoist in the bed of the pick-up , take off the tailgate and pull the motor that way? Or were you able to carefully move her under the tree?

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

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My 15 year old was not comfortable driving the Jeep or Chevy, so I had to wait for the Admiral to come home. I had time to hide all the iron skillets :joyous: Good thing... cause she wasn't happy...

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The Chevy had no trouble helping the Jeep out and I got to the tree I needed to. Here's the only real damage:

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That tongue was already bent a little and was going to get replaced anyway. The pictures don't do that hill justice! It's really steep and had just rained last night. If I hadn't got the Jeep to turn, it could've been real bad.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Ouch! Well, that clinches the talk about changing out the tongue. Could you put the motor hoist in the bed of the pick-up , take off the tailgate and pull the motor that way? Or were you able to carefully move her under the tree?

I was able to get it under the tree OK and get the motor out. I could've put the cherry picker in the truck and done it that way, but It's pretty awkward and heavy.

I basically screwed up and had no business going back there like that.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Not too bad if you have a welder. You can pull the old one out go to the steel yard and get a whole new piece of tubing the same size.
If your trailer is like mine it only bolts into the frame with two bolts, which make the hinge.
With this you can extend the tounge if needed. I know my trailer I added some tounge length and build a slide in piece so the trailer would still fit in the shop.
You might also find a donor motor from an old chevy pickup, if you plan to rebuild the motor.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Not too bad if you have a welder. You can pull the old one out go to the steel yard and get a whole new piece of tubing the same size.
If your trailer is like mine it only bolts into the frame with two bolts, which make the hinge.
With this you can extend the tounge if needed. I know my trailer I added some tounge length and build a slide in piece so the trailer would still fit in the shop.
You might also find a donor motor from an old chevy pickup, if you plan to rebuild the motor.

I've got a welder that'll take care of that new tongue and hitch. I'll get into that engine tomorrow and hopefully will find a rebuild-able block. I checked into a rebuild kit... a master kit (minus crank) is under $500. So, not to bad. $1500 to $1700 for machine work, new parts, and new intake...

I don't have to be in a big hurry for the motor since this boat won't be used until the Spring anyway.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Oh wough, yah, she doesn't look happy at all!

I'm a little nervous sitting way over here:behindsofa:

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

That's not good, but SH$& happens, glad there was no serious damage to either the trailer or yourself.:facepalm:

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Oh wough, yah, she doesn't look happy at all!

I'm a little nervous sitting way over here:behindsofa:

Yeah, you know that look JAS? Her maiden name is Staples and grew up in Midland. She has lots of relatives there.

That's not good, but SH$& happens, glad there was no serious damage to either the trailer or yourself.:facepalm:

You know it Glen. Sometimes ya just gotta laugh at yourself when you do stupid stuff...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Yeah, you know that look JAS? Her maiden name is Staples and grew up in Midland. She has lots of relatives there.

Don't know anybody by that name around here. But, I will say, I am painfully familiar with that LOOK!:shocked: