1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

[jasoutside]

Hey, thanks a bunch for the kind words a support guys. I couldn't have gotten anywhere without the tremendous help and support from you fellas right here on iboats, no doubt about it! Thank you!

Now, I'm not quite done yet though. Since I spent the last two months chasing carb issues, transplanting engines and partially rewiring this boat my completion list has been pushed way back. Hopefully now I can start wrapping things up, here's what I have left:

1. Install the new carb

2. Build out a pair of jump seats for each side of the dog house

3. A bit of trim/detail work here and there

4. I need to have the upholstery guy sew up a bit of a "curtain" to cover up the batts/wiring/trim pump and such at the transom, plus a snap in bow cover

5. Build a swim platform - this should be an awesome addition for this old Islander

It's not a very long list to get to a complete boat but with fall here, school starting, three kids in sports.......life is going to be very busy. Hopefully I can wrap this up over the next couple of months.

Thanks again fellas:thumb:

 

[Patfromny]

Sounds like another 25 pages at least :joyous:. I'm guessing you're a bit behind on your wood gathering as well. And let's not forget the prep to get the ice rink ready. Lol. Enjoy the family and the sports scene. My daughter just aged out of Little League and we are looking for a new sport. Looking like volleyball and possibly golf. I'm gonna miss coaching her as I have no knowledge of either one. The time sure flies doesn't it.

 

[Tnstratofam]

What a beautiful story to go along with an amazing build. Thanks for sharing the story and the build, and we look forward to more upgrades.:thumb:

 

[Frey0357]

Congrats Jason on the final sea trial and fun weekend! Your build has been truly inspirational to say the least, and your work is top notch for certain!

Very well done! Keep the final updates comin'...love that 50.5 mph from a 22' tinny

Frey

 

[StarTed]

I'm a late comer to your build but You're one of the primary reasons I joined this family.

We sure learn a lot from each other and from our own blunders. The boat's aluminum so there's a lot we can do with it. Imagination's the limit..

Now go and have fun with your "Toy" as my wife calls them. You earned it.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Awesome Jason!!! It's amazing how a boat can become one of the family. Or, maybe it's just another key to keeping a family, a family.

 

[jasoutside]

Thanks for the kind words guys really appreciated! :becky:

Allrighty, old carb off and new carb on...


I did go with the electric choke on this.
The last few times I started up this V8 it was just a bit difficult. Hopefully this new carb will help.

 

[Patfromny]

Looks great. I'm sure the starting problems are a thing of the past. It wasn't the choke but the lack of fuel due to the accelerator pump that was giving you fits when cold. You still need to give the carb two good pumps before starting but that is just the nature of a carburetor. Good luck and let us know how it turns out

 

[mr300z87]

Congrats getting her going she came out awesome. I am so jealous as mine needs and engine (ingested water) but is has the exact same engine, my experience over the last 4 season with the 5.7L/Rochester 4 barrel has been this. During the season with regular use 1 full pump of the throttle then set throttle slightly open (less than 1/4) choke should be closed and she would start almost like an FI engine. After long storage periods a few extra pumps and cranking are needed. Every engine is different so you may require a 2 pumps, just experiment with what works best.

I am now working on a project with a 7.4L/Weber 4 barrel carb which seems to require a different procedure that I have not quite figured our yet.

Good luck and I hope you find time to get some use out of her in between the craziness of life.

 

[Patfromny]

The cranking of the engine is to fill the bowl. One pump or two, the idea is to charge the system with fuel so it will start. Once started, the air rushing through the carb and past the venturies will pull all the fuel it needs into the engine. When you accelerate, the pump will squirt some extra fuel in to make up for the lapse in demand verse air volume. Otherwise you would have a large lag until the carb caught up to the throttle demand. I would recommend once again that you empty the bowl every winter so the ethanol won't eat the acc. Pump again.

 

[Watermann]

The new carb looks great, I love the look of those QJs. Did you have to pull an intake bolt to mount the sensor for the electric choke? If so I HIGHLY recommend using a thread sealer when you put the bolt back in otherwise you could have an oil leak develop as the oil can travel up the bolt and pool in the intake runners on the SBC motors. If your lucky maybe it won't seep oil, some of the bolts aren't that close to the oil galleys so keep an eye on it, if you see some oil then you know how to stop it.

I know a bit about your luck, :lol:

 

[jasoutside]

Hey thanks guys, yah the install wasn't too much trouble. Working carefully it took me maybe a hour or so to take the old one off and bolt the new one on. WM, all I needed to do was hook up a power lead to the electric choke and I was set.

AOK, took the Islander for a run tonight. It took just a bit of cranking to get her started, as it should with a new carb. But after that, just a bump of the key and easy start. Tomorrow morning I'll see about another cold start and I'm sure she'll start right up.

Tonight, right away I noticed that it idles better and runs more smooth overall. I had 2 to 4 foot rollers tonight so I couldn't get much beyond 1800 RPM.

Super nice run tonight and I'm calling it a success :thumb:

 

[Patfromny]

Good to hear. How does the choke open? After a certain amount of time or do you have to goose the throttle to have it open? Don't remember how they work. I wired mine open and just warmed it up manually. It worked fine in the car but would be a pain with a throttle handle instead of a pedal.

 

[pckeen]

Excellent - really glad to hear it.

 

[jasoutside]

Not sure on the mechanics of how it opens, but, it opened so I'm good!

Here's a quick video from last night's run. This Islander handles chop well, really happy with it!

 

[jasoutside]

Once I rounded the point the wind and waves were building up, fun ride!

 

[jbcurt00]

Congrats

 

[GA_Boater]

The Islander lost her head and turned into a hot rod!

YEE HAW!

 

[jasoutside]

Thanks fellas!

So this morning was the true cold start test for the engine and the carb...

Two pumps and fire! Perfect!

The wind had died down enough to get to WOT, 4200 RPMs and 50.5 mph, love it!

And she runs smooth, very nice :becky:

 

[GA_Boater]

This thread has been waiting for 2436 days or 348 weeks or, aw heck, a long time for you to make an entry. Are you up for it, Jas?