1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

[fshngho]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Chris, looks like you, Don, and myself don't have much of a life today 'cept wait on Jas. The suspense is killing me. C'mon hammer & do your thing!
Give him a couple more hours Chris, then go slap him.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

You fellas will definitely want to swing by to give me a good slap when I tell ya that this Merc won't be started today

All the same I am way super amped about my findings and I'll shoot up some photos and such asap! Well, tonight prolly.

Back out to work!

Cheers!

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Nawww, no slapping required. I figure you have been through the ringer enough this week. We will keep the crowd under control...for now. Still expect good news this evening though. You're not off the hook for that part.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

OK Im gonna guess. The spot welds came unglued in the oil pan and the tray was slapping your crank shaft...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

OK Im gonna guess. The spot welds came unglued in the oil pan and the tray was slapping your crank shaft...

Nope, but good guess!

I am working on photo upload as I write this, you'll see. I don't know how it wasn't more obvious to me earlier!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Nawww, no slapping required. I figure you have been through the ringer enough this week. We will keep the crowd under control...for now. Still expect good news this evening though. You're not off the hook for that part.

While my photos are uploading I will say this...

I am old school, I'm not afraid to take a hit. If I need a good slap, fire away! Thank you, may I have another...

Another piece of commentary...

I have a presentation due on Monday and this here Merc made it's way in via video, cool!

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Ahh come on J I have been sitting in the wings just reading since I helped give you the push to start that thing. and now all the drama over the last few days. Crimanie it;s almost as bad as who shot JR all I can say is you are the most patient man on here or your just sitting there laughing watching the post count roll up on this thread. But seriously we are all hoping for the best for your sake!!!!!!!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

OK, here is how my day went...

I started real early. First I pulled out the roller shafts and assemble those up. I believe it was Azlo who welded up his so his caps wouldn't fall off. Me, I used 4200 in the caps and drove them home...

Somehow I missed a photo of the finished product, bummer! Anyway, I have five of them cureing up in the garage. I ended up paying $2 a piece for those shafts (plus shipping, distributed by Overton), sweet eBay deal eh! I have extra if anybody needs em!

Next was fabbing up a set of stringers that were identical to the ones in the Islander left by the OMC Stringer (they are tapered by two inches). I really wanted to do this as I wanted to catch any issues before I actually dropped that engine in the boat. Threw on some casters so she can easily be rolled around in the garage. The board at the top of the photo is there just for setting stuff on, sitting on and mounting anything I want to it...

Next was jumping on the engine. I still had a bunch of stuff that had to come off, namely the hydro/power steering lines, and a few other things. Here is the Merc all set to be lifted...

Now free from Thumper the Baja forever...

Merc engine blood on the floor, usually it looks like that when a Whitetail is hanging from above...

Next...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

With everything out of the way I could more clearly see the damage to the oil pan...

Baja transom minus the Merc...

Pulled the plug to drain and off to church...

Next...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

When I got home from church I stepped into the garage and took a quick glimpse at the motor hanging there. Blown away! No wonder I have something hitting my oil pan!

I was too close to that oil pan all along! I needed to step back and take a look at it. Jiminey cricket, look at how kakayed that thing is!

Pulled off the oil pan and here is what I saw inside...

Damage! Yup, sure looks like that would make a lot of noise!

Those two photos right there pretty well sealed the deal right there. I have a video uploading at the moment that shows a nice smooth rotation on all the cylinders. Up in the am on that...

Then I lowered her down towards the new stringers. I already knew there would be an issue. The starter housing will bump into the stringer. No sweat I'll just need to carve that away here and then again in the Islander to make it fit just right! Glad I am doing it here vs. in the boat...

Next...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

I blocked it up as I didn't have time to carve that away today...

Rolled her off to the side for another day.

Man am I feeling good about what I found today!!!

I have a couple of videos loading at the moment that show the guts of that Merc rolling, nice and smooth!

I'll have those up in the morning.

Sheesh, I am wiped. (moved wood, raked, mowed grass, dumped the Baja transom, plus, plus)

Can I punch out now?

Big day, good day!

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Good for you...

 

[windshield_time]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

glad my past $%^& was helpful to someone. I forgot to mention it was the front of my pan also, which is not the lowest point, maybe the weakest ?

Really wanna hear it run. Hoping like crazy that was the only problem.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

OK, check it out. Video from underneath, with the oil pan off, turning by hand...

Smooth and no crazy knocks, clinks, clunks, bonks, hitches or yammers!

Out of town for today (down to U of M Med again to try to find some help for my smallest guy today) and pretty well tied up for a few days so probably not much action on this project for just a bit.

I will say that I am feeling awesome about how this shook out! New motor vs. new oil pan, whew!

Thanks a bunch for all the help and encouragement guys, much appreciated!!

Cheers!

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Very happy for you Jason. One quick suggestion, while the pan is off get a torque wrench and check the bolts on the piston rods (rod bearings), and the crank bearings. Take care of your son and breathe easier, nuttin can stop a SC man!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Very happy for you Jason. One quick suggestion, while the pan is off get a torque wrench and check the bolts on the piston rods (rod bearings), and the crank bearings. Take care of your son and breathe easier, nuttin can stop a SC man!

Thanks fsh, good suggestion! I hope I can find the torque specs in one of these...

By the way, I picked this up off of eBay many months ago knowing that I'd be wrenching on this Merc. Great motivator!

Well sure, I realize that the sign doesn't make me any smarter or any better of a marine mechanic. Purely a facade.

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Yeah right...like any of us ( well me specifically ) was or is qualified to rebuild these boats, trailers, or motors. But take a look around, we get it DONE!

Dang Jason, its all downhill from here. You may even get bored with the rest of the project.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Jason, I'm happy to hear, that you aren't hearing the bad sounds anymore

That's about as technical as I can get on I/O's...hope the engine swap go more smoothly from here on out

PS love the Mercruiser signage, you will be able to claim that you've fixed one and swapped it out into the Islander so you might get some business.

 

[sprintst]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

It's all just one oil pan away now. It will run like a swiss watch now...without the gangsta rap beat.

Nice rolling rig to get her mounted in place and off the old boat.

Hope things go well at the U of M.

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Sorry Jason, missed the past couple of days and haven't things gone well? Anyway, I'm REALLY pleased for you that your problem is solved with minimal expense. Just make sure before you put the new pan on that you ensure there are no metal filings in the oil pick up or filter. (Been there! ) So, congratulations on a great result!

TII