1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

We got another coat of base white on. I finally made that decision on the accent coat which will be Royal Blue. The trailer needs a little bit of lovin also, so maybe after it's fixed up it'll get a fresh coat of Royal Blue.

My son and I got the glass donor out to the faithful tree and got the engine out.



this picture makes me laugh


I got into some trouble with the HOA and had to move all my boat stuff in the back yard. We sneaked out front when everyone was at work to use that tree.


We needed a break and went surf fishing on Padre Island down in Corpus Sunday. We had a great time and caught a few fish.

 

[concept10]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

cj8,

It sure looks like you know how to have a good time. I wish I had a couple of reds on my tailgate right now. I will be going to Calaveras lake this weekend to catch some, hopefully.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

cj8,

It sure looks like you know how to have a good time. I wish I had a couple of reds on my tailgate right now. I will be going to Calaveras lake this weekend to catch some, hopefully.

We've been doing a lot of fishing at Calaveras out of the 16' SS. We mostly go late at night to fill up a cooler of catfish. It's just so stinkin' hot durring the day to sit out there and fish for those reds. They are catching a few though.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

cj8,

It sure looks like you know how to have a good time. I wish I had a couple of reds on my tailgate right now. I will be going to Calaveras lake this weekend to catch some, hopefully.

How did you do concept??? We went last night and got home just at daybreak. lol We only have a few catfish to show for it [ no reds ], but had a great time in the 16' SS. The winds were kicking around 20 mph and some real good sloppy chop going on.



Not a lot of progress to show on the 18' SS. So, sorry no pictures.... We got the fiberglass boat 'Tupelo' to the landfill. May she rest in peace. The owners of the landfill prohibit camera's and the foreman watched the entire time, so I didn't get a pic of the tombstone.

Now that the trailer is empty again, I better get it all fixed up and shiny. Note to self *** stop procrastinating **** trailers aren't THAT BAD! ha ha

Progress will be slow for the next month or so because of some surgery I need to have on my neck. I'll be on the lazy boy and computer living vicariously through everyone else's builds on iboats!! So post up! OK?


--dave

 

[barato2]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

OK, now you piqued my curiosity. i know redfish are common in brackish water, but are you saying they've been successfully stocked in freshwater lakes like striped bass have?

weird about the landfill forbidding cameras.....wonder why that was?

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

OK, now you piqued my curiosity. i know redfish are common in brackish water, but are you saying they've been successfully stocked in freshwater lakes like striped bass have?

weird about the landfill forbidding cameras.....wonder why that was?

Yep, that is weird B2. Who knows their reasoning. The only thing I can fiqure is the tough regulations they deal with and getting caught on film with their pants down.

Calaveras, which is a fresh water lake, has been stocked with salt water red fish drum. They are doing very well in the fresh water, but do not reproduce

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

I got to pull the trailer out front today and start stripping the hardware off. I'm hoping to get it cleaned up a bit tomorrow.



I noticed today that both side bearings are going out. I've read a few of you guys buying a whole new axle so I'll probably go price that out from TSC. What would be a good price?


I've also been thinking about welding on some side steps. I'm getting old and it's not if I'm gonna fall but when ha ha Those fenders get slick!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

CJ - Before you buy a new axle check the old one. I think if it's not bent, overly rusted and the axle stubs aren't messed up then new bearings and seal kits are the way to go.

On cameras in the landfill. Homeland security keeps our garbage safe.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

CJ - Before you buy a new axle check the old one. I think if it's not bent, overly rusted and the axle stubs aren't messed up then new bearings and seal kits are the way to go.

On cameras in the landfill. Homeland security keeps our garbage safe.

LOL @ the Homeland Security




I've never changed bearings on a trailer. My thought is to take it apart and bring it with me to TSC. Maybe they used a pretty standard size on this axle. What should an inner/outer bearing with seal cost? Are the spindals replacable?

 

[Rainbow hunter]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

LOL @ the Homeland Security




I've never changed bearings on a trailer. My thought is to take it apart and bring it with me to TSC. Maybe they used a pretty standard size on this axle. What should an inner/outer bearing with seal cost? Are the spindals replacable?

Changing bearings and seals is not a difficult job, just a bit messy. Wear rubber gloves. Refer to any auto repair manual on replacing front wheel bearings. They are all the same procedure. Bearings themselves are standardized and have a number stamped on them. Same for the seal. Takes those parts to any good auto supply and they will likely have them in stock. No need to replace the axle. It's just significant extra expense. The spindles themselves should be cleaned and inspected. They likely are not damaged unless somebody burned up a bearing really bad and it melted down on the spindle shaft. Not likely. As long as they are smooth they are fine and light scratches can be removed with emery cloth. Don't forget to buy bearing buddies if they are not already there, to make greasing them new bearings easy next season, and be sure to use marine quality submersible grease. So dig in and get your hands dirty, cause you can do it.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

Changing bearings and seals is not a difficult job, just a bit messy. Wear rubber gloves. Refer to any auto repair manual on replacing front wheel bearings. They are all the same procedure. Bearings themselves are standardized and have a number stamped on them. Same for the seal. Takes those parts to any good auto supply and they will likely have them in stock. No need to replace the axle. It's just significant extra expense. The spindles themselves should be cleaned and inspected. They likely are not damaged unless somebody burned up a bearing really bad and it melted down on the spindle shaft. Not likely. As long as they are smooth they are fine and light scratches can be removed with emery cloth. Don't forget to buy bearing buddies if they are not already there, to make greasing them new bearings easy next season, and be sure to use marine quality submersible grease. So dig in and get your hands dirty, cause you can do it.

Hey thanks Rainbow! I was hoping they were the same as Jeep or car. I hadn't thought about going to NAPA... they're about 25 miles closer. ha ha

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

I thought I posted about the bearing kit price but I guess it got lost in the WWW. Anyway, the kits run about $20 a side, give or take a little. Like Rainbow said, an easy job. Just like a car or truck and I don't even take the tire off the hub. Just jack it up, pop the center cover, pull the cotter, nut and pull it off. Leaving the tire on the hub helps me when knocking the races out and back in.

Check prices online before you hit the streets to get a better idea on cost.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

Here's some real exciting pics:







Hmmm ... pick out pour foam or work on trailer. I don't know which is worse.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

The trailer looks good - A lot better than soaked, stinky foam or rusty trailer frames.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

Looks great man! Ya... I would have gone for the trailer too... Nasty foam... uggggh!

J.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

Great news! I lived through the ACDF surgury It wasn't necessarily that dangerous but I was a little worried when I noticed the surgeons hands shaking durring the pre-op.

I'm in one of those plastic neck collars and can only lift 5 pounds so I've not been able to do alot to the SS. My son has helped me troubleshoot the 120 hp mercruiser that came with the boat. We did a water pressure test on the head and block and it passed! So, we put on an extra exhaust manifold we had laying around and fired up the old girl. She's running great, but this manifold is also bad :facepalm:

We've got a new exhaust manifold on the way for a measly $300 .... crazy .... a new one from merc is $600 lol. A couple more hundred should finish up this I/O with some new boots and shift cable.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

The new exhaust manifold did the trick! Here's a video of it running....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ske8nKJuHjU&feature=plcp


This motor had a casting plug (freeze plug) blown out and a 4" rusty crack on the bottem of exhaust manifold. I didn't have alot of hope with the milkshake oil... but it worked out well!! There is quite a difference in the compression between cylinders, but I think I'll run with it. (125, 135, 125, 145) What do you guys think? I'm going to post something about this in the merc I/O forum and see what they think.

I've not hooked up a oil pressure guage yet, but the oil was black and without water when we picked it up. So, the PO hadn't tried to run it since not winterizing correctly. Hopefully the bearings are in good shape. I didn't run it long between oil changes. (It took 3 oil/filter changes to get it cleared up)

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

She sounds good, CJ. Hope the motor probs are DONE.

Take care of the neck until the doc gives the all clear. And after too.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

Motor sounds real good CJ, glad the surgury went well.

 

[Rainbow hunter]

Re: 1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

Motor sounds great cj. In fact it's running so smooth I doubt the compression is as uneven as your previous numbers show. Could have been some rust or carbon on the valve seats or valves, a stuck ring here or there or even a leaky compression gauge that gave you the uneven readings. Now that it's running well, I'd check it again just for grins and hook up a vacume guage too. If the vacume guage needle bounces it probably does have some imbalance in the cylinders, but as well as its running, I'd bet the house it will clean up as you use it. Wouldn't hurt to add some STP to your oil also. It will help even out compression and give a sticky slick coat to the bearings that have been wet. Once you have it in the boat and running, change the oil every ten or so hours another two or three times and strain the oil you drain and watch for solid particles. Probably be some rust particles show up. When they're gone your good to go as far as oil is concerned. You only need to change filters when you do this if you find a lot of crap in the oil.

Good running to ya!!