1978 SS 18 120 I/O --Rebuild

[cj8mule]

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!!

Thanks for the advice Rainbow! I think I'll run it some more in the garage and hook up a oil pressure guage. I don't think the bearings have been damaged, but would be nice to know before putting it back in the boat.

The good news is the doctor took me off my 5 pound lifting limit and onto a 20 pound limit. Time to get to work!!! I'll have to get some help from my boys, but it's time for some gluvit, transom, and flooring. Well..... maybe I should take them fishing first.....

 

[Rainbow hunter]

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

Fishing sounds like a good idea. I'm taking next week off and going up to Shasta and chase a few rainbows, me and about a dozen other friends. I'm finishing the exterior hull paint this morning on the SS 18, then getting my 14' Gregor ready for the trip. I've earned it.

 

[GA_Boater]

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

Enjoy the fishing, RH. Now don't be trying to reel in a 21 pounder. Don't tell the doc, anyway.

I think you'll find good oil pressure. I didn't hear any bearing raps or knocks in the vid. At least over the noise from the exhaust.

 

[cj8mule]

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

Fishing sounds like a good idea. I'm taking next week off and going up to Shasta and chase a few rainbows, me and about a dozen other friends. I'm finishing the exterior hull paint this morning on the SS 18, then getting my 14' Gregor ready for the trip. I've earned it.

You have totally earned it Rainbow!! I've been waiting for some more pictures... so post some up before you go fishing


I checked the weather today.... and it's pretty much bad all the way through the weekend. Even the tides are messed up a little. Oh well... guess we'll just work on the boat and go fishing next week.

 

[cj8mule]

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

Enjoy the fishing, RH. Now don't be trying to reel in a 21 pounder. Don't tell the doc, anyway.

I think you'll find good oil pressure. I didn't hear any bearing raps or knocks in the vid. At least over the noise from the exhaust.

Thanks GA!


We started working on the transom today and should get it finished tomorrow. Since the weather is going to turn bad, I'll get the outdrive hole cut and rebuild the outdrive bellows.

 

[Rainbow hunter]

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

Ya I'll get some up tomorrow evening after I get all the masking off and do a bit of clean up.

 

[cj8mule]

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

We got the transom installed. I started the bellows replacement, but had to stop and wait on a couple trim limit switches. Hopefully, the local marina will have a couple as my old ones have shorted out and burned the wires up.






I've not drilled the outdrive mounting holes in the transom yet. They should be straight and level, right?

 

[dozerII]

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

Transom looks great cj, the bolt holes have to be square to the transom, I took a piece of scrap 1" thick steel plate I had laying around and drilled a 1/2"hole in it so I could use it to guide the bit in the transom. Don't forget to relieve the slot at the top of the cut out key for your steering arm, or you won't be able to turn.

 

[GA_Boater]

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

CJ - Nice post-op re-hab therapy. Looking real good!

 

[cj8mule]

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

Transom looks great cj, the bolt holes have to be square to the transom, I took a piece of scrap 1" thick steel plate I had laying around and drilled a 1/2"hole in it so I could use it to guide the bit in the transom. Don't forget to relieve the slot at the top of the cut out key for your steering arm, or you won't be able to turn.

Thanks Glen. I was going to ask about that cut.

 

[cj8mule]

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

CJ - Nice post-op re-hab therapy. Looking real good!

You're right about that re-hab GA! There's nothing like getting a little bit of grease under the finger nails.


I picked up a couple of trim limit switches today... those little suckers cost $100. I'm starting to wonder about all this stern drive stuff...

 

[cj8mule]

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

I finished up with the bellows install and am glad that is only an every 5 year thing. It cost around $170 for bellows, bearing, and shift cable... another $100 for trim limit switches, and $30 for some specialty tools. Not to bad money wise, but can see why it costs $700 at the shop for labor.

The transom plate is all cleaned up and ready to install and the new water pump is in.



The gluvit got done last friday. I think tomorrow will be a good day to pull her back out front and start some topside sanding and prep. It's almost time to start the construction part of this project

 

[GA_Boater]

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

I think tomorrow will be a good day to pull her back out front and start some topside sanding and prep. It's almost time to start the construction part of this project

Now the hard therapy begins. LOL I guess if you're horsing around the L/U that the 20 lb. limit is done with.

 

[cj8mule]

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

Now the hard therapy begins. LOL I guess if you're horsing around the L/U that the 20 lb. limit is done with.

No..... unfortunately, I'm just being a "non-compliant patient". :facepalm: The doc wants me to stay on that 20 lb limit until the end of November. I do have a big straping 25 year old who lost his job and moved back home... I just get him to do the heavy lifting.

 

[shadetree_fish]

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

Hey CJ8,
Motor sounds Good, Transom looks great, glad to hear surgery went well, and seeing progress done to da boat!

 

[cj8mule]

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

Finished up some painting on the topside. I've decided to go with vinyl for the side stripes.









I pulled the boat back out front to start on the outdrive/engine install. After that is done, I need to decide whether to buy 5/8" or 3/4" ply for the floor. The 16' SS got some 1/2" for the floor and is kind of marginal for a big guy like me. I think 5/8" will be good. What do ya'll think?

 

[jasoutside]

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

3/4 is good stuff, very beefy, at the cost of a bit of extra weight.

 

[dozerII]

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

I have used 5/8 in all my rebuilds and it has worked great, a little lighter than 3/4 but a very solid floor. I double it it up where ever a seat pedistal is going which makes for very solid seating.

 

[cj8mule]

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

3/4 is good stuff, very beefy, at the cost of a bit of extra weight.

I have used 5/8 in all my rebuilds and it has worked great, a little lighter than 3/4 but a very solid floor. I double it it up where ever a seat pedistal is going which makes for very solid seating.

Thanks Jas and Glen.


I need someone alot smarter than me to chime in and help me figure some things out. This is the first I/O that I've owned and most of these questions relate to drainage.

1. I mostly fish and like to be able to pressure wash the inside of my boats. This boat had no drainage holes on the top deck. I'm sure the water eventually would make it to the sump area. Here's a pic from when I bought the boat:



I'm not rebuilding the back of the boat like that. I want to make a platform with a fold down seat on each side of the new doghouse. What should I do about making sure water on the top deck can get to the sump area? Maybe have a little cut out on the seat base? I guess while pressure washing the inside of the boat, I can pick these seat bases up. Am I just over-thinking this?



2. The stringers are notched out for the ribs in the engine bay area and there was silicone (and foam). It appears that an attempt was made to keep any water out of the engine/bilge area I just don't understand...... I'm not 100% sure the silicone was applied at the factory, but it sure does look that way. The floor I removed was original and silicone was on both sides of the stringer. Has anyone ran into this before? And, am I thinking right in removing the silicone and opening up some drainage from both sides down to the middle of the boat? Umm... just to be clear, the stringers are only notched around the engine area. Should I make an attempt to seal off the engine sump area off again?

 

[dozerII]

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

I'm really not following your line of thought cj, but any and all the Starcrafts I have stripped down had no silicone in them, as far as I know they never used it from the factory. All the SS's I have done will drain from front to back throught the limber slots between the ribs and the hull. I have designed the floor to be a snug fit against the hull sides, then when I cover the floor with vinyl I go up the sides 4-6"s so all water has to run to the back. Then seal the vinyl to the transom with a bead of 4200 so the water will run to the center and into the bilge.