76 Hammond El Dorado V1950 Restoration

[52FordF2]

There is a lot of pitting on the top of tank. I can find at least three pin holes to repair. I'll be sandblasting all pitting before I repair it.

Here the plan:
1. Clean Tank inside and out.
2. Sandblast all pitting, will probably open a few more holes up.
3. Use the Aluminum rod to fill holes and imperfections.
4. Pressure test at 5 psi for at least a week.
5. Use POR15 inside the tank to seal it more.
6. Metal prep and paint tank.

JB, Here is a few test or practise pieces.The rod worked OK. It may be because I do a little welding or soldering at work.
The #1 piece I used rods that I got from an Auto Swap Meet I attended. The #2 piece the rods came from HF.

Here is what I did,

1. Cleaned the surface of each piece.
2. wired brushed it also.
3. Started heating the surface, when the rods started to smear like solder I covered the holes.If you push the rod into the hole at the same time it ouzes out the other side a little.








I liked the HF rods better than the Swap Meets


It seams to grind OK also.




Hopefully I can get to sandblasting tommorrow?? I found out that somehow my sand got wet. Am now trying to dry it out.

 

[Watermann]

That's a good sized tank, too bad it has some pinholes in it. Be sure to pressure test the tank, nothing as dangerous to a boat that a fuel leak.

 

[52FordF2]

Well have you had those days were everything was going good. You know, givin yourself Atta Boy for a good job "wait for it" then one O carp a lot wipe them all out.

Sand blasted fuel tank, Good Job


Washed and Vinegar Etched, Good Job


Worked on yard work killin a 16 X 30 BUSH. It is now a 12X30 BUsh, Good Job

Brazed or Solder all holes, after hunting each one down, Good Job

Pressure Tested it was holding at 5 psi, Good Job

Started doing other work forgot about Fuel Tank needed to use an Air tool. Swap Air Dryer that has the 5 to 50 psi gauge.

After reconnecting Air Hose to main tank. What was that "BAMF", O CARP


I had shut off the valve at the 50 psi Air Dryer so I could keep checkin the tank, forgot to shut off the valve at the fuel tank. I also had a gauge there. Like I said No More gauge, it could not take 120 psi.

The only bright side is last week a guy at work asked me if I wanted two more boats one a 140 I/O the other has a V8 I/O. Hek Yell Still have not seen them. Will check them next week. Hopefully one of these tanks will fit. I'll check if he has a title for them. MBS is coming

 

[52FordF2]

One other thing, I had to fill nine holes, only one popped out the others still look good. That one way to check

 

[Watermann]

Wow, I bet your heart sunk when you heard that pop... swoosh... hiss. Man ole Murphy sure does make his rounds in the boat resto world.

 

[mrdjflores]

Looking good on the tank, i still have decided to repair or build me a new tank...around 70+ gallons i think

 

[52FordF2]

I checked out the two boats. One is a 74 SeaRay SRV183 the other is a 75? Mark Twain



The Twain he decided to ask his BIL if he can get rid of it. I tried to remove the tires on the SeaRay, thought I brought enough tools "wrong". Need some strongarms and a cheater pipe. It looks like I'll have to take the hub off to remove the rim. One bolt just spins "Stripped". I may just remove both hubs and take them home to work on. Those bushes around the boat have one inch or better thorns on them.

Both boats are Mercruisers, more spare parts. But if I get the Twain it has a title. He never had one for the SeaRay

 

[Watermann]

Rumble in the jungle, thinking I would drag them out of there kicking and screaming before I went to work in those thorns. Spare parts are always a good thing if you have room to store them that is.

 

[52FordF2]

Rumble in the Jungle is right look at that thorn
The coin is the size of a quarter. :faint2:


Here it sit all neglected

 

[52FordF2]

And now it's gone



It looks like it found a new home



Just don't tell it, that it's a parts boat soon ​

 

[Watermann]

Man that old thing was in serious thorn bush. Yeah it's best not to let them know their heads on the chopping block until the ax falls. :heh:

 

[52FordF2]

Look what I found over the summer



This came out of a 89 Maxum

Also I learned how to float a boat without water



sorry wrong pic :laugh:



I've been checking if I get sea sick over the summer. First out in the Pacific, testing equipment back in July, now just got off the ship from out in the Atlantic. In the Pacific I was small boated to and from the ship. Do not let go of the rope ladder when leaving the ship, the small boat pulled away right as I was putting down my foot. I hung there with a deer in the headlight feeling what do I do now? :watermelon: The sailors luckily grab me and help me back onboard. In the Atlantic I boarded to and from the pier, but I was able to see one group that was small boated on, coming aboard soaking wet gear and all . I know no pics didn't happin. I'll download the photos from my phone soon.

 

[mrdjflores]

that old searay has some nice looking lines on it

 

[mrdjflores]

what drive does that have in it?

 

[52FordF2]

Don't know if it a 120 or 140hp mercruiser. I'm hoping that if I need outdrive parts I can use the SeaRays outdrive. The engine probably toast, I drained rusty water out of it

 

[mrdjflores]

are you staying with the 888 in the ElDorado ?

 

[52FordF2]

Yes, planning on tearing it down someday . I'm trying to first make sure my trailer can support it. When I lifted the hull off the trailer a few of the bunks started to fall apart. I was planning on having transom and stringer already installed by now, but that was before I blew up the original fuel tank. Today I'm going to be cutting some wood



These are just temps their 1x4 that I had on hand. O' by the way heres a navy cradle :usa2:



Impressive is'nt it :disillusionment:

 

[mrdjflores]

i may be switching mine over to a more modern mercruiser (chevy...i hate to say), but if i do, i may have some spare 888 stuff to throw your way

 

[52FordF2]

Always can use more parts. Need to reread about your project again, did yours have the 302? One of my exhaust manifolds are cracked anyhow.

The SeaRay I have is an SRV183 (SERM2653M73K-1831-120) with a 120 mercruiser, outdrive s/n:3519063.

Need a few emblem?

May need to help you on yours, just to help pay for the parts some.

 

[mrdjflores]

my old 302 manifolds when into the scrap metal pile, after i bought a new set of the barr-marine style center rise manifolds. still have the exhaust y pipe