Chaparral 2000 SL Sport floor, and more?? [SPLASHED Sept 2017]

[Baylinerchuck]

Well things do happen. Glad you got her right back on the wheel. Nice repair work there. Let's see how the new
prop feels.

It honestly doesn’t feel much different. It runs WOT between 46 and 48. I don’t typically EVER go that fast unless I’m testing a carb adjustment, or something. After all, this is a 1990 motor that’s approaching 800 hours, so I don’t need to be blowing it up. Besides, when this boat is trimmed up and planed out, she gets a bit squirrelly. I try to keep her about 3000 to 3500 RPM when cruising which gets me about 35 MPH. Slower if the Admiral is along as I’m constantly dropping the bow to stabilize the boat in the wake/ chop.

 

[Chris51280]

oh wow. I'm lucky I get 40 out of mine. You got the 4bbl? not sure if my 4 blade slows me so much down. But you are right. at full throttle with the trim up, I can steer it with one finger.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

oh wow. I'm lucky I get 40 out of mine. You got the 4bbl? not sure if my 4 blade slows me so much down. But you are right. at full throttle with the trim up, I can steer it with one finger.

Yes, 4 bbl Quadrajet. The 4 blade will definitely eat some speed, but you gain a lot in the hole shot. I keep knocking on that 50mph door, and would like to hit it just once to say I can. :laugh:

 

[Chris51280]

must run a 23 pitch then? 3 blade I assume. I also have a different ratio 1.98. 1.84 is the norm. I have a 14x19p. Probably if I go to a 21p 3 blade I should get 43/44 mph. I do love the torque the 4 blade gives. you should give it a try. the aluminum ones are $100-150.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

must run a 23 pitch then? 3 blade I assume. I also have a different ratio 1.98. 1.84 is the norm. I have a 14x19p. Probably if I go to a 21p 3 blade I should get 43/44 mph.

I find my boat, engine and drive like the 21” prop the best. That’s what I run. I have a 23” prop, but the top speed really isn’t any different, but it drops the rpms, and I lose a bit in the hole shot. I get on plane faster with the 21” prop. I have a 20’ long boat, so I’m pretty happy with just above 45 with a 4.3.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

I’ll also say that my 4.3L is a 1990 motor with close to 800 hours, so I definitely do not stay at WOT at top speed for very long. It’s a very strong and tough engine, but I don’t want to press my luck by blowing it up for a few more mph.

 

[mickyryan]

I’ll also say that my 4.3L is a 1990 motor with close to 800 hours, so I definitely do not stay at WOT at top speed for very long. It’s a very strong and tough engine, but I don’t want to press my luck by blowing it up for a few more mph.

luckily you know a guy who could easily walk you through a ls conversion

 

[Baylinerchuck]

luckily you know a guy who could easily walk you through a ls conversion

VERY true....though a 4.3L at WOT can be a little wreckless at times, I can’t imagine an LS swap. The water better not have even a ripple!! Ha ha.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Sadly once again we have reached the end of swimming season here in South Central PA- Central Maryland- West Virginia Pan Handle. Temps in the low 60’s with overnight temps in the upper 30’s.

Back in the body of this thread and a few years ago in time, I had replaced the oem Quadrajet with a remanufactured unit from National Carburetor. The carb has kept us boating the last few years but has a nasty stumble as the secondaries open. I’ve pulled that carb off the engine and am restoring the oem carb.

A Rochester Quadrajet pro, Cliff Ruggles has a company that sells specific rebuild kits and offers tips, tricks, and general advice. The majority to QJ guys say it is way better to rebuild the carb that came off the engine that to try and replace it with a generic remanufactured one.

I started a thread in the Mercruiser section with each step of the rebuild.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

As I am updating the Quadrajet thread I decided to fix a problem I created when I was restoring the boat. This summer We got surprised by a torrential downpour. I have never had my bilge pump kick on in auto until this trip. The rain water almost completely filled the storage areas I created under the helms. I never installed drainage and they’ll hold about 2 gallons of water each. :facepalm:



I drilled the hole through all my pretty restoration work and finished the hole with a round file. Notice the staining from where water was sitting.



Now I don’t have worry about these storage areas filling up on me in the event I get caught in a monsoon. This was a simple fix for a simple problem.

 

[kcassells]

Maybe grab some porous foam for drain inserts to help prevent blockage. Looks good!

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Well, as hunting season begins to come into full swing, it’s time once again to prepare the Chap for a hopefully short winter break. As an update to previous posts, the freshly restored OEM Quadrajet ran absolutely flawlessly. It’s no doubt that the tricks I learned in the Cliff Ruggles book contributed to a successful rebuild. The engine operates smoothly throughout all throttle positions and rapid changes. There is absolutely no wall as the secondaries open. The engine is producing more power now as evidenced by an increase in RPM at WOT. I may increase the prop to a 23” I have on hand to compensate, but the jury is still out on that. I’ll dig into that next year.

 

[Woodonglass]

Merry Christmas my friend!

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Merry Christmas my friend!

Yes indeed, and a Merry Christmas to you WOG, and to the others that follow this thread, and iBoaters all.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

I haven’t updated my rebuild thread in quite some time. We’ve really been enjoying the crap out of this boat. The older daughter doesn’t come with us much, but the younger girl and my wife do, as well as the dog. After being on my buddies new Axis wake surf boat a few times, I really am jealous of that new vinyl. I’ve been putting off restoring the vinyl in this boat, but now I’m really starting to get the bug. Time to bite the bullet and buy that sailrite sewing machine…….

 

[Chris51280]

still looks good for its age

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Thanks! We take good care of her. The original vinyl is starting to show it’s age, and has gotten a bit rigid over the years. Pretty much all of it has new plywood backers. Just have to figure out if I want to modernize it some or keep the original pattern.

 

[chevymaher]

My mentor visits.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

My mentor visits.

When it comes to making the vinyl pieces look good, I’m definitely following your lead. Hope all is well my friend. Kind of lost track of you since I booted myself off FB.

 

[chevymaher]

Doing well bud. I got a 650 nighthawk and been driving that old chev. I ride in the bow now on my boat let the boy be captain.