More Time Than Money

[strokendiesel002]

Man is that sharp! Great job! Looking forward to pics with the power!

 

[Patfromny]

Very nice. Love the engine turned dash. Good luck with the install.

 

[Watermann]

Dash looks super! :thumb:

Hey for the motor install, you're obviously having someone else do the work and I was wondering if you were just having them leave the controls detached so you can do the final fitting and attachment to a side panel or gunnel? I see there's a raw piece of ply in the general vicinity where the controls will be mounted albeit it is a little close to the dash.

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

That is also my concern. The tray is an original piece although I got it off another starcraft around the same year. The aluminum wall side panel came on the boat and the bench seat mounts are also original. I mounted the seat in place tonite so when they do the install they will know if I have to change anything. I am also hoping they have time to wire the gauges.

 

[pckeen]

Seats look great - fits perfectly with the overall color scheme. Looks like a factory install.

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

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Ok, its the first try at fitting the cover on the boat. At least I can believe I will improve on this. Got the rain still forcasted for morning so I decided a cover was gonna happen anyway so why not now. Like taking a little kid to first day at school. I have to spend 30 to 45 min with the "power" surgeon to go over any and hopefully all potential problems they may incurs during surgery. They plan on trying to switch the steering to the rack system while still allowing me to keep the original steering wheel. Also they will hitch up all the gauges if they are compatible. I'll bring along the spare ones just in case. Fingers crossed.

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

I ended up picking up my project boat today so I can get some stuff done while we wait for the donor boat to shed its power plant. There was a mix up on the transplant date so it appears I have been bumped back to next Tues. No sense letting it just sit in their building, I'll use the time to keep going forward. The guy doing the rigging said the white face gauges would work but the black face one wasn't gonna work. Timing was right and now I have a replacement white face temperature gauge installed and ready to hooked up.The big start of the Summer weekend is creeping up fast so I'm thinking about putting the carpet in so I'll be able to do the final mount of the seats, battery box, and try to make a comfortable location for the 6 gal. gas tank. I kinda got my mind set on replacing the cable with new, which by the way I am not converting to the rack steering system. Looks like I may end up posting carpeted interior pics before the motor pics

 

[Bayou Dave]

That looks much better with all white face gauges.

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

No Title

I got a lot of detail stuff accomplished that would make for some pretty boring pics so we'll go this way. All the gauges that i'm going to install are in. I've got original pull switches for the main lights, the 1/2 mile search light, and the interior side wall and under dash LED lights. The horn button is also original equipment. I have a Gremlin in my wiring job but I believe it has everything to do with a not big enough power line from battery to the front of the boat. Tomorrow I again take her to the ricin spot for the transplant. They say two days, ill be back then with new pics.

 

[Tnstratofam]

She's looking rel nice.

The Sunrise? Looks beautiful too.

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

Actually a sunset. I promised my wife an evening cruise( float) with a cocktail, and a beautiful sunset, as the maiden voyage. We get some beautiful sunsets here. Fingers crossed I'll be delivering on that promise within 2 weeks.

 

[chevymaher]

I like your boat. It has a style from my childhood I remember.

 

[strokendiesel002]

That dash is slick! I'll bet you are chomping at the bit to deliver on that promise! That is a gorgeous sunset

 

[Watermann]

Looks real nice :thumb:

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

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Well I have to admit it, I wasn't expecting to get it back this quick. Took it in this morning and received a call this afternoon, they needed to talk with me on a couple of issues. Figures. Anyway, not the worst, so easy breaths were allowed. The cable I replaced on sunday needed to be about 32 to 33ft long and it was only 30. No problem, I just added to each end and hoped the splice wouldn't bump Into the pulleys. Guess what? If I cut the new cable off about 6" to 8" on each end I will be able to re-splice it and the new splice won't effect the steering. That was easy. It appears that the shift and throttle assembly if mounted where they appeared to need to be, will be crowded and will end up with my hand bumping into the dash all the time. Well its not like I wasn't warned. I'm so glad the warning prompted me to set the dash and seat in place so it would be apparent if it wasn't going to be a good fit. I got that one figured out also. Problem is, gonna add days to the journey. What do you guys think about the size of that 40 HP motor? Mechanic says its doesn't make 200# but it looks heavier that that. Also, I'm not able to use the temp gauge because my motor uses an alarm system. Any ideas on filling a 2" hole in a polished dash?

 

[strokendiesel002]

Man, that's a great blend of vintage and modern!

Well, 2 things come to mind actually. 1 is water pressure, you could get an aftermarket system I assume. 2nd would be a digital depth gauge. I have one in my room, it's kinda neat, I think it can also display surface temp if I were to get the appropriate transponder.

Great job resolving the little issues immediately! Many out there who would have a breakdown receiving that call!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Patfromny]

Congrats. It looks great. I'd either look for a Guage you could use or just leave it in there. You'll be the only one who knows it doesn't work.

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

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This is gonna be a busy and hectic weekend. I ordered wiring parts that will carry enough power up front to make the horn sound like it wants to be honked. With the motor in place, I am anxious to modify the mounting of the controls, and Got a preliminary start on that tonite. I liked the suggestion about the digital depth locator so I found and ordered one up. Drilling holes in a supposedly leak proof boat doesn't come easy but I mounted the Speedo sending unit to the bottom of the transom, ready for that installation. I'm still dreaming about a maiden launch this weekend but I'm also serious about it being at least 99 percent done when I do that.

 

[mickyryan]

man, that is one sharp lil boat!

 

[Jeff-n-Gail]

No Title

Thanks guys, i'm actually getting a bit excited to see this completed.After sleeping on my idea on how to best solve the control mounting problem I dug in. Right from the start, I was adamant about the seats being able to swivel so I could boat or visit or fish, depending on the days mood. By having to move the controls back to clear the dash I was afraid I might loose that option with the drivers seat. Needless to say I wasn't to interested in staying at work much today as I was super curious about this issue. I have tomorrow off so I simply wrote me a note telling me why I was sick and couldn't stay at work any longer, then went home. When I get to work on Monday, I'll approve the sick day. I was able to cut 18" wood blocks 1/2" at one end and 2" on the other and mounted them on the existing plywood, then I cut another piece of longer plywood and mounted it over top of what was already solid and secure. I have the controls mounted now and ready to disassemble for carpet gluing. The seat swivels one direction only but i'm still concerned about after carpet fit and clearance. If after carpet, the seat still swivels, ill glue and get busy on the next item.