My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

The water wasnt oily. When it dried it was more like dust. Who knows. Anyway, the engine ran very smoothly. I will check the thermostat tomorrow. I am thinking I should check the impeller anyway. Who knows when that was last replaced. I wish I had one of those gizmos with a laser that you can aim at something to check actual temperature. All of the gauges seem to work, amps, oil pressure. The new gas gauge is pegged at full. When I pulled the sender wire it went to empty. The tank has about 3 gallons of gas in it and hold eighteen. Some time ago I pulled the sender and it looked ok. Maybe I will take it out and hook it up and see if the gauge changes when I move the float up and down.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

If it dried dusty, prob mud daubers. Good idea to change the impeller, especially if you don't know when it was changed last. Try the sender like you said to see if it changes out of the tank.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Not sure what a mud dabber is. It doesnt sound serious though, I hope.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

They're wasps that build nests out of mud. Not choosy at all, they will build one in any hole like the ones on outboards and I/O's. Or anywhere they feel like. For example:

http://

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I took out the thermostate this morning. It has a couple of globs of rust on it. I went to some local boat mechanics and they put it in a cup of hot water and it opened. They told me the thermostat was fine, maybe I needed to,have the impeller replaced, especially since I didnt know the age of the current one. They seemed like nice honest fellows. If I ever need work done I will definitely give them a call.

When I returned home I reinstalled the thermostat and fired up the motor. This time the water coming out was clear and the temp gauge never went above the middle of the green range. It must have been some pesky mud daubers that made the exhaust water so sooty yesterday. Looks like I am good to go motorwise.

I took the sender out of the gas tank and wiggled the float. The highest reading I could get on the gauge was about a quarter full. The float has about a ten inch travel up and down. Somehow I screwed up the wiring. When I turn on the blower switch the gas gauge pegs out to full, otherwise it just reads empty. I cant see that any gauge gauge wire is hooked up to the blower switch though.. Looks like I will be spending some quality time under the dash again. Yikes.

 

[dozerII]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Don't know if I missed it earlier or not, but you have pulled the out/drive to check all the bellows, gimbal bearing, u-joints and alignment right. I would just change the impeller as it is cheap insurance on and expensive motor.

 

[classiccat]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Just stoppin' by to say "Good Job" on an impressive rebuild! really nice work! :thumb:

Good luck troubleshooting the fuel sender!

 

[cj8mule]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Very nice work. She'll make a great fishing machine.

X2 on what Glen said. I'm not sure if that barn find Chris Craft was an I/O or not, or if you've worked on 'em before. You can find a lot of help over in the mercruiser forum here on iboats. You're going to want to get the water pump changed, check the bellows, coupler, u-joints, and align the engine. If there's still a problem after that's all done, there is a water flow test you can do.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

The note I tried to post disappeared, so here goes again.

I contacted the prior owner to verify what recent maintenance he had done on the motor and the things Glen mentioned have all be done within the last two years by the PO. My '57 Chris Craft woodie was an inboard engine, very simple mechanically. In that boat I had to replace the original engine due to a cracked block. In that case, the motor alone weighed almost as much as my Starcraft and engine put together.

I replaced the bunks and carpeting on the trailer with the boat on the trailer yesterday. This was one job I was not looking forward to, but I have to say it was much easier than I expected. I lowered the tongue of the trailer as far as it would go, blocked up the lower part of the transom, and then used the hitch jack to raise the tongue. It raised the boat off the bunks about one inch more than I needed to remove and reinstall the bunks.

The only thing left to do on the boat is to troubleshoot the gas gauge issue today and the boat is complete. I must say that to me, the admiral and my neighbors, the boat pretty much looks like brand new. My total investment is less than $2,600.

To any of you out there contemplating undertaking such a restoration I would highly encourage it. You dont need to be an expert . There is a wealth of experts with good advice throughout these threads who can assist. If you have average abilities it can be done. I am ready for my next tinny project, despite the fact that every time I mention this the admiral gives me the fisheye.

Thanks to all who offered their input on this project

-Gregg

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Less then a week to still make the SOTY list.................. Got any pix of her afloat yet?

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I ran the motor in the driveway for 20 minutes or so and it ran very well. I haven't launched yet. My new gas gauge is supposed to arrive on Monday or Tuesday and since I have to remove the panel I made for it and the shift controls ( and a little warmer weather) it will hopefully be next week before the launch

In the meantime I decided to build a seat box for the helm seat and do away with the pedestal. There really isn't much storage space in the boat and this will give me a couple of extra cubic feet of storage. Here are some pics of the dry fit. When the locking seat swivel arrives it should bring the seat height up to the same height as the passenger seat, which is still on a pedestal. Frankly, I like the seat box so much I might build one for the passenger too. I have enough carpet left to cover it, but my 1/2" marine plywood is all gone except for small scraps. I have one Veada hidden hinge left over as well.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

She's lookin' good, G. I did a similar thing with a seat box, but since I have a closed bow I built a single box from side to side with the seats mounted on the hatches. Helps a lot with storage.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I forgot to mention about the gas gauge. I bought a NOS gauge that ended up being the problem - I hope. Its ohms range was very low. When my Moeller sender was all the way up the gauge read about a quarter tank or less. I ordered a new Moeller gauge with the normal ohms range so I am hoping it will work.

I am still thinking about buidling a seat box for the passenger side, but it would be pretty uncomfortable when the seat faces the rear I think. I just have to figure out what to do with the extra hidden hinge I guess.

I ran out of 1" rivets today. All in all I was 4 rivets short for the entire rebuild. I told the admiral today that I had "tennis elbow" from all the riveting. She said you mean "rivet elbow." If I ever have to alot of riveting in the future (like my next Starcraft)I am going to look into an electric pop rivet gun. Not sure if they make one, but I would recommend it highly.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

The HF air riveter works @3CFM @90psi and is currently on sale for $39, which HF's $178 compressor will run......................

Nobody wants rivet elbow, and that compressor will also plenty of other stuff, for tin boat building or not.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Thanks. I saw one for more than $1,000 and thought man, thats more than I would pay for a project boat. Yikes!

I drove to the nearest boat ramp today to check it out. The gate fellow said the ramp is closed due to low water. They let the lake level go down until mid-February so they can make repairs on the Parker dam. Another yikes.

 

[barato2]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

hey, at least the water is still, like, liquid. are there other ramps available? in a magnanimous gesture to a fellow Starmadan, i'll volunteer to meet you in Nogales and help haul her to San Carlos for a maiden voyage and some yellowtail fishing.

x2 on the air riveter.......i currently have major finger pain from the similar motion of squeezing a caulk gun (Liq Nails don't flow easy even when warm). great to hear your motor is OK and you may have the sender issue figured out.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I drove to the nearest boat ramp today to check it out. The gate fellow said the ramp is closed due to low water. They let the lake level go down until mid-February so they can make repairs on the Parker dam. Another yikes.

:faint2:

Don't they have any other launches on Havasu with deeper ramps?

I thought Mohave was bad with the USBR dropping the lake level for a week or 2 in November,,, but we could still launch... You could always haul the boat up to Katherines or Cottonwood on Mohave, hour+ drive, but better than waiting a month.

I'm thinking of heading out to Lk Mohave Sunday, either going out of Willow or Cottonwood... Hope the big ones are biting

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I am hoping for a slashdown by Wednesday of next week. The weather has been in the low 70s during the day, and a frigid mid 40s at night. A couple of problems delayed launch.

I got the new gas gauge installed and working, but I am still waiting for the locking swivel to arrive for the helm seat box I built. It is supposed to arrive on Tuesday, probably Tuesday night.

I noticed the Starboard trailer tire was low on air. You may recall I put new tires on the trailer when I bought the rig. The trailer rims were really nice aluminum alloy. When I took the wheel off my window washing fluid test revealed a leak around the valve stem. I took the tire to Discount tire and they install a new valve stem, but told me it was still leaking, probably due to the pitting on the rim. Halfway home I turned around and brought the tire back to have a new plain white rim put on. At some point I will replace the other rim I guess.

I noticed the port tilt cylinder was leaking a little oil. I will probably have to replace it at some point soon. I see them on ebay for around $100. Is it a complicated job to replace a cylinder?

We have a sign shop about a mile away so I ordered the boat name decal, which was supposed to be done the day before New Years. It still isnt done as the baby blue material didnt come in. The admiral picked the name "Knotty Boy."

Once these final things are done we should be good to go. There is another public ramp in Havasu that is supposed to be open, but as the lake is down 4 feet for dam repair, I am not sure about the ramp. My tow vehicle is a front wheel drive Chrysler Town and Country and I dont want any issues in pulling the boat up.

The Lake Havasu Hot Air Balloon Festival is coming up January 17 and I really want to be in the boat to watch it.

My sympathies to all of you who are suffering from the cold temperatures!

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I forgot to mention. I was looking on ebay the other day and someone had a 1972 Starcraft boats price list for sale. My 18' SS with 140 I/O was selling for $4,360. Do you think that was including the trailer?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Is it a Starcraft published list or a dealer?

If dealer, maybe w/ a trailer, but if SC published it, I doubt it.

What was a regular family car selling for in 1974?

That was around the gas embargo, right (??) so having a 140 motor, it probably wouldn't have been discounted to move it off the lot.