1968 Riviera 20'

nice find, In j-bears neighborhood those boats would be washing machines

426 Wedge?

8122pbrainard wrote: topekaboatworks wrote: it came with pre-cut marine plywood floor panels, This boat will have a complete restoration as all my boats I own go through. Chris, Was the PO just planing on laying down a new floor? Looks like you will need to do stringers first. Have you had a change to do any checking to see what condition they are in? You mentioned vinyl coming with the purchase. Is it for the floor? It can be tough to find close to the original pattern but is commercial vinyl wall covering.

The floor isn't in too bad of condition and the guy PO was just going to lay a new floor. Since I'm doing a complete restoration, the motor is coming out along with the floor and stringers. As to the vinyl, from what I could tell on the brochure, it looked to be carpet they used. If I'm wrong, let me know as this is my first CC.

What does the covenant state for your neighborhood? No more then 10 project boats per lot?

Golden Boy

426 wedge?

Is their 2 water intakes on the engine. I noticed that there are 2 hoses from from inlets on the hull? I know my brother's tige' has one, but again it's newer.

From what I was told it was a Wedge, but from research all I know is that it's just a 426, does that sound right?

Sounds good on the vinyl floor covering. Is their anything else you guys can tell me about this model or about CC in general that I will need to know along the way?

Thanks for all the help so far. I started the motor last night, it sounded good, idled nice, of course it was in water.

Chris,
Yes, typically Chryslers had a little different cooling system than the normal. One of the hoses may be "blend" water which puts warm water back into the freash water. Go to the sites reference section and look up the Chrysler engine manual. In it are the schematics for the cooling systems. You'll get a idea of how it was plumbed.

eric lavine wrote: 426 wedge?

Eric, what part of 426 "Wedge" don't you understand? You must broaden your bowtie-exclusive background. But since you asked, and Topeka is simply quoting what he was correctly told, I'll volunteer that the 426 Wedge was built prior to the Hemi, and used in autos +/- '63-'65, but in boating applications for several more years even up thru the first few years of the 440's intro. Check this for some quick neat history:     http://maxwedge.com/orangemonster/orangemonster.php

Whenever you see a 290hp Chrysler big block, it's more than likely gonna be a 426. It also came in 310,325-8V, and 415hp8V versions in marine form. Heck, that's in the Chrylser brochure in the REF SECTION as Pete mentioned, and with some nice pics. (Note: one pic in brochure is labeled wrong as 413 instead of 426. 413 was 280hp per the written specs plus I happen to still have one, and it's still needing a home.)

EDIT: And Chris, I forgot to mention in my excitement to razz on Eric, that the boat is really neat! A red hull AND a big Mopar make it all the nicer.     

The 290 gold commando is the entry level 426 wedge and anything labeled a lion would be a hp version with examples up into the 400+.I have personaly never seen anything higher than the 290 so I assume they are rare.If and when I do a resto it will be a wedge boat.

That would be a gold lion and a rare one at that.If you look real close you can see the lion on the valve cover sticker.

Chris,The front water intake is engine and the rear would be manifolds.

I talked to my car guy and he said told how to find if it was a hemi, which we all know it's not. He did say that regardless that engine should be worth some nice Benjamin's, so that's a good.

Tomorrow will be a lake test just to see how well it performs before I tear into it. Should be interesting since I'm using the good ole milk carton seat deal.

I guess I should ask is the 426 a good engine? I assume it is.

Chris,the 426 wedge is about the same as a 440 wedge.Its a big block chrysler.In realty the 8:1 engine you have should last forever where as a gold lion with 11:1 and dual four barrels has numbered days.Its kind of like the pcm 240 horse 351, compression is so low the engine never takes any wear.Other than that the timing chain being starved for oil but even then it takes many hours to wear.if the engine doesn't smoke,knock,click,or have low oil pressure its pretty much a bullet.

Perry, If Not there, I'm usually at Table Rock.

reidp wrote: Riley wrote: form&function wrote: The 290 gold commando is the entry level 426 wedge and anything labeled a lion would be a hp version with examples up into the 400+.I have personaly never seen anything higher than the 290 so I assume they are rare.If and when I do a resto it will be a wedge boat. I keep trying to talk my neighbor into selling this one to me. I can't figure out why that extra carb gives it such a "wow" affect to me, but it certainly does. Even though the engine is rather rough looking otherwise, I can't stop looking at it. It conjures up a similar but sad analogy to the attraction guys have viewing other original endowments or enhancements.

I can't get to my house without driving by it. If it comes up for sale, and it may, I will pass the word. It is sitting in a fairly nice '63 Coronado that has had the bottom removed for probably 2 years now. It has recently been moved outdoors... He're another pic for ya.

I don't personally feel there's anything unusual about that. I'll bet I'd like him.

Chris, 3 days later and youre selling the boat? What happened to the restoration you were planning?

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/boa/1442458775.html

Post it here first- if the price is right, someone here may be interested!