1976 Ski Nautique Restoration Project

Rob,
Do you feel there's a problem with the EI? Ken is correct that the Prestolite EI is reliable. I have one in my 77. Yes Ken I ended up with an engine without points!!

8122pbrainard wrote: Rob, Do you feel there's a problem with the EI? Ken is correct that the Prestolite EI is reliable. I have one in my 77. Yes Ken I ended up with an engine without points!!

No reason [at this point] to suspect anything's wrong with it. Just trying to get a grasp on what I've got on my hands already.

Received my new fuel feed hose and some other miscellaneous parts but haven't had a chance to put anything on yet. Got the carburetor off and it was full of crud so I'm going to have it cleaned and rebuilt by somebody who knows what they're doing. If I tried to, it'd take me a month...

Quick update: My buddy is a shop foreman at a big local dealership's service department and he took my carb into the shop, took it apart and cleaned it in their hot tank and had one of his guys rebuild it (with the kit I supplied). Haven't gotten it back yet but hopefully good as new.

And a question: I'm probably going to replace my spark plug wires. The current ones don't look unusable but a few of the boots are cracked so I may as well go ahead and order some. Considering I have the Prestolite electronic ignition conversion, can you recommend a set of wires? The choices on skidim.com are not obvious (to a noob such as myself) which are the correct kit for my setup. I think it's the first one listed but want to make sure.

Thanks!

Annnnd another question: I know some of you have added a screw on type fuel/water separator. I'd like to do this but I'm not sure where to put it. Suggestions? I believe this would also work as a fuel filter, correct? When I got the boat there was an in-line fuel filter.

Here are some pics of my fuel pump area. The fuel line is currently not in place, as I'm in the middle of replacing it.

KENO wrote: Hi Rob I had a 76 that I put a filter/separator on and I put it in the front left corner on a bracket that mounted to the stringer up high enough so access was relatively easy and it didn't interfere with the engine box... Can't help but notice that funny looking plumbing tee screwed into the front of the exhaust manifold. Looks like there's some epoxy around the threaded area too. I figure if it doesn't leak you might as well leave it alone since you might find hard to fix issues if you take it off.

Keno, Thanks for pointing that out. I was totally unaware that wasn't an original part. The other side is the exact same. I don't believe there's any epoxy there, although it looks like it in the picture.

Anybody have any pictures of what it's supposed to look like?

Thanks!

Ah thank you! No telling what the previous owners and their mechanics did to modify (more like jerry-rig) it. I'll keep an eye on it once I get it running. If it doesn't leak, I'll worry about it later.

Now my crisis is the thermostat housing. Rusted really badly and they're next to impossible to find.