Wildcat-need some help identifying
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Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Anything Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42499
Printed Date: April-28-2024 at 6:49am
Topic: Wildcat-need some help identifying
Posted By: SWANY
Subject: Wildcat-need some help identifying
Date Posted: March-14-2018 at 11:37am
| Looking to know the width overall from tire to tire on a number 3 cc trailer from the late 60s. I can guess that it's over 7ft due to the boats that would go on them but probably narrower than my number 3 trailer on my 87. Nor did I find anything in the search engine, if it's possible somebody can measure for me that'd be awesome, or an educated guess from the trailer gurus |
Replies:
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: March-14-2018 at 12:00pm
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https://correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27969&title=1970-barracuda-trailer" rel="nofollow - https://correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27969&title=1970-barracuda-trailer Add fender width and you’re around 90”. |
Posted By: Hollywood
Date Posted: March-14-2018 at 2:25pm
| Frankenotter had a lengthy thread going about swapping around trailers to fit in a small garage. |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 12:30am
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So I updated the thread title and I will add to this one instead of creating more threads on the same boat. Hint-Hint. Anyways we (Brian) and myself went and picked up a Wildcat I found on Facebook marketplace pretty much, poorly advertised. I recognized it right away as a CC, what I thought from two pictures posted was maybe a Baracuda. Got more pictures from seller, turns out a wildcat. There's no paperwork so in there lies a couple problems. He said he was told its a 71' but we all know how that story goes. We showed up and got all the interior parts (shot) which I did not expect so there's a bonus. It has a Chrysler motor. Valve covers say 300hp, we have done some research and year ranges this motor was available in the wildcat but we can not determine this is a 440? We just picked it up this afternoon so little time with it has been had to dig into it. Brian will post the pictures hopefully soon, last time I tried I was having problems,ugh. Pretty cool boat, overall condition pretty decent all thing considered. Gel coat will clean up pretty nicely we think. #the lady's whip destiny isnt determined yet maybe a while. To restore or part out due to motor condition and no papers. Exciting either way |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 1:18am
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I guess paperwork wise Joel it depends where it was last registered. A number of years ago if it was an Illinois boat there was an easy procedure to acquire them. IDNR was very helpful at the time. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 8:56am
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If the gel is recoverable then it shouldn’t be a parts boat... lack of papers can usually be overcome and plenty of engines available to swap in. I think that hull style may have changed in ‘70 or ‘71 (definitely by ‘72), joe may know the transition year as he’s had both (yours is the earlier one with more character). I thought the 426 was rated at 290hp, I know the later 440’s were rated 330hp. The small block LA/LM Chrysler’s had the displacement cast right into the side of the block- not sure about the big blocks. Very cool boat. That’s a #4 Trailer btw, it’s notably wider than a #3. |
Posted By: NCH20SKIER
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 9:28am
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Sweet ------------- '05 206 Limited '88 BFN |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 10:11am
Could it be the 413??? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
SWANY wrote:Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 10:20am
 This is out of the 1968 brochure. It does list the 300HP. The Chrysler engine manual lists the 300 as a 413D. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 10:24am
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300 Hp could have been a hot dual carb 413 setup if earlier, or the base 440 setup if later - the 330 was 440 with a little warmer cam but not much change in compression or carb setup. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: fanofccfan
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 10:33am
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I agree with Tim B.......Save the old girl! You will love the drive as much as the ride and so will the rest of the people on your lake! Go Team Mopar. ------------- 2004 196 LE Ski 1969 Marauder 19 1978 Ski |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 11:00am
| How about some pics? Definitely worth saving if the gel is good. |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 11:17am
| I could email them to someone to post. Brian is traveling all day so he said he wouldn't get to it till tonight. Almost positive it won't become a parts boat it was just worst case scenario thought before we picked it up. I'm convinced because the size of the boat and the construction the gel is really thick, or there's just so little Flex in the hull compared to the smaller boats so there is virtually no spider cracking |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 12:52pm
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Joel and Brian, Does this look like the engine? This one looks like it's in a Century. They loved to put lots of HP in small wood hulls!!!  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 1:12pm
| Exhaust manifold look very familiar. It's a single card setup |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 1:14pm
|
Joel, If you want, email me the pics and I will post for you -larry ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: shierh
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 4:03pm
 Tracks from a Hellcat, thought it would go with Wildcat post |
Posted By: 81nautique
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 4:22pm
https://flic.kr/p/FEm23Z" rel="nofollow"> https://flic.kr/p/FEm23Z" rel="nofollow - https://www.flickr.com/photos/156569973@N02/" rel="nofollow - ,
|
Posted By: Mojo
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 5:04pm
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Polish that snot colored beauty and get it to Green Lake !!! ------------- 05' SV211 TE 73' Martinique had:96' SNOB had:76' Nautique had 77 Tique |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 5:23pm
       ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 5:42pm
Well Brian certainly seemed to have the Wildcat bug pretty hard after a quick ride around in the Fennessy/Pinkham collaboration down in NC so I don’t see this one getting too far away if he is involved. Especially if he got a ride in one that is running right… That's a 440 for sure, 71 seems a big late but possible and certainly I would put it 68+ with that cooling system. I can compare that SN to whats in my garage at some point and we will be closer. What is the status of that engine, known bad or just unknown? The technology and parts are around to rebuild her for sure, just a question of time and money. I am going to do my best to get out to GL with a big boat this year- just need to get a few more out there from Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri… and Chicagoland and we can have ourselves a BIG time for sure. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 5:43pm
|
Joel, it's pretty easy to tell what a Chrysler is. It will say 413-426-440 on the side cast into the block. It will be on the water jacket but signs point towards a 413. Also, the casting date will be right on the side of the block. Nice score! |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 5:55pm
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Zach knows his mopars but it is still a 440, and will be stamped on a pad in the front top of the block (hanging out in front of the valley cover on the port side) with the displacement as well as the casting numbers on the side. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: Mojo
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 6:12pm
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Joe, Green Lake likes its fat ladies... Hope you can make it. Those big boats in the big waters of GL are a perfect fit..  ------------- 05' SV211 TE 73' Martinique had:96' SNOB had:76' Nautique had 77 Tique |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 6:33pm
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Thanks Larry. Good info thank you. Hopefully I'll dig into it soon here and see if the block turns. So the condition of the motor is unknown at this point. Although I spun the shaft when I was tying things down and it moved like it just had an alignment! Steering moves freely and the controls. Only thing that's missing is the bow light, tech, and the pylon. We have the rear seat, motor box and then it has two steel bucket seat frames for the front. There's one spot up on the Bow where somebody probably hit a dock so there's some kind of patch work there, a couple spots along the chine but otherwise it's in pretty good shape. Floor is gone....enough said. Lots to dig into and investigate Joe- just out of curiosity did that cover you have come with it? At badin it looked identical to my original 2001 hull cover. We put it on the boat for the time being and it's not very close to right. |
Posted By: illiniball2000
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 7:36pm
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Thanks for all the replies and posting the pics. This is a very interesting find. Excited to see what shape that motor is in and do a more thorough inspection of the rest of the beast. ------------- Beer is my friend 87 Dominique Had 67 Starflite |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 7:43pm
I bought that cover last year from boat covers direct, its not what I could call luxurious up by the bow flair so you have to have it centered just perfect to stay on, but the price was right and they just happened to have a pattern for a 68 Wildcat on the books. I figure I might have to add a little material to the front sides at some point to make it easier to cover from the dock but I still feel pretty good about it. They also had cheaper materials available. Product: Tie-down Kit and Storage Bag Part #61001 Carver Tie-down and Bag Combo - Promo Quantity: 1 Price: $0.00 Product: Styled-to-Fit Boat Cover Part #74100A Material: 9.25 oz. Sunbrella Acrylic Color: Royal Blue Manufacturer: CORRECT CRAFT Model: WILDCAT Years: 68 Quantity: 1 Price: $413.74 Subtotal: $413.74 Shipping: $0.00 ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: chau8238
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 10:17pm
| Nice find, I'd love a big block mopar in my boat. |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 10:52pm
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Brian- We need you to pull out the card and buy a cover...kidding. The block is moving freely!!! Had a couple minutes of day light to try and spin it. Found 6 freeze plugs real quick all in the right spots. There's even more hope now. |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: March-19-2018 at 11:08pm
| Looks like a great project! |
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: March-20-2018 at 9:58am
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Fire it up, that will tell you a lot! Congrats Boys!! ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-20-2018 at 10:34am
Normally Id agree with you but there was https://youtu.be/Ppv60mtdbMU" rel="nofollow - one time where maybe i should of dumped a little marvel in the heads and cylinders and worked it by hand and compression tested before I fired up the unknown condition BBC in a wildcat... ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: March-20-2018 at 11:05am
| Joe, I remember the video. What kind of damage did the engine suffer? |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-20-2018 at 11:16am
It was broke ... Hole in piston, dropped valve seat in head, banged up cylinder - plain ol broke ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: March-20-2018 at 12:16pm
Joe know's his marine Chrysler big block parts better than anyone. |
Posted By: illiniball2000
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 11:06am
|
Swany and I investigated a little more yesterday.. Wet foam! One of the motor mount had both bolts that would spin when turning others would tighten. Plan was to get more info on engine but need some parts to see if she will fire up (coil, starter solenoid, prob new plug wires). Once we get those we will see engine status then move to the Gel status. Still figuring out what to do with the ole gal.      ------------- Beer is my friend 87 Dominique Had 67 Starflite |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 11:23am
| I'd pull most of the foam out of it and let it dry out really well. If you're lucky, most of the stringer system will be solid and you can get away with using Git Rot in the areas that have rot, if they're not too bad. Unless you're dying to do a stringer job.... |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 11:33am
|
Just a couple things to add, the secondaries looked in great condition we're thinking we would like to leave them and eliminate unnecessary work. But I think the primaries need to be redone. Is it a crazy plan to leave them alone and clean up/grind close enough to them to leave them to get the new fiberglass and resin to bond to the hull? Also what size cranking amps should this battery be for this Motor? We were using my fully charged 500 out of my boat and it just didn't seem like it was having it. We need more cranking power to do a compression test. We did get Marvel oil in the cylinders |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 12:07pm
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The only crazy plan is one that has you doing more work than is necessary, use good epoxy at it will happily bond to anything that is solid and dry. Big battery, small battery nothing really makes a big block Chrysler sound like it wants to crank. In my experience they all sound like they are barely able to turn over right till they bump to life. If the timing is off at all it will be even worse. Make sure the wires and connections are good, and consider giving the starter a quick tear down. Its intimidating to some people but it's a quick project to pull the starter pull it apart and clean as needed with some crc electric parts cleaner and emory cloth. I strongly recommend you start by turning the engine by hand to top dead center then pull out the distributor/collar/cam gear and then manually operate the oil pump until you build pressure, and then long enough to make sure you move oil up to the top end. After that I would put the distributor back in and compression test, if everything went well there then check for spark and consider starting it. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 12:08pm
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Joel and Brian, I think you will be surprised at what a good wet sand and buff will do for the gel. Go for it!! If the secondary's seem good, try to leave them but do take some core samples of the wood plus the "tapping" test. There may be moisture and mold spores in them that will give you problems later. If they are good, I can see no reason you can't just do the primaries. I'm not a big fan of just pouring Git Rot down holes as it's just a very temporary fix. The wood is still wet and will continue to rot and even faster next to the epoxy "patch". The 500 should be enough to crank that engine. Check all your cables and connections. I'd even get an Ohm reading across the start relay (solenoid) when it's coil is energized (contacts closed). You should get a near zero Ohm reading. Then, I'd even open up the starter to check the condition of the commutator and brushes. Clean them up before running out and getting a new starter. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 12:41pm
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Joe, I think in marine/industrial applications Chrysler still opted to use the good old 1:1 starters. In automotive world they went to a different style that has the signature Chrysler starter noise. Early 426 street hemis still used the 1:1 and sounded just like the marine starters. Newer style gear reduction Chrysler starters spin reallllly fast but I don't know if anyone makes a RR setup unless a rear entry would get the job done. May be an option for replacement. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 12:55pm
Zach still the salesman selling parts before checking for the cause and testing!!  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 1:01pm
The marine BBC starters of that era are definitely great big 1:1 starters made by prestolite - the polys used a very similar if not the same starter. They get the job done but often make you wonder if they are turning fast enough. - If I was running one of these engines in a day to day ski boat that I was going to start and stop a hundred times a day Id consider finding a gear reduction solution. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: March-26-2018 at 10:36pm
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Common Pete, 1:1 sounds super cool. Joe, I wonder what the amperage draw of a gear reduction starter turning the same engine VS a 1:1 is.I bet it's a lot less. Although, the earlier boats seemed to require only like 300-400 CCA batteries by the book. |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: November-12-2018 at 11:30am
| Just an update for Ken- I now have spark. So thank you! Confirms I got the wiring all correct also. As mentioned this thing was a mess and sorting out the problems. Need to get yet another starter solenoid, I’ve gone thru two trying to get it running. Going to make all new cables up to the starter. I am running out of solutions to the low cranking issue. Joe suggested pulling the starter to clean, and I would be all for that except I don’t see how I can get one of the bolts even loose without pulling the motor or cutting a notch in the stringer now. Which it is getting stringers so.... pulling the starter is two steps down my list of options |
Posted By: Mojo
Date Posted: November-12-2018 at 11:52am
+2 on getting the starter rebuilt/replaced. Had the same issue years ago with a low crank scenario.. Rebuilt it and issue was solved. ------------- 05' SV211 TE 73' Martinique had:96' SNOB had:76' Nautique had 77 Tique |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: November-12-2018 at 3:03pm
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[QUOTE=SWANY] Just an update for Ken- I now have spark. So thank you! /QUOTE] Kinda nice of Prestolite to use a lot of the same parts in their distributors for different brands. Mallory has even more interchangeability of the internals Since there's no shaft in the boat and you're not worried about alignment, why not just jack up the back of the engine enough to get the starter out? |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: November-12-2018 at 3:15pm
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Joel, When you get the starter off, open it up just as Joe mentioned. Look for spots where the armature may be dragging on the field. If it is, then the bushings are worn. New "oilite" bushings can be found at McMaster or even a decent hardware store. Clean up the commutator with some fine abrasive paper or even a scotchbrite pad. If the brushes look short and or worn, new ones are available and cheap. I just did a search and there's plenty of site to pick from. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: SWANY
Date Posted: February-11-2019 at 7:40pm
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Starting to loose patience with this project. That being said, without writing a novel of what I have done..... looking for input on why I would keep burning ignition coils (2) and it hasn’t even ran!? All the research and trial and error I have done are putting me back at square one. I’ve Gone over the simple wiring diagram at least 10x. Points,gap,dwell,firing order, wires 7mm, plugs gapped. I MAY soon be asking if anyone is interested in the project or parts |
Posted By: 93/70 ccpb
Date Posted: February-11-2019 at 8:55pm
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the older chryslers need a ballast resistor,that may be the problem.my six cyl used to give me problems ------------- what you dont want to hear from jbear and bill.you cant get in the boat till you get your minute,and they throw you back in water! |