The journey

Andy, I just found out due to a membership I have Fedex gives me a discount. I'm thinking about jumping fences after we get all settled back in from boat show. Hopefully they can get a live estimator on my website.

Chris - Keep in mind the lakes are still frozen, so enjoy the process.
It's not work, it's a Nautique!

Chris - Before you pull the tank, I suggest you remove the anti-siphon valve (fitting on top of the tank) & temporarily put in an elbow. Then you can siphon the remaining bad gas from that line. Maybe jack the other side of the boat up a bit.

It would also be a good idea to clean the anti siphon valve, as they get gummed up.

Chris I pulled every piece off the tank while I had it off. I even pulled the fuel hose all the way back to the filter and flushed it out. To my surprise, there was not a lot of terrible stuff in any of the pieces.

Even the stuff at the bottom of the tank didn't look that bad. So far, the tank condition is the only thing on the boat that looks like it was properly maintained.

Lol, that's one way of looking at it.

Thanks Andy!

Yea it's definitely a project but I guess relatively speaking, others have done waaaaaay more than I have to. I'm very happy to have saved this little hot rod from its very shallow grave.

I did fly the seaplanes in the VI. I was based in St. croix for the last 5 years. Ill post some pics.

Thanks Joel!! You're more than welcome to jump on the boat when it's up and running!

As for today’s progress.......we have The Good, The Bad, and The Terrible.

Quinner took the time to come up and waste his Saturday to help me get this thing started. I can't thank you enough.

The Good--------WE GOT IT STARTED!!!!!!

Quinner pulled the impeller while I lubed the heads and turned the engine a few times. After this I connected the battery and turned the key........click.......then smoke. The engine didn't even try to turn over. I played with some wires and tried it again and noticed the positive battery cable was arcing. The wires had separated just enough to cause a sort inside the cable. We did our best to get it back together for a hail marry pass.

This time the little guy fired right up, coughed a bunch of black stuff out the pipe, and started idling nicely. It sounded really nice.

The impeller (getting replaced).



The Bad----------I took one step forward and seven steps back. I couldn't get a reading on the temp gauge, the oil pressure gauge was just pegged to full, and the fuel gauge wasn't indication correctly. There is some sort of electrical gremlin behind the dash that will require some more time.

The distributer cap and rotor will need to be replaced for sure. It's like the magical world or corrosion.




The Terrible--------------The manifolds are cracked. When we got it running they started leaking right away. Not a lot of volume but a pretty constant drip. I knew they were REALLY REALLY corroded, however, after running the engine they took on an entirely different shape and color. The pictures speak for themselves.





******If anyone knows where I can find a used set of manifolds, PLEASE let me know so I can sleep at night.

Quinner........thanks again bud!!!!! Beer is on me.

Electrical stuff is one of my stronger areas of knowledge. I can get it all working but its just a time consuming process. I don't mind doing it at all.

The engine sounded like a gasoline powered T-Rex. Beautiful. There was some vibration in the lower RPM range but nothing to be worried about yet.

This poor girl has just spun for the first time in years and I think everything needs to settle in again before I start tinkering.

Somebody around here (TRBenj, storm34, Reidp, Alan, etc.) has got to have a set of manifolds laying around from an upgrade or from one of their 10 boats.

+1 on Tim's Osco assessment. I have an old pair from my 70 Ford 302. I believe they weigh as much as a bare block and are as attractive as a manure spreader on you swim platform.

I just uploaded a video of the engine running.

Short but sweet.


Video

another

Video 2

Nice looking boat, it's only money.

Yea I was prepared for the worst after all the CQ stories I've been hearing. He seemed like a pretty normal guy to me. However, I guess that's how murderers lure their prey in. On the news they are always described as "normal".

Yea, you mean the "he seemed like a nice guy but kept to himself" post murder news interviews done with yellow tape and spotlights in the background.
And the Wisconsin comment, well, hey dar to you, we're proud to be north of the cheddar curtain, don't ya know!

Yea your not kidding Chris. I'm just blurring my eyes on purpose when I look at the trailer.