Ongoing Progress

Here are some current pictures of the engine going together. Not very good pictures, sorry, but you'll get the idea. The new distributor is sitting in place (I had to modify it by getting a shorter distributor cap from NAPA so that the carburetor could fit), it means I will have to run a remote coil, rather then the taller cap with the HEI coil on top of it). I have ordered a Edelbrock 2" spacer that will go between the intake manifold and carburetor, that will allow more then enough space between the "HOT SPARK" of the distributor and the FUEL float bowl - as it stands right now, it looks like a fire looking for a place to start.

 

I have installed all chrome bolts for the intake manifold, motor mounts, oil pan, timing cover. It brighten up's the overall appearance.

 

The velocity stack is sitting on top of the carburetor. I got the carburetor off E-bay and it came with the fuel line and fuel pressure gauge. Very nice and about $200 - $300 less then new. The carburetor was used once on a dyno test of race engine.

 

The distributor is brand new and is already fixed so that there is NO vacuum or mechanical advance (a problem we had with the previous distributor we used).

 

Scrounging around the shop, I've found enough rocker arm studs to install on the new (to me) heads. They are new, never been used, just 25 yrs old... It will save a little on the engine cost.

 

I also found four of the 6 needed push rod guides scrounging around. A penny saved here is a penny able to be spent somewhere else.. I also found 3 of the 4 need carburetor studs. It seems that this scrounging has uncovered about the last of the treasures.

 

Attached are pictures of the skid fin pattern. I have to go get some 6061 T-6 aluminum and cut it out and either try to mill it myself or take to a machinist with a milling machine.

 

I found some aluminum down the street at Forest Steel. They have 1/2" 6061.

 

I picked up the  NEW Vinyl boat lettering today. You will have to use your imagination a little - well maybe a lot.... LOL

 

The cowlings have not been repaired  and of course re-painted, but I was excited to see how the lettering would look on the cowling and of course boat.

 

The Big boat #'s were causing me a great deal of stress on how I would ever be able to paint them with my VERY limited painting ability. These vinyl sheets have answered that problem - one problem solved (I'm sure many unknown's still to come).

 

Above the name "Bolam's Express" are the sheets that say "Driver's names" and below that is "Owners, Bob & Kathy Bolam".

 

I love the way Don Kelson Hydros turned out. It is Glazier Blue and it will be placed over the re-painted white portion of the cowling.

 

The "My Rose" logo goes on the next cowling back (proof sheet enclosed).

 

Also on that same cowling will be words "1 mile World Competition Record · 85.751 MPH · 08/08/85", over the engine part of the cowling. 

The new rudder arrived Thursday and I have it installed on Sunday (after taking Friday off because of being sick...). It is only  installed for fitting purposes (had to drill new holes and fill the old holes). I still need to refinish the transom with the doorskin material. The rudder will be coming back off to add the new wood. But the fitting and alignment is complete.

 

The aluminum material that was used to make the transom stress box is REALLY strong. It has to be tempered aluminum of some kind (Boeing surplus material I'm sure), because my drive bits wouldn't penetrate it until I stepped way down in drill bit size, then worked my way back up to the final hole size.

 

The rudder and new transom wood will be attached with a special GLUE (the wood will brake before the wood ever lets go (wonderful stuff), stainless steel screws and copper nails. I think I will try something new to me this time, I think I will get a staple gun. It will make much smaller holes to fill and do an excellent job of attaching the new wood.

 

The steering quadrant that Don gave us will work perfect for the turning mechanism (it is a wheel that mounts on top of the rudder and the stainless steel cables loop around the quadrant to be able to turn left or right). Course after I build all the pulleys and install the stainless steel cable under the deck.

 

Getting this rudder and installing it is a major step forward. Our new rudder came off a 6 litre hydro of a friend of ours. That rudder has gone 161 MPH at one time, so it is used to going fast.... LOL

 

I have so many things to do first that the last thing I need to do is still in first place... LOL

 

The vinyl labeling/lettering is all done. It was ready to be picked up Friday, but I wasn't. So Monday I will go down and get all boat name, driver's label, owner label, boat #'s and the Rose label. It is nice to know this task is out of the way. The building of the engine is coming along in parallel to the boat restoration.

 

Step by step, day by day and it is still FUN and exciting to learn and do new things.