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Ongoing ProgressClick on the buttons below to get the updates for those two weeks. ( I'll put the newest information near the top of the
page
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5-26-2007 5:14 PM Major Milestone
A major milestone has been achieved today. Thx to Jason
sending me some paper engine mount patterns, I was able to make some
plywood templates. Next will be getting some 6061-T aluminum and making
the real one. But first you have make the wood ones to makes sure all
the holes line up, the engine lines up and the shaft lines up. The boat
and motor are together for the first time.
This is the first time a Chevy V-6 has been sitting in our boat in 25+
yrs. In the pictures you can see my cardboard prop shaft. The actual is
still in the mail, but I needed to make sure the length was correct with
the engine location.
It looks ready to GO except for a few minor details - deck, pistons,
carburetor, crankshaft, rudder, steering wheel, battery - oh maybe it
isn't as close as I thought.
Yesterday I finished getting all the flotation out of the boat (it was
foam that allows the boat to float in case of an accident). I wanted to
take the foam out to make sure all the wood underneath was good - it
wasn't GOOD, it was GREAT. Two 30 gallon bags of foam later.
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5-21-2007 5:03 PM Today's Bounty
Since we weren't able to get back OUR engine, I found all the pieces I
needed to build another one in Spokane.
Yesterday I posted a WANTED, 229 or 262 V-6 ad on Craigslist. Within an
hour I had two responses. Today I went over and picked up what you see in
the back of the Rodeo and the next picture is on the floor of the shop.
There is enough stuff to build one complete motor and still have 4 spare
heads, one spare block, 8 extra pistons and rods, spare valves. I think it
is a pretty good find and all for $200. We paid $800 for the first V-6 in
1981.
I haven't checked all the #-s yet, but these engines appear to be out of a
1988 or so Astro van.
If you haven't seen the project, here is the URL and within the
restoration site is another one called "Coming Home", that one
takes you back to the beginning and Kathy's perspective. http://bolamfamily.0catch.com:80/bobkath_Bolams_Express_Restoration.html
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5-16-2007 1:33 PM Electric Hoist
The modifications you all suggested have been incorporated. Here are
pictures of the changes. Also enclosed is a picture with my new dew and
the sweat from working on the winch changes.
Also enclosed are the pictures of the motor mounts a guy in New Hampshire
made and sent me.
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5-15-2007 2:56PM Electric Hoist
Our friends Bob & Jan Johnson came by yesterday and gave us an
electric winch he used at there Kent house to pull their boat up the
driveway yrs ago. He gave it to us and that is very nice, thx Bob.
Now for you people who are smarter then me, could you check the
installation to see if you think it will work to lift the boat up so we
can roll her over. The winch will lift 3,000 lbs, so that isn't a problem
- except the owners manual says in BIG PRINT, not to use as a hoist or
lift... seems that is what I'm doing... LOL
The winch is bolted to the double 2 x 12 stairwell (which I hope is
attached well to the wall.. SEEMS strong when I try to pull on it.
The cable goes up to a double ceiling truss and loops over a steel pipe
that is held over three truss's. I put a bolt at each end of the
steel pipe to make sure it can't slip out of the holes in the truss.
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Bolam's Express - Ongoing Progress
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