Ongoing Progress

May 14, 2008 12:53 PM  Compromise

Here is my compromise for the oil pickup tube. The original one of course was to deep for the modified oil pan. I wanted to get or build one that would go into the left side of the motor so that it would/could pick up the oil as we turn. They don't make an after market boat racer oil pickup tube.

 

I spent about 3 hours last night and today searching for such an animal.

 

Finally decided I would get a flatter one that will pretty much work as long as we don't try to set another record. It has a larger opening then the V6 pickup tube.

Sorry for the # of pictures, but it was a major event.... Thank you to all for your help, we couldn't have done it without you.

 

Tonight's pictures include the trailer off tilt (battery now installed to work the electric motor), the tilt motor, rolling the boat over and testing the new slings to see if our head engineer designed them correctly - he gets to keep his job for a little while longer.

 

A couple of pictures of the roll over sling setup. It works really slick

 

It appears we lucked out, because after finishing the roll over, the hoist wouldn't lift the boat. I'm guessing the cable is binding inside the spool. One day when I don't have anything to do, I will un-spool it and re-coil it. It has to work one more time so that we can lift the boat onto the trailer when I ready for that. If not, I have a manual work around.

The last major piece of the boat restoration project came home today.

 

Today Del Corey and I drove to Moses Lake to pick up our new to us trailer from Craig Bonar. Thank you Craig. He painted it Blue for us to match the old trailer we had yrs ago. This trailer is better in many ways, new shinny tandem wheels, electric brakes, electric tilt. Craig and his dad worked on it most of the winter to get it ready for us. Now I will make the correct wood and carpet bunks for the boat to sit on, add some diamond plate to the fenders so we can walk on them and add a diamond plate platform between the fender and the boat when it is off tilt.

 

The box at the front of the trailer is the hydraulic pump and battery for the tilt.

 

I think this trailer will work out great for our vintage boat.

 

Don Bearwood, the boat that used to be on this trailer, is the boat you saw on the roof in Helena. That is another boat racers business. Small world huh??

 

Tomorrow we roll the boat back, right side up and the restoration of the inside begins.

Today I finished assembling the engine long block. Next thing is to find Top Dead Center so that I can mark the flywheel timing marks. After that we will clay the pistons to the valves for proper clearance (the last clearance item before final assembly).

 

I discovered a minor problem after installing the pistons into the cylinders. Two pistons were upside down. I had to take those two back out and remove the wrist pins, rotate the piston 180 degrees and then re-insert them into the cylinders.... I guess that would be another senior moment because I checked them at least three or four times during assembly...

 

The engine is only a couple hours away from final completion - and starting for the first time in Aug - maybe.....

 

Yesterday and today was learning how to make swage cable connection for the steering system that still needs to be built. I installed two of the six pulleys yesterday. The steering shaft column support was installed yesterday.

 

Everyday we get one step closer to the water..

 

Monday, Del and I are driving to Moses Lake to pick up the trailer and Tuesday a bunch of friends will be coming over to help us roll the boat back, right side up. And then the pace and work picks up a bunch.

 

This should be the last update for a little while (okay, okay keep the YIPPEE's to a minimum). I will be waiting for the varnish to harden/cure. I'll be working on finishing the engine. But until then, here are today's pictures finishing up the bottom. The skid fin has been installed on the left sponson, the rudder is installed on the left rear and the propeller shaft strut has been bolted in place.

 

You can also see the modified drain plugs and upholstered covers for the skidfin and rudder in a couple of pictures. The reflection in the wood and skidfin is exciting.

 

 

Our trailer is due next week, the detailing of the trailer can get started along with working on the inside of the boat after rolling her back over - RIGHT SIDE UP!!

 

Today was a 4 - 5 hour day of sanding, vacuuming the wood, rubbing down the wood with thinner and tack ragging the wood. Then the second coat of varnish was applied. I think it turned out pretty good, minor flaws. In a couple of weeks I might take some 1500 grit sandpaper, then polish the rough spots.

 

I can always sand it again down the road and put a fresh coat on. I will decide that down the road. 

 

 

Today it was above 50 degrees, so the first coat of varnish was applied. To my surprise it only took a 1/2 quart of varnish. That means I can apply lots of coats because I purchased 4 quarts of the GoldSpar varnish. Maybe NOT 8 coats, but at least 4 anyway.

 

Tomorrow a light sand and then another coat, Wednesday the same, Thursday the same.

 

Install the strut, rudder and get ready to roll her over when the varnish has cured enough to not stick to everything it touches.

 

I was thinking about imposing a 20' rule, but now that I see how pretty she is becoming - maybe we can relax the rules and make it a 10' rule for viewing and critiquing.

 

Had I gone to Entiat boat races last week-end, I bet I could of gone for an unlimited ride. Maybe I will get to go for one at Pateros.

 

Our friend Mark Evans converted his 4 seater unlimited to outboard power for insurance reasons. It has two 225 horsepower outboards on it now. If you look closely, you can see Mark standing in the engine compartment steering the boat, while the four passengers ride inside the cockpit viewing full instrumentation.

 

For those who don't know or remember, Mark was the one who was instrumental in us getting our boat back.

 

It is now licensed as a 24', 4 place pleasure boat and a pleasure it is. I see that Craig got to go for a ride also (Craig is another friend who we got our trailer from). Boat racing is the smallest BIG family.

 

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8269723&nav=menu484_4_4