Ongoing Progress

Today I finished installing all the dashboard gauges and switches. The cowling can now be put back onto the deck and the final three wires hooked up (they are the main power wires and are of a heavier gauge. I will lay on my back and hook them up).

 

I have tested the switches and gauges with a 9V battery to test continuity. Jim's wiring diagram that he made up for us two yrs ago worked great. Thank Jim.

 

I am quite happy with this idea of using a quick connect for the primary wiring. If I need to pull the motor, just pull the plug and zip the motor can be removed without standing on my head un-hooking the wires and in reverse, if I ever have to re-move the front cowling, it can be removed without undoing all the wiring. Like GE says, "Progress is our most important product".

 

Kathy will help me lay the cowling back onto the deck so that I can bolt it down tight.

 

After those three wires are hooked up and the seat re-installed. The restoration can be considered finished. The only remaining item is to light that SUCKER up (I will go over and talk to Scott next week and see how his schedule is.). If the weather EVER warms up, we will do that. Then I have to drain all the water so that it doesn't freeze and crack the block before Moses Lake.

 

Now Jim says, every time you say your done, you say there is only more thing to do - watch a NASCAR race sometime and watch the crew adjust, fine tune and do ONE more thing before they race. This is no different. It is a process that never stops needing attention. And that's cool. Can go fast and turn left unless you keep tinkering.

 

Now all I have to do is WARM up.

 

We took a picture after we brought the boat home and just before we started our restoration. We called it our "2007 Picture of the Year"

 

Today, I said to Kathy, I think it's almost time for another picture of the year. Here you go for giggles, our "2009 Picture of the Year".

 

Moses Lake here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Today's accomplishment was: completing the wiring from the engine to the quick connector. The rats nest has now moved forward to the cockpit and that is the next task. Connect the wires from the other side of the quick connect to all the gauges and switches. I wish I would of done the quick connect yrs ago, but I wasn't that smart (not implying that I am today...LOL).

 

Yesterday I ordered that battery. It is a Braille ''No Weight'' AGM Battery. It is only 5" wide X 7" long. Small but LOT's of cranking power and reserve. The case is carbon fiber, so lightweight and strong. 

 

''No Weight'' Racing Battery

21 lbs

6.6'' (L) x 5.1'' (W) x 6.8'' (H)

892 Cranking amps

550 Cold Cranking Amps

1380 (PCA) Pulse Cranking Amps

 

If I get brave, tomorrow I will take the front cowling off, flip it over and do the wiring to the gauges. It might be a good idea to move the boat outside before turning the master switch on...

 

Today we installed the engine back in (and you can see the next project sitting on top of engine - all the wiring that has to be finished). I temporarily put the boat #'s on to see how they fit with the paint. We are waiting for the temperature to come up about 10 MORE degrees before applying them to the deck (we are also letting the paint cure for about a month before applying).

 

The guys from Benchmark Graphics are going to come out to the house to lay them down for me. Might as well do it right, or don't do it at all. They have done it many, many more times then I have.

 

The good news today, I didn't get the motorhome stuck in the snow. The snow is still there, but it's depth is getting thinner and thinner. YES!!!!!!!!!!

 

One step closer. Fewer and fewer steps before the first time back on the water in 20 yrs.

It has warmed up to 35 degree's, so it's back to work in the shop. My son gave me a kerosene heater last year for the shop. I fired it up today and it did a NICE job of keeping the work area comfortable.

 

There is a rumor going around on the weather channel that it might get above 40 by the week-end That would be like a tropical heat wave around here.

 

Today's mini update. The center cowling rubber tie down's have been installed on the deck and cowling. The fuel tank is back in. The aluminum bump rails have installed on the outside edge. And the heat shields are now installed. The previous owner made them and I really liked them because the help keep the heat away from the fiberglass and paint. They had been roughly painted on one side, so before I installed them, I took them to a local powder-coater and had both of them powder-coated semi gloss black on both sides.

 

The next thing to do, is to re-install the on board fire extinguisher, re-install the POWERFUL vintage Chevy V6 racing engine (de-tuned of course for our flyby's).

 

After that finish doing the wiring to the dashboard. And then you know what's NEXT - light that sucker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!