Ongoing Progress

The new white gauges arrived Friday - they were installed Friday. On Saturday I attached the water hose and ran the water through the boat and engine - had a couple of leaks from senior moments because I didn't tighten the new hose fittings. They are now fixed. I ran the fuel thru the new fittings and it had a couple of small leaks, which are now fixed. Picture attached.

 

Today I adjusted the valves and YOU KNOW ME, I just couldn't wait to see it would start. Now it is just static timed, the real timing will be in a little while over at Scott Purcell's and with more engine time.

 

SHE fired RIGHT up and sounded MEAN as can be. I even saw flames coming out of the exhaust times - now that is a first (course it was inside the shop). I ran it about 15 seconds. The forgot to look at the new oil gauges to see if they said anything - YES in deed both oil pressure gauges had readings.

 

The new gauges have parameter lines for reference purposes. Kinda hard to read #'s when you bouncing all over the place. So as long as the needles are between the black lines, we should be okay.

 

Jason the painter is/was suppose to come out today and prime the repaired area (he came out Friday to do an inspection). The primer will cure for a day and then he can/will come back out to shoot the blue and clear - then you know what - we are ready to GO again.

 

BTW, the water coming out of the strut was more then plentiful and while turning the engine over to time the valves, I checked the chain coupler attached to the prop shaft and crankshaft - for any visible signs of being out of alignment (no wobbles).

 

Also attached is a picture that I found out on the Region 10 Vintage site. You can see the skidfin grabbing some water and the prop turning. COOOOOOL!!!!!!!

 

The engine has been cleared for re-assembly. I had set up the engine with a dial indicator to mark TDC (top dead center) for #1 cylinder. I asked Scott Purcell to come over and verify what I did. He said it was perfect. We marked the chain coupler and NEW flex plate with 0* markings and 32* markings (we have decided to de-tune the motor a little more for longevity). We have also decided to switch from the 112 octane Renegade Racing fuel to 100 octane aviation fuel. The difference is a reduction from $7 a gallon to $4 a gallon. The engine will run just fine on the lower octane fuel.

 

I will start re-installing the heads and intake manifold to the block tomorrow.

 

I asked Scott to verify that the distributor was indeed locked down @ 0* advance. His machine verified that indeed was staying @ 0*'s.

 

We have enhanced the shaft coupler to make sure it doesn't move forward.  And we have changed the fresh water in to be less restrictive, The cool water is coming in at the bottom of the engine and exiting out the top.

 

Jason is suppose to come up to the house to re-paint the pickle tip. When that is complete the aluminum trim can be installed and with that, all the known issues from Moses Lake will have been completed.

 

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On a sad side note. We lost a dear friend this week. Terry Troxell succumbed to a massive heart attack. He was 61 yrs young. We have known Terry for 30+ yrs and he was one of the first to tell us how neat our project was. He has been very instrumental in all aspects of boat racing, even winning the most coveted cup in all of boat racing, winning the 2005 Gold Cup.

 

Terry did the artwork and silk screened our original team jackets and shirts. And before that when I was a measly crew chief he air brushed some special award Dick Neeson gave to his crew (picture attached).

 

One of my other prized possessions that Terry did, he made place mats for the Tacoma Inboard Awards Banquet (yrs ago). They were pictures of all the individual boats, silk screen on plastic (picture enclosed). This one maybe one of the very few still in existence. It is a picture of our My Rose and Honey Hush going deck to deck.

 

God Speed Terry, you will be greatly missed by all those you touched in life.