Diplomat Overhaul

[Turbot-bird]

well, since I got the boat I have been working on it trying to get it back to original condition. I plan on doing a complete overhaul on it all the way to the stringers. So far I have removed some of the old interior, got half of it buffed and polished, got the 470 running, and started reinforcing the engine hatch because it was cracked at one of the hinges.

start:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/Checkmate001.jpg
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[Turbot-bird]

now:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/Boat10-26-07014.jpg
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http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/Boat11-9-07020.jpg

[Turbot-bird]

I also Rebuilt the trailer

[Wonderllama]

wow, wish i had that garage.

my boat looks similar, i have an 82 eluder in the same color.

[Turbot-bird]

thats our shop from when we owned a dumptruck/contruction company. its 5 bays with parts room an 25ft tall roof. all prefab. its not going anywhere lol

[Turbot-bird]

ok, today got the outdrive off, the waterpump was toast! never thaught it would have been that bad. the pickup tube was melted, the pump housing is warped, the impeller is broke....

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/11-15-07001-1.jpg
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http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/11-15-07014.jpg

[daren34]

now you need to find all the peices of the old pump

if they are not all in the pump then they will be packed against the oil cooler or the heat exchanger

they could be in the metal pipe going through the transom

the new kit will come with both housings and a new tube

this is aslo the drive shaft seal for the lower unit

make sure to take your old one with you because they made a few changes over the years and there are small differences in the pumps

1983 your drive should be a r or mr

good luck daren

oh now is a good time to change the fluid upper and lower
make shure to replace the o-ring between the upper and lower housings
and fill the oil from the lower up
merc and sierra and a few others make a pump that goes on a quart bottle
it take about three quarts to fill the drive

[Turbot-bird]

ya, I have a new pump. the white one in the pic is the new one. where can I find the o ring? I didnt see one in there then I pulled it apart. while I have it apart im going to replace the gimbil berring and paint the drive. also change the bellows.

[Turbot-bird]

Worked on wetsanding and buffing and polishing last night. got it shining good so far....



http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/New029.jpg
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this is the bow step up I was talking about in a previous thread..

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/New042.jpg


anyone have any ideas how to get the waterline stain out?

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/New036.jpg


Also put new reflective tape on my tool trailer too lol

if anyone rear ends it and says they didnt see it the cops just going to look at them and say BS! lol

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/New024.jpg
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[Turbot-bird]

worst part, waiting on gimble, drive seals, and other parts..............

[Turbot-bird]

Ok guys, got to work on it a little more. Tore out the interior more and started tearing out the floor. After sitting inside the shop all winter the foam is still saturated with water. stringer is done. going to have to rebuild it all. Good thing is no core rot so far......


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/2008_05_06_003949.jpg

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[Turbot-bird]

ok, got the floor out, foam and 1 float box. The bow was rebuilt a few years ago so im going to try and save it. It is pretty sturdy unlike the rest. Best of all, No rot in balsa. Took my heat gun and dried the core.


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/2008_05_08_004067.jpg
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Going to have to rebuild the motor mounts.


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Checkmate/2008_05_08_004061.jpg

[Big Dave]

When we changed to the v8, we took out those boxes by the engine... they are just tabbed into place. all of the foam in them was full of water too
engine comp looks huge without them

[83PREDICTOR]

I say you forget about the 470 and drop in a 4.3 or 5.7 chevy

[Big Dave]

with what gas prices are now, I wish I would have fixed the 3.7
4 to 5 hours on 20 gals gas with the 400hp 350 if you stay out of the 4bbls

[Turbot-bird]

I want to build the motor mounts to give me the option of switching that is the reason for my other thread. Right now I cant afford to switch. How much lower does the boat sit without the boxes? where did you mount the battery?

[Turbot-bird]

Ok, got the other float box out and started grinding a little with a flap disk. Came out looking like casper lol



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[Big Dave]

I want to build the motor mounts to give me the option of switching that is the reason for my other thread. Right now I cant afford to switch. How much lower does the boat sit without the boxes? where did you mount the battery?

Mine sits lower in the water from the v-8, but no change takeing the boxes out(I think they only work if the boat takes on water)
we put a flat board on the right side tabbed to the new stringers for the v-8 for Battery and trim pump

[wca_tim]

I just finished yesterday extending the original mounts and when setting it up took pics for you with a ruler or tape measure along sid ethe critical dimensions. I also made paper templates of all the wood pieces from the interior...

I would have had the new engine in and so forth by now, but have spent the weekend rebuilding stringers, floor and so forth... one of the foam boxes was full of water... never would have known, the wood on the other parts drilled dry... battery box that someone added in the past and a crack in the hose for the bilge pump discharge is all it took. floor was in decent shape, until got the gas tank out, then found one bad spot under it... it let water seep up the stringers that run parallel to the keel... so I pulled the floor and everything until I hit dry wood - under the front deck! 4 18 hour days, three sheets of dry plywood, some mahogany,ceder, 6 gallons of resin, 10-12 yards of cloth, 4 yards of mat and a huge mess later, and looks like I'll finally be ready to shoot paint in the interior this morning after double checking that there are no holes left anywhere that aren't sealed... and put the engine in this afternoon... hoping to be breaking cam in late today and with some luck test run on the river tomorrow...

I guess the positive is that between glassing I did get the time to detail paint some of the things on the new engine i wanted to... and it's ready to set in... and go.

[Big Dave]

Any more pic's?
I need to pull my floor up too, and may have time now as the upper gearcase exploded this weekend
too much power and too many rpm I guess.

[wca_tim]

Sorry your drive fragged...

I did notice that my stringers seems to be put together a bit different than the ones above... as well is the engine compartment... hope yoiu get your rig back together soon...

[Turbot-bird]

ya, sorry to hear about your drive.

I plan on working on mine more next week. Got to get some wood to build the motor mounts and floor with. Been working alot this week.

WCA, thanks for your help man.......

[Big Dave]

Li'l Dave is trading out computer work for parts with the local marina so parts may be coming soon!!!!
I would love to try out those cryo-gears, but with the middle son graduating high school, getting married and starting college this summer there is not much in the piggy bank for the boat
Thank G*d the youngest is only 14, I am only having to restore a 65 chev for him

[Turbot-bird]

Li'l Dave is trading out computer work for parts with the local marina so parts may be coming soon!!!!
I would love to try out those cryo-gears, but with the middle son graduating high school, getting married and starting college this summer there is not much in the piggy bank for the boat
Thank G*d the youngest is only 14, I am only having to restore a 65 chev for him


haha good luck

[wca_tim]

I hate waiting for stuff... let me know if you want paper templates for the wood and also quite frankly if there are parts that you need that could be "used"... Now that I have the boat up and running I'm in the mode of giving away and selling a everything from the 4.3 that came out to a bunch of spare parts from donor 350, etc... not obvious what you might need that I would be giving away, but if anything comes up feel free to send me a pm or email and ask...

Dave, I'm thinking of cryo-ing my own gears... but don't have the tools to reubild / set-up the drive yet...

As soon as I figure out how to post a pic and movie, I'll upload one of my new engine in place... jet's are still too lean, but hit mid /upper 60's yesterday without even letting it wind up... still haven't played with the tack to see what if anything need to do to for proper read from v-8 vs the pervious v-6...

[Big Dave]

should be a switch on the back of the tach.

Dave picked up the parts today, and Daren34 came up for Sean's graduation and brought upper drive shim tool and spanner for lower retainer nut---hope to get to work on it sometime this weekend

going to Dallas tomorrow to rewire bro-in-laws rinker....may get to take his out if I can make it run. beter to go out in a generic boat than not at all

Dave and I have agreed not to turn the drive over 4800 rpm( we'll see how long that lasts)to try to make it thru a few more seasons with just a cheap gear and bearing swap
I have never been inside a drive, but Daren34 has so shoud be interesting.

[wca_tim]

Cool! I hit mid / upper 60's yesterday before I got out of it... with a 29" prop and the 1.84 gear ratio... Am going to hook up the drive oil temp gauge before getting into it hard and definately before staying into it....

Found the switch on the bacl of the tach... may go out for a while later today... hoter than blazes here today and have work to do...

Let me know what you learn on the drive tear down...
Cheers!

[Big Dave]

to get the pitch down,you will probably have to change the drive to 1.5 to 1

[Turbot-bird]

I got my motor mount out and the floor ground down today, just got to get some boards to build the new one.

[wca_tim]

to get the pitch down,you will probably have to change the drive to 1.5 to 1


I've got a 1.5:1 upper sitting in the kitchen on the floor, but the engine guy I used told me it might run faster with a higher pitch prop... once I get the most I can out of the carb jetting and so forth... I'll go back and see him for some props to try with the current gear ratio.

here's a video I took last week while running on muffs. had fun on the water yesterday playing with a 4 bladed 29 pitch cleaver prop i had laying around. Getting huge slip numbers once over about 3500 rpm's (approaching 17% compared with the 6-7% I've seen with everything else), but it would blow by 60 at willeven though could hear it lose hold simply from throttle above 55 or so... anyhow.... with gas at 420 a gal.. I almost tempted to put the 4.3 off the back porch back in it! oh well... great day on the river sun... lots of boats out, water was calmer than usual and it was hotter than you know what...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33aWuP1K6o8


ps. the air cleaner on there is only because i had it on hand,.. will definately get one that flows better in short order here...

[Turbot-bird]

dand that thing looked and sounded good! will your hatch fit over it?

[Turbot-bird]

ok, got old motor mount out.....


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/2008_06_06_005180.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/2008_06_06_005179.jpg


This is some of the wood that came out of the mount....


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/2008_06_10_005189.jpg



New mount put together, just got to finish fiberglassing it and mount and glass it in.


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/2008_06_10_005188.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/2008_06_10_005187.jpg

[Turbot-bird]

Boat as it sits for the night...


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/2008_06_10_005194.jpg

[wca_tim]

dand that thing looked and sounded good! will your hatch fit over it?


yes! although I did have to trim / cut out the undersides of both the cover and the boat top to give enough clearance for the exhaust where the risers come out and go into the elbows... It's tight - especially the exhaust with the long risers but it works after a little "fitting"...

looks like progress on yours!

[daren34]

I've got a 1.5:1 upper sitting in the kitchen on the floor, but the engine guy I used told me it might run faster with a higher pitch prop... once I get the most I can out of the carb jetting and so forth... I'll go back and see him for some props to try with the current gear ratio.

here's a video I took last week while running on muffs. had fun on the water yesterday playing with a 4 bladed 29 pitch cleaver prop i had laying around. Getting huge slip numbers once over about 3500 rpm's (approaching 17% compared with the 6-7% I've seen with everything else), but it would blow by 60 at willeven though could hear it lose hold simply from throttle above 55 or so... anyhow.... with gas at 420 a gal.. I almost tempted to put the 4.3 off the back porch back in it! oh well... great day on the river sun... lots of boats out, water was calmer than usual and it was hotter than you know what...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33aWuP1K6o8


ps. the air cleaner on there is only because i had it on hand,.. will definately get one that flows better in short order here...

look for a mirage 3 blade or bravo1 4 blade
you need more diameter to hold the hp (less slip)

the high fuel prices make me glad i still have the 3.7 in my eluder

daren

[Big Dave]

Yea, I go to the lake once on a tank, and Daren34 goes to the lake 3 times on a tank

[wca_tim]

I hit 75 yesterday in mine... and burned $75 in gas in about 5 hours....

having fun, but starting to wonder about that v-6 I haven't taken the time to get sold yet...

Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

[Big Dave]

I hit 75 yesterday in mine

Must be a lot smoother water than we have around here

what brand prop are you running?

[wca_tim]

Must be a lot smoother water than we have around here

what brand prop are you running?


Not ceratin what brand, it's not marked and is one I borrowed to try out. It's a 4 blade, 15 1/4 inch diameter, 29" with somewhat narrow blades, a progressive pitch and a good bit of cupping in the ends of the blades. I don't have a tone of experience, but it looks like an older style cleaver. It also looks like it's been tweaked / thinned out at some point and I think it originally came off a twin engine Fountain when the owner stepped up to bigger engines (there was a matching lh one there too). I was running about 5200 rpm's by the factory tach and still accellerating some when I backed off to cross some wakes. gps was hovering 74. someting to 75. something... I was too busy driving to pay close attention and my passenger was kinda skeered and holdin onto the dog to keep it from flyin out when we hit waves, etc... I was surprised how stable it felt and how well it seemed to handle :bigthumb:

Did you get your drive back together? If not, what do you still need?

[Big Dave]

Li'l Dave picked up a Redline upper gear kit, and Daren34 helped take apart the upper when he was here for Sean's graduation.....have not had time to work on it anymore

We are turning way to many rpm, was at 5700 and climbing when Dave backed out of it. That is with a 14 1/4 x 24 4 blade Mach Im sure that is what weakend the upper gears

[Turbot-bird]

Dang 75mph? thats awsome! gives me some hope for the future down the road lol

[wca_tim]

I'm pretty sure the prop I am playing with now is a hydrodromotive intimidator quad IV 29" with a 15" diameter.