1978 Convincer restoration

[23outlaw]

Thanks will30, it is great to see a project come together after a lot of hard work. Good luck with your boat.

 

[BADBK]

Looks great on the water! Imagine the magic you could work on a starflite

 

[23outlaw]

I am still thinking about that boat!

 

[Kurtster]

Here is the link to the video.
After I get the interior in it and the prop dialed in I will make another video with it running full throttle on smoother water.

http://youtu.be/2hpYpxHx2R4

Holy crap, I'm swiming in my own drool right now
Great job Outlaw, --- I now know one of the people I'm gonna be asking advice from this winter when I do a resto on my "88 Vision -- however it certainly won't be to the extent and quality of your Convincers resto.

This is truely an inspiring thread, can't wait for your next picture update {maybe interior stuff __ or maybe a full throttle flyby}, I think it's kool that your thread updates have become like cliff hangers, keeping us intrigued and on the edge of our seats waiting for next update

 

[23outlaw]

Kurtster, Thanks for the compliments, just let me know when you get started on your boat. This restoration has been a lot of work but I really love the way the boat looks and handles. The other nice thing about it is NO ONE around here has anything like it!
My neighbors here are practically peeing themselves to go for a ride in it.

We got the carpet installed yesterday and it is now ready for the seats. I have to wait 2 weeks for the upholstery guy to finish up with a project and then he can get back on the boat. I'll get some more photos then.

 

[CheckmateFever]

Yeah man, that looks sweet on the water!! Sounds good and healthy too, very nice!!

 

[Kurtster]

My neighbors here are practically peeing themselves to go for a ride in it.

Just don't let them pee on the new carpet............

 

[upsmechanic1]

Outlaw, Your boat is awesome ! I have just become the proud owner of a 78 convincer ( my first checkmate, first inboard) my convincer came with the engine out of the boat, Freshly rebuilt. The previous owner had the engine professionally built, then tried to use a knockoff brand electronic distributor instead of the old points distributor. when he coudn't make it work he pulled the engine and left the boat out in the weather last winter. I have the engine back in, alignment done, and am trying to figure out what brackets/ wires go where. did you use an HEI unit on your engine ? Sorry for the long post, looking for a little info/hoping to make my convincer look like yours by end of next summer !

 

[23outlaw]

Thanks upsmechanic1, I used an MSD ready to run distributor (pn 83606) it bolts right in and gets rid of the troublesome points ignition, with this distributor you do not need to run the amplifier box and it wires directly into the factory wire loom. You will need to eliminate the exciter wire that supplies voltage to the points I think it is a tan or creme color. MSD includes a wiring diagram. As for any of the other details about the engine/wiring installation just let me know....

 

[paulsboats]

You have done a fine job! Looks and sounds great!

 

[upsmechanic1]

Outlaw, I have an orange wire and a purple wire on top of the engine out of the harness, I'm going to need to find an accurate wiring harness diagram with colors if I cant find the oil pressure sending unit wire. The orange wire looks like it should have went to the old points distributor connection, the purple kinda goes alonside the carb (elec choke?) but it was taped off like it was not being used prior to engine replacement. no wires anywhere near the oil pressure sending unit. I didn't get the old block, does the oil pressure sending unit go beside the distributor like it would in a car ? I am planning on checking the voltage at the old coil connection, if I have full batt voltage I will hook these wires to the batt positive on the HEI, then The negative side from the old coil should go to the tach connection. I have a mercruiser manual but it's for newer models and none of the wire colors are matching up.

 

[Kurtster]

Hey Outlaw, it's time for a pic update --- anything yet on the interior?

 

[23outlaw]

Not much going on with the interior yet. I put the carpet in last weekend





Now I have to wait till sometime next week for the interior guy to start on the seats. He does good work but he is S L O W ....

 

[nathan]

looking good. sometimes a slow interior guy is a good thing!

 

[Kurtster]

Not much going on with the interior yet. I put the carpet in last weekend

Now I have to wait till sometime next week for the interior guy to start on the seats. He does good work but he is S L O W ....

Ahhh, thanks Outlaw for the update --- looking better and better with every installment you provide.
Nathan's right, S L O W, can very often equal good quality.

Hey your still comming along faster than CheckMate Inc. is with their 43ft Punisher

 

[23outlaw]

Thanks Nathan and Kurtster. I know the boat is coming along pretty well, ( I started this project in December! ) Im just a little anxious to get it done and on the water.

 

[23outlaw]

Today was a nice calm day so we took the boat out for a ride. Still no interior yet, even with some cushions to use for seats this thing is a blast to drive.









The interior shop has one of the bucket seats done. I will post some photos once I get them installed.

 

[nathan]

that looks great!!!!

 

[Kurtster]

I havn't seen a backend that beautiful since I dated a Brazilian girl

Boat is looking great outlaw --- can't wait to see how awesome the interior is gonna look when you get that done.

 

[23outlaw]

Thanks Kurtster, I dated a Mexican girl when I was in college that was very good looking too. I saw her the other day at the gas station and now I could probably use her pants for a boat cover!!

As for the interior, I cant wait to pick up one of the bucket seats from the upholstery shop later this week.