Wait, what? Can you explain this set up for me. I've wanted to figure out a cheap way to blast things. How exactly are you doing this?Quote:
Originally Posted by sybrmike
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Wait, what? Can you explain this set up for me. I've wanted to figure out a cheap way to blast things. How exactly are you doing this?Quote:
Originally Posted by sybrmike
I have a small sand blaster like this one. It does good on small jobs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie Boarder
http://cgi.ebay.com/PORTABLE-PNEUMAT...#ht_1828wt_907
I assume that this something like what Mike is referring to.
Naw, it's even simpler than that - just connect the air hose & stick the suction hose down in a bag of playsand. I can go 10 minutes or so before I have to let the old compressor catch up and have to jiggle the pickup hose in the bag every now & then. New meaning to the term "ghetto blaster".
http://www.cpocampbellhausfeld.com/c...d-sandblasters
I bought my sandblaster from Murdock's for $150. It's a stand-alone, portable, tank style. Seems to work really well except I had a little compressor that couldn't keep-up.
This is the one I bought:
http://compare.ebay.com/like/3304860...Types&var=sbar
If you wanted to do it even cheaper you could get a hand-held kind with a hopper on it. You would have to reload the hopper more often, and it would get kinda heavy with long use though.
I got some sand media at a local masonry supply store. It was $8 for a 100lb bag.
Mike, that's pretty funny we're working on the same thing. What kind of engine are you doing?
Polished aluminum intake? Should look nice, but too much upkeep for my taste. :p
Dang you guys beat me too it!
Must be prime time on the Supra Forum or something lol
Mine's a 454. The polished on the intake was a bonus. Listed on craigslist as used but never installed. When I went to pick it up - it was all shiny. Not bad for a $100. Aluminum valve covers are cheap, but hard to find "short" ones that'll clear wet exhaust manifolds. Got lucky on the water pump as well, short aluminum's are hard to find without paying vintage corvette prices - speed shop going out of business.
I'll have to take a picture once it's all together cause it'll never look that good again.:D
A 400 you say? That's what I like about these projects - make em your own way.
Hold on Mike! You got the intake for $100 not the whole motor right?
LOL! Yeah, I'm pretty excited about the 400 should have more torque than the 350 but hopefully not use too much gas. Plus it'll probably be one of the only Supras with a 400 in it.
I just bought a used prop too, it's a 3 blade 13x12.5. I think with the extra torque of the 400 it should be able to pull while weighted pretty well, plus still have decent top-speed.
I bought the boat without a prop so I didn't have a good base-line to work with but I think the stock props were 13x13's so this should be perfect.
Always lots of different opinions on props, but sounds like you should be good to go.
I've seen a 496 and 440 on here, but you may be the first 400. Good luck with the rebuild.
Thanks for all the support guys!
I got some more boat-porn pics for you. Well I guess this is more-like boat-parts-porn. Details, details...
Ok here's the raw water pump with the new impeller installed...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/SDC10523.jpg
With the drive portion installed. Used a new o-ring and some blue permatex...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/SDC10524.jpg
Here with the bracket...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/SDC10525.jpg
And the pulley...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/SDC10527.jpg
Here's the thermostat housing with my new fancy smancy $60 thermostat.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/SDC10530.jpg
I'm assuming it goes in like this (silver sleave in the thermostat housing as opposed to in the intake manifold). I'm not for sure cause it didn't have the right one in it when I took it apart.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/SDC10528.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/SDC10529.jpg
Anyone know the purpose of the little brass ring in the gasket? It seems really strange to me, I've never seen a gasket with a ring in it like that.
Just make sure when you get that raw water pump reinstalled that its pumping the right direction! It sounds dumb but it mounts 2 ways and if you don't got it the right way it pumps Air out the bottom ot the boat and will eat the impeller!
Also you should lube the impeller thing something. I use Vaseline. It helps on the first dry start up.
Good thinking guys. I'll be sure and squirt a little something down in there and work it over by hand before I mount it all up.
Got some more sandblasting done this weekend. The only things I have left to do are the engine and trans (the big stuff).
This is what I was thinking for chairs:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/SKLZ-Sport...r-DLX/14895573
seriously... They are pretty damn comfy. Just screw-em into the old plywood. The umbrellas will be nice on hot or rainy days... Just kidding bout the umbrellas, but serious about the chairs. Should be more comfy than milk crates and you could take-em out for when you sit on the beach. Heheheh!
I'm thinking end of April, beginning of May-ish for my first In-water test.
Just got my registration done yesterday, my boat is "18ft 10in" cause 19ft and up was like twice as much. You guys wont tattle on me will ya?
19' is a funny place to have a cut-ouff point. I think the jump up in price for TN is anything over 26'.
I used lawn chairs in my boat for almost a full season. It was nice being able to fold them up and have space to move around. And then you just open up more chairs as more people get on the boat.
Now, if I could just find a way to string a hammock!. Seriously, we do use bean bags in my buddies offshore center console. Pretty relaxing during the 3+ hour trip back in after a hard day of fishing (& a few, o.k. several, o.k. a lot of beers).
Careful blasting the engine - there's definitely some places in there where you do not want sand & sand will get there when blasting. I prepped mine by taping all openings, degreaser, power washer, & then hit it good with an abrasive finger cup wheel in a pneumatic grinder and some hand sand paper in hard to reach nooks & crannies. Finally, a wipe down with paint thinner prior to paint (rattle can engine paint). Only time will tell how well it holds up. It may not look as pretty or last as long as if blasted, but the bearings & valves will last longer.
I have a feeling, (and I'm just speculating here), we have LOTS of fishermen here. Most fishing boats are under 19ft ish, most ski/wakeboard boats are over 19ish. The fishing guys probably petitioned for a lower rate, and to compensate the county nailed the "pleasureboaters". I really don't know...Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanTn
All I know is the fishermen around here really hate wake/ski boats. Somehow they got the fish and game to put a "no wake" zone on everyone's favorite riding spot. (Even though the fishing is terrible at this lake.) I'm sure you guys probably have similar issues in your neck of the woods, but Montana is one of those places where people have no patience for anyone having fun if your "fun activities" make noise or disturb anyone in any way.
People typically yell out to me "Go back to California!" even though I was born and raised here.
They want to make dirtbikes, wakeboats, snowmobiles, jetskis, streetbikes, and anything else illegal. They're even trying to shut the mountainbikers down. The snowmobilers are doing alright because they ride in the winter when the granolas are all at the ski hill.
Rant off.
Very sorry guys, I get fired-up sometimes. I love the great outdoors and agree we need to protect it, but there's a limit.
We have this huge multi-million dollar ski-resort on top of the mountain in the middle of national forest land. They built high-rises and lifts and cut these huge runs into the mountain, the granolas are fine with that, but heaven forbid we have a few dirtbike trails to ride on.
Damn I'm ranting again...
Sorry, lol!
I guess Montana didn't get the memo... It's springtime!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...0408110857.jpg
That's depressing.
Montana just moved to the top of my list of places never to live.
Fact. Gross.Quote:
Originally Posted by cadunkle
Bummer. Fly down south and get on the water with one of us southern boys. ;)
There are def. some disadvantages to life in Montana. I love the mountains though. I spent some time in the AirForce, and got to see lots of the country, but there's just something about here that I love.
The summers are so awesome here, but the winters last forever. I think you really appreciate your summer more when it's short though lol!
I was trying to move to Cali a while ago, but the job I had lined-up fell through, so... We were thinking about Arizona, but that's so far from family it makes it hard when you have little ones.
It's supposed to be decent weather Sunday, so hopefully I will get that engine sandblasted. That's really the only thing I'm waiting-on at this point.
Alright guys, a long overdue update...
I decided against sandblasting the "new" 400 and hit it with the "wire brush in the drill" method.
WOW! That's a lot of work! It took me forever to get all the old grease, paint, and rust off of that thing.
My camera was out of commission for most of that experience so I didn't really get any good pics. (It's pretty boring to look at anyways.) I took off the oil-pan, intake, timing cover, etc, etc, and changed all the gaskets.
I painted it all up in black and silver engine paint, and put everything together.
I'm really hoping everything works, but that's probably wishful thinking. I really doubt the alternator works, which is why I didn't brush and paint that.
Anyway here is a pic of the "finished" engine:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ras/engine.jpg
Took the "new" engine down to work and utilized the chain-hoist there to put the engine in the boat on Sunday.
I'm still fine-tuning the alignment, which has been very tedious as the old rusty mounts don't like to adjust very easily.
I think I will take a little break on the alignment for a while and concentrate on getting the engine running, and fixing the through-hull on the exhaust.
List of things to do:
Install Starter
Install Distributor Cap/Wires
Install Hoses
Install Oil-Drain Hose
Fix Exhaust Thru-hull
Install Rudder
Finish Alignment
I was supposed to be doing some in-water testing a month ago, but things have just been taking forever, and It's been next to impossible finding time to get anything done.
I guess as a flip-side to that, we haven't really been having any boating weather, and last weekend was the first day that would have been nice anyway. So I guess I haven't really been missing much.
I have to admit that I'm not very optimistic about it anyways, there are just WAY too many things to go wrong with a build like this.
Hopefully I can get on the water and have some fun this summer without breaking the bank. Wish me luck!
Here's another of the engine taken with my phone:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e9...as/engine2.jpg
I'm too embarrassed to put-up a pic of it in the boat (I'm sure I will eventually) cause it's terrible inside the boat. All you other guys have these immaculate stringers/bilges etc. Mine looks downright awful. (A project for next season)
Looking great! I know it's nice to reach some milestones in the big project like this. Go ahead and show us pics of the motor in the boat. We'll understand!
Your bilge is not alone! I seem to have a once a year deep cleaning that is required to bring mine up to snuff....We just can't do everything and play on the water.....great work so far motor looks amazing..
The fiberglass job on the stringers is... interesting... for lack of a better term. Whoever did the "stringer repair" must have been in a hurry. There's lots of epoxy everywhere, some exposed mat material, there are quite a few things stuck in the epoxy etc. I was thinking I would just paint it up with some bilge-coat, but after seeing it, I realized there's no point. So, we're just gonna run like this for a season or two until I can afford to have it all redone.
I was a little worried about the quality of the wood, but when I drilled my holes and tightened-up the lags, everything seemed solid, so I should be good!
It makes me a little sad to put such a pretty engine in that ugly bilge but, I'm ready to get on the water already!
Nice! Good job.
Been doing a little here, a little there, for the past few days, and if it quits raining, I'll try to run it after work today.
I put the risers on,
starter,
distributor cap,
all the wiring,
hoses,
oil-drain hose,
etc.
I cranked-it, without fuel, a little bit and everything seems to work well. (The jury's still out on the alternator.) The raw water pump pumps without leaking (Yay!)
I was going to prime the carb and adjust float levels etc, but when I put the fuel pick-up line into my gas can, the fuel pump started pumping it all out the small line on the bottom. I guess I should have used the "boat's" fuel-pump instead of the one off the donor motor.
So, I installed the "old" fuel pump and hopefully that will do the trick.
Am I forgetting anything before I do a little test-run on the garden hose?
Got it running last night! YAY!
I just need to get some new hoses here and there, as well as some new fuel-line.
It took forever to prime-up the carb. (Used-up my battery and had to take the one out of the truck LOL!)
I started-off with the timing 180* off (happens every-time I swear). That was pretty interesting, she was spitting some flames! :)
Once I got that sorted, it seemed to run pretty well, that 400 sounds AWESOME!
If I can get the trough-hull exhaust sorted and the rudder installed, maybe I can do a test at the lake this weekend.
Cross your fingers and all that for me.
Sounds like real progress. Did the 180 distributor before in an old Mustang - first crank at night & yeah lots of pretty flames & backfires through the carb.
Got my fingers crossed for ya.
Went-up to the lake on Sunday evening to do a little on-trailer, in-water testing. The marine epoxy I used on the exhaust thru-hull worked great. The stuff cures in 50 min, and will actually cure underwater, so it was perfect. I didn't put enough on the rudder thru-hull though, so I was leaking a little there.
I used some clear hose on the water pick-up, and I was concerned because it wasn't drawing any water out of the lake. There's no blockage in the pick-up, and when I disconnect the hose into the thermostat housing, the fresh-water pump was pumping like a banshee. When I put the line back on the housing, it quit drawing water out of the lake again. It seems to me like the engine just wont take-in any water.
I'm getting a little confused because, when I ran it on the hose at the house, water was coming-out the exhaust normally. I though maybe something happened between my test-run and the lake-run so I ran-it again last night on the hose, and it's spitting water out the exhaust just fine.
When I ran it on the hose, it definitely wasn't getting hot, I didn't run it long enough on the lake for it to get hot, because I was concerned that the impeller would burn-up.
Does it matter if the thermostat is opened or closed? It should pick-up and discharge water out the exhaust no matter what right?
I'd check the internal passages of the tstat housing. Since you rebuilt the raw water pump & it flows water out of the outlet when disconnected, sounds like you're good there. Water should flow from the raw water intake inlet of the tstat housing to the outlets for the exhaust manifolds whether the tstat is open or not. Maybe the extra pressure from the water hose is enough to get by any blockage.
Yeah, I think what I'm gonna do for my next outing is just put some clear tubing to the manifolds too. That way I can see if it's flowing out that way too.
I had the first, real in-water test on Sunday, and I was pretty happy with the results.
We didn't sink or get stuck in the middle of the lake, so I consider it "Great Success!". ;) LOL!
Biggest issue I had was leaking oil out of the timing cover. I replaced all of the gaskets on the engine, but that aftermarket cheap chrome timing cover didn't seem to fit quite right. I noticed it when I was assembling everything and should have gobbed-on some extra RTV but.... didn't.... Story of my life hahaha!
I think it leaked about a quart, so I now officially have the dirtiest bilge ever.
The cooling seems to be working fine, I expected it to flow move volume, but the manifolds didn't get too hot. (I could touch them for a couple of seconds at a time without pain.) That's my official, scientific test.
Performance was surprising! The thing would go from idling in-gear, to plane in just a few seconds (13x12.5 prop). The carb seems to be jetted just right. I can go from idle to full-throttle instantly without any hesitation/stuttering. I think I got really lucky there, I heard these carbs can be a pain to tune.
Now I just need to fix the oil-leak and put a temporary floor in the back, and it will be ready for chilling at the lake w/friends.
Ok, so it's officially been almost a year since I last posted on this thread here.
I have been super-busy, changed jobs, moved, etc.
Not too busy to play with the Supra, but mostly too busy to keep this thread up to date.
I have been posting here and there about this and that, and it came to my attention that I should try to get a good update going.
Put a temporary floor in the back of the boat, then put some temporary carpet over everything.
I found a sweet, temporary, rear bench seat on craigslist in the form of a rear-bench out of an old Ford van.
It works well for now and it actually matches the boat's color nicely.
I started wet-sanding the hull, but progress is very slow and it's not on the top of my priority list.
Have been playing around with ballast (basically, that means grabbing anything heavy that I can find laying-around and cramming it in the boat somewhere).
More on that here:
https://forum.supraboats.com/showthr...r-Ballast-Fun!
I do have lots of sweet pictures but I don't have a card-reader on my CPU so I have to rely on my GF to email them from her CPU to me.
I'm gonna make her do that tonight, I promise.
Anyway, that's all for now. I will get some pics up tonight.
I have been on this forum for a while, but I have some how missed this whole thread. Its a perfect thread to watch.....great motor rebuild/paint and what not. My boat I believe was used in salt also, and show some minor rust here and there. I am slowly taking things apart and painting when I get a chance, or when they need to be replaced they get painted. Good luck, and cant' wait for the pictures.
Nice job on it by the way!
Thanks Shane!Quote:
Originally Posted by suprasam
I haven't been up-dating it at all, so that's probably why you haven't noticed it.
When you paint stuff, be sure to get all the rust off first. Do a couple thin coats to start, a couple thick coats, then finish with a thin coat.
The reason I say that is because, I don't think I used enough paint on mine. My intake manifold rusted-through the paint down in the little "valleys" where it got wet a few times. It didn't "bubble through" from underneath, but I think the water soaked down through the paint. Same thing happened to my valve covers, thermostat housing, etc.
Maybe look-into getting some of that original PCM paint that skidim sells. Supposedly that's the stuff that PCM uses on exhaust manifolds/risers. Maybe that would be more "water-proof". I plan to re-do some of my parts this fall when I winterize.
Yeah, most my pics from this season are of the wet-sanding/buffing proccess. I just need to poke my GF over and over until she will email them to me.
Thanks for the kind words. My boat is definately one of the roughest/ugliest boats on the forum, but hopefully as I get more and more done, the turn-around will just be that much better! :)