SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: kingtut on September 10, 2011, 06:59:41 AM

Title: BBF tear down
Post by: kingtut on September 10, 2011, 06:59:41 AM
I have a 472ci BBF that was sitting for a couple years and had rust in a couple cylinders when I bought it. My questions are
1- Any suggestions on good header gaskets for my OTT Bassett headers?
2- Plumbing suggestions for cooling system and thermostat in the engine, I live in the Finger Lakes and the
    lake water is around 70 degrees tops?
3- Is anyone familar with Kachina Boats? I picked up a 1991 18' jet in good shape other than sitting for 2
    years and the engine seized up. Are they good boats?
Any answers are greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: BBF tear down
Post by: crewchief22 on September 10, 2011, 05:34:43 PM
Welcome to SCJB  ;D

My opinion on header gaskets is that there isn't much difference in any of them, but you must retorque them after every outing for the first 4 or 5 trips.

I have never seen anyone use a thermostat in a boat with OT headers.  I don't think it would work so well when using a T-valve to feed water to the headers.  (GT Jets should give a more educated answer soon).

As for the Kachina brand, they were built in Phoenix AZ and seem to be a good hull.  The main thing with any brand is to make sure the floor and stringers are good.

Enjoy and be sure to post some pics soon  :thumbup:
Title: Re: BBF tear down
Post by: kingtut on September 11, 2011, 07:08:08 AM
Thanks for the reply, I will put up pics very soon. The boat has the engine out of it now and I am lowering the compression ratio from 13:1 to a pump gas easy 10:1 and just checking everything along the way so I know what I have. The interior is also removed and I have my fabricator making the rear seat frame out of aluminum and I will have everything reupholstered and it will snap in. The hull is in fantastic shape as are the stringers and the transom, only rot I found was in the rear seat frame. As for the thermostat in the engine Performance Jet sells a kit with everything needed, I think I will try it out. Cheers!!!
Title: Re: BBF tear down
Post by: kingtut on September 17, 2011, 07:14:32 AM
I just picked up a Ademco double ball kill switch and I want to wire it in to my ignition switch. Does anyone have any suggestions on wiring this up???
Title: Re: BBF tear down
Post by: 76Hondo on September 18, 2011, 08:21:17 PM
use header gaskets that dont have metal shims in the material, like a mr gasket. kachina boats are good rides!
Title: BBF tear down
Post by: lbhsbz on September 18, 2011, 09:23:18 PM
Don't bother with header gaskets....all they do is burn.  Just use a little high temp copper RTV and call it a day.
Title: Re: BBF tear down
Post by: 76Hondo on September 19, 2011, 07:35:49 PM
Don't bother with header gaskets....all they do is burn.  Just use a little high temp copper RTV and call it a day.

this works well too apply a coat to the header and a coat to the surface of the head and let them setup for 10min then snug-er up.
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