'72 Kona

« **on:** February 17, 2009, 12:50:56 PM »

I have a ’72 Kona 19’ jet with a 455 Olds that I’ve started to completely renovate. The hull is being capped and new gel is being sprayed to bring it back to life. New interior is being built and covered. The pump is being set back and the 455 Olds will be re-used as power. I’d love to make a swap to a BBC, but I can’t justify it at this time because the Olds is a fresh rebuild. This boat is going to be completely cherry when competed.
I would like to change the engine mount from the traditional style to a rail type mount. This will allow me to fabricate a pump brace to help stiffen up the setback pump installation. What type of material should be used for the rails and backer plate? Is 6061 aluminum adequate for this application or should I use something else? Is 3x3x3/8 sufficient or does it need to be larger. Any help would be appreciated.

« **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2009, 01:14:14 PM »

Hey LostOakie-
Hey its Bo from the Park- Sounds like winter projects going big- no more little brown Jug?? I just bought material for my rail kit and I got 3x3x 1/4 and 3x 1/4 for the backing plate- I am going to cut an inch off the angle so it will work out to be 2x3- Post up some pics of the progress!

Later

« **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:46:44 PM »

Yeah man... the little brown jug is on its way to becoming a sexy panty dropper!!! We got all the rigging tore out about a week ago and now it is at the painters getting his magic touch. Its getting a cap job and all of the little holes from deck hardware are being filled. The center console has found its way into the trash and all the interior is probably ashes by now. I'm gonna do a thread on the complete rebuild as soon as she gets wet again. I tore the pan off the bottom and checked everything in a lost effort to justify a new 502 BBC or 528 Hemi. I'll run her until she barks back at me then it will be time for more displacement.

I have a specific idea of how I want the ol' girl to look. It took me a few months to get everything set in stone, but now there is no turning back. She's gonna be like a brand new ride when I'm done with her.

We are out to the park a few weeks ago checking on things since we left the trailer out there. OMG... them old fawkers were throwing down Geritol and Viagra like we throw down beer in the summer. Me and Tina laughed our asses off. Are you guys coming back this summer? We are hoping to have the Kona re-rigged and ready to get her panties damp by the 1st of May. There is a lot of work to be done between now and then. I'll send you a couple of pics of the girl without any rigging. She was an ugly lady that is gonna become an very nasty girl!

« **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2009, 03:12:20 PM »

Can't wait to see some progress pics. Here is a pic of my 71 that I restored last year.

« **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2009, 06:09:06 PM »

Here are a few pics of the ugly ol' lady.

« **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2009, 06:38:50 PM »

Damn! she neked!- cant wait to see the progress pics- who is doing the paint work?? we are definatly headin out again this summer, we left our trailer out as well, so we will be out the first or second weekend in May. It is a trip how the change in dynamics from the summer crowd to the winter crowd are- I just aquired a boat identical to yours but uglier,

I am about 1/2 way done with the set back and Bottom work on my hondo, but time and money are running out. To make it the way I would really like, is going to need a money injection and a few more months, so I am considering putting the hondo on hold for a bit and throwing a little love toward the Kona so we can have something to play with at the begining of the season and then finishing the Hondo for mid to late summer hopefully

« **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2009, 07:13:24 PM »

Yep... she's naked! Sal at OC Boat Repair is gonna lay down the gel. I chose to go with a white pearl base with a custom blue that I'm calling Stripper Electric Blue at the cap line and on the bubble. There is going to be a small accent color of Viper Red to seperate the white and the blue. He's got his hands full. Plus they are having the guys at MPD reset the intake and pump since it is being set back. I told them that I want it back by the 1st of April so we can begin the process of re-rigging her. I'm in the process of locating some OT headers to help the Olds breathe a little better and I'm gonna drill an tap the back of the heads to help with oil return during the high RPM (for an Olds) blasts up and down the river.

I can't believe that you found a Kona that is uglier than the Brown Turd. That has to be one fugly ride. What are you going to use for power in the Kona? Is the Hondo going to be a full resto or just a freshen up?

« **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2009, 08:32:33 PM »

I think ironman has an olds rail kit already made up. If you're interested, give him a call--I know he'd like to get rid of it.

« **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2009, 10:24:55 AM »

Thanks for the lead Sanger Pete. He doesn't have any kits right now which is OK because I don't really need it for another month or so.

Does anyone have any idea how to get a impeller nut off that is absolutely frozen to the pump shaft. This fawker is on there!!!! We tried a really long cheater with ZERO luck.

I'm a little aprehensive about trying a little heat as I don't want to destroy the pump shaft temper. Any ideas will be appriciated.

« **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2009, 10:58:00 AM »

give it some heat, thats what I had to do to mine.

« **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2009, 03:35:28 AM »

Use a little heat, should be no issues-
the Hondo is going full deal except for Gel- keeping OG glitter- she got a major pump rebuild, shoe, ride plate, intake grate, 5.5" set back,droop, diverter, rail kit, interior, guages, wheel, blah,blah,blah-
The Kona is looking like it will be getting a dirty garage paint job, seat covers, maybe carpet, and I think I am going to put the BBC out of the Hondo into the Kona, temporarily or maybe permanetly and then build something new for the Hondo- There again, time, money, economy, blah, blah , blah-

« **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2009, 03:41:30 PM »

Have a friend here in Vegas that has that exact Kona, same color and everything, complete with the matching engine hatch! buSet up with a 454 and a Berk

« **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:43:19 PM »

Here is an update of the project.

The carpet was stripped out and the hull was flipped to begin preparation for the new gel. They discovered some cracks in the glass where the stringers attach to the hull. Upon further examination it was discovered that the stringers had become detached and there was some moisture in the stringers however, they were still pretty solid. We decided to be very cautious and the stringers are going to be completely removed and replaced with new kiln dried clear DugFir. There was some moisture discovered in the floor and that will be removed and replaced also. It's not what I exactly wanted to do when this project was started, but what do you expect when you tear into a 36 year old boat.

« **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2009, 02:25:30 PM »

Quote from: LostOkie on February 27, 2009, 01:43:19 PM

Here is an update of the project.

The carpet was stripped out and the hull was flipped to begin preparation for the new gel. They discovered some cracks in the glass where the stringers attach to the hull. Upon further examination it was discovered that the stringers had become detached and there was some moisture in the stringers however, they were still pretty solid. We decided to be very cautious and the stringers are going to be completely removed and replaced with new kiln dried clear DugFir. There was some moisture discovered in the floor and that will be removed and replaced also. It's not what I exactly wanted to do when this project was started, but what do you expect when you tear into a 36 year old boat.

I belive the saying goes, "do it once, do it right"

Sounds like that is what you are doing, you will be glad you did it in the long run. Sounds like a great project, what part of the river do you guys run on?

« **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2009, 03:51:53 PM »

We are at Rio Del Sol in Big River. We usually run from there to down to the Lost Lakes area.

« **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2009, 09:43:42 PM »

Oh ok, we are down at Water Wheel. If their is enough water I come up to that sandbar on the CA side of the river just above Lost Lake all the time, do you ever hang there?

« **Reply #16 on:** March 01, 2009, 11:13:55 AM »

If that is the "shell beach" area then yeah we started spending some time there last year. There is a lot of nice hardware that hangs out there.

« **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2009, 09:32:48 AM »

Small update time....

We added a little heat to the impeller nut and went at it with a large wrench and a BFH. Still no luck in getting the POS off the shaft. So now it is on to plan "B". However, since I didn't come up with a plan "B" I'm stuck with a pump that has to be rebuilt and I can't get the freakin' nut off!!!

Does anyone have any ideas??? I'm open to suggestions fellas!

I went down to the paint shop and things are progressing a little slower that I had hoped. Maybe I just have ants in my pants, but my intake hasn't even been removed and glassed in for the set back. The bow tank was still in the boat and there were still screw holes in the deck from all of the old hardware.

I did get all of my gauges and I'll soon beging the process of building the wiring harness. I'm still up in the air as to if I should spend the extra coin for the tinned primary wire or just use automotive primary wire. Every termination will be heat shrinked so I'm leaning towards not getting the tinned wire. Does anyone have any input on this subject?

One of the filler necks on my gunnel tanks is broken off, so now I need to find someone that can tig it back on for me and tig me in a fuel level sending unit bung. If anyone has a round gunnel tank that already has the sending unit I'd be tempted to just swap out the whold tank.

I'm looking for ideas of how to mount the seats when it's time for them to go in for good. I'd prefer not to sink deck screws down into my pretty new stringer, so give me some ideas of brackets or something.

Thanks fellas.

« **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2009, 02:43:52 PM »

Okie-

Have you tried a heavy duty impact gun on your impeller nut? Maybe that would be the ticket, swing it by a tire shop and see if they'll have a whack at it. As for getting your tank migged, my car club bros own Starlite Rod & Kustom just down the road from you in Torrance, give Jack or Edgar a call and they should be able to take care of your tanks.
Tell 'em Skip sent you.

http://www.starlitegarage.com/

« **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2009, 02:51:39 PM »

I had the same prob on one of my pumps , but after a good ten minutes of torch time. a big phukin breaker bar and impact we won

HEAT that pig up

« **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2009, 10:19:53 PM »

Hey oklahoma, This is kevin the guy with all the tattoos in the park. doesnt mark have a tig setup? im going to long beach tomorrow to look at a boat. ill tig that shit up for you quick style. i gotta be in long beach by 6pm but i can meet up early.
If that doesnt work, i can pick it up from you, bring it back with me to my shop, tig it up and give it to you, or mark this weekend at the river.

« **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2009, 11:41:22 AM »

What's up Kevin!! I think I have Mark talked into doing it. I'll buy him a bottle of Argon and a case of Silver Bullets and let him have at it. I'm thinking about making the trip out this weekend to get things ready for summer. The wife and rug rat went back to Oklahoma to visit family for the holiday. I'm thinking that gives me a perfect opportunity to do a few things to the trailer and not have to worry about them.

« **Reply #22 on:** April 18, 2009, 08:10:44 AM »

you done yet?

« **Reply #23 on:** April 18, 2009, 08:19:06 AM »

What up Kevin How was the river??? Okie how is the boat coming?

« **Reply #24 on:** April 19, 2009, 09:51:46 AM »

eh friday flooded the trailer mildly. all clean water thank god. got that deal all setup and fixed, going to look at a lil ole jet in claremont today. if i get it, ill be draggin it out the first of may for some shakedown.

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