Cleaned up the engine bay, called Tom at JBP and picked up a rail kit.  I used the bellhousing to position the rails.  Had to notch the one side for the starter.  Will also be using a short oil filter next time around, or go to a remote mount it's pretty tight, the stringers are only 22 inches across.  Initially I had the rails mounted up near the top of the stringer, wont work with this hull and a mechanical fuel pump, not enough material in the right place to cut the front mount down.  Many thanks to Tom for helping me sort thru that issue.  I painted the kit a nickel color.  I'm not into polishing the stuff every time I go out.  I almost left them the raw aluminum, I think that would have looked good, just not for very long.  Yes, that is a rail on the other side of the stringer also, there are some carpeted bunks that were originally screwed into the stringer, I wanted a better mounting setup so that's what's going on there. 

Now that the engine is in I'll take the interior out and have it redone in white.  I also need to make or find that interior piece that goes in front of the engine.  I'll do the carpet, once I have the seats being redone I'll start sanding and prepping for paint, hoping for some good weather in April so I can shoot the paint.  Wiring is next, then cables, then, etc.....
Wanted some old school looking stuff, like gauges so this is what I'm going to run.

Installed some carpet, had to build that cover for the front of the engine, not really a carpeter, mainly because I lack the tools, but it came out ok.

Boat looks good.  Keep it up and you will be done in no time.

boat looks great Greg, keep it up...hopefully we can get together when we get them both done out at the Avi or somthin.

let me know if you want to sell me those header braces.

Cole

So, time for some paint, almost anyway.  Sanded all the blue color with 600, scuffed with scotchbrite, wiped with wax and grease remover, which took maybe an hour.  Then taping off the color, that took a bit longer........

And now.......paint.  Finally a good Friday and weekend, dry, warm, etc.  From that ugly blue to ugly gray.  Then Daytona blue pearl from TCP.

It totally changed the look of the boat.  I am very happy with it, especially since I couldn't stand the old color.  Finished buttoning up most of  the rest of it, the business end, the interior, etc.  Now just need to pick up the scoop at the polishers, along with the gas caps, hook up some fuel lines, redo the trailer bearings and to the lake.  Won't have any time to work on it til June though, just in time for summer.

Definitely Cole, think I'll be at the AVI the 18th, don't know if I'll bring this or the "family truckster," depends on how many of the normal characters go, I'll buy the first round......be good to see both on the water!!!

great job looks killer

Yes, the driveway was my "paint booth."  It gets some flaws in it from that but I have shot two cars in the same spot and they still look good.  I got lucky in that the afternoon wasn't breezy, usually the morning is better but I was busy taping it up.  All the stuff came from TCP Global, was reasonably priced.  I think I spent around 400 on paint and materials including tape, but not including a paper/tape dispenser, which I wish I had bought years ago, that saved a LOT of time. 

I also have a couple of 2x6's, think they are 10 foot, was going to redo the bunks on my old boat but never got around to it, if someone wants them I'll make you a good deal, as in you come get them and you can have them.