Hey Jeff
Looking good. No excuses--you gotta get that baby on the water this season.
Pete

Glad to help, Keep up the good work you have cool project going there and I enjoy watching the progress.     Roy

I've got lots of excuses Mark, 

1. No motor, still undecided on what do in this one. 
2. No pump, only have some of the big parts.
3. No seats, the ones that where in there are wayyy to heavy.
4. Way to much hull work to do, I have something kinda crazy in mind for this.

OK, Lets go through these
1. I have an extra 454 sitting in my garage--don't plan on using it until next year.
2. Use the WJ--with a little work it will run as good as a berkeley.
3. A couple of Lucky Stiff's fiberglass buckets would be perfect.
4. And now you still have more than 2 mos. to finish up the hull.
Bingo--you're at the lake learning to drive a tunnel/hydro.

OK, Lets go through these
1. I have an extra 454 sitting in my garage--don't plan on using it until next year.
2. Use the WJ--with a little work it will run as good as a berkeley.
3. A couple of Lucky Stiff's fiberglass buckets would be perfect.
4. And now you still have more than 2 mos. to finish up the hull.
Bingo--you're at the lake learning to drive a tunnel/hydro.

X2 on that Mark but I think thats just wishful thinking on his part so what are your big plans any ideas yet.

X2 on that Mark but I think thats just wishful thinking on his part so what are your big plans any ideas yet.

 Wishful thinking may be true.  But I do have a plan, kinda, for now. 

1. The Frankenstein pump is being replaced with a Berk. I have a good intake (already machined for a shoe/rideplate), a good suction housing and shaft, and the worked split bowl that I tried on the old boat. Just need to set the intake, buy a new/good S/S impeller, and a rebuild kit.  Also need to have some bottom work done for the intake (rounded keel intake, flat keel boat).
2. Seats will probably come from Lucky Stiff', unless I scrounge a super deal on some used ones.
3. I'm not letting on what I'm thinking about doing as far a glass work and the dash yet, I need to check a few things out first.
4. The motor.  This is where I'm really undecided.  I want something different. NO its not getting an OB !! Maybe a blower motor, maybe a really big bottle fed beast, maybe some Kaase "Boss 9" heads. I even saw a place that sells Hemi heads that fit a Mopar 440 block.  I really dint know yet, but I have a nice chunk of change in the motor fund for this one (from selling, the old boat, the flatbottom, my GSXR, my Mustang, and a few other things. not to mention Ive been living on Top Ramen noodles for the last 6mo to save money) and this one will have LOTS of hp.  I'm on a quest here, and done playing around. 

Wish i would have tried that with mine. i did it the hard way. All i used was a K-Bar . in true Marine fashion! The hard way and it took forever and a day to get it all out.

Yea the porta water jet sure is making it easy. The hardest part is putting the mess in the trash bags.    I do need to go look for an extension for it though, Its starting to get to far up under there to reach, and I really don't want to crawl under the bow with it (noisy and wet, yuck). 

I know a guy with a BIG nitrous cam for a ford! He's not very dependable though!

Heres the Kaase Boss 9 heads  http://www.jonkaaseracingengines.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=219

 I got a few more bags of foam out tonight.  The white lava rock section is still there and not moving.  I guess its time for the saw. I just hope that stuff doesnt go to far on that side.

I want to see flow numbers! And how are they compared to the other aftermarket aluminum heads like the a-460 or the blue thunders?

Id like to know the same things, haven't been able to find any reference to flow #s or even hp numbers compared to an A 460 equipped motor.  Only that "These heads will make about 100 HP more than the best P-51/SCJ head in similar builds using 460-521 cubic inches. At 600 cubic inch,expect about a 150 HP increase".

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

 The last of the foam is out. 

 The pressure washer (aka, the porta water jet) was a HUGE help. 

 

 

 Looks like I have some more work to do under there though.  Theres a false floor up there, I drilled a hole at the bottom of it, and there was water under it (big suprize). 

 

 Also that foam was giving alot of support to the bow, its a bit flexible now.  I'm going to do 2 bulkheads under there and change the deck support piece to 2 pieces (one over each tunnel).  Thats the way the Daytona is and its much stronger.  Like this.


 I'm curious though, do you guys think the false floor is doing anything under there (strength wise) other then giving a place to put the deck support ??  Do you think its needed, if I do the 2 bulkhead idea ?? 

Make sure you ask the Brendella gurus what you have to support and how when/if you cut that support floor out. I'm just guessing and maybe worry to much but you might have to support that with more then just the 3 or 4 point hang in order to keep it's form? I would def ask.   Roy.

Didnt do anything on the floor yet.  I spent some time removing more old paint while I think about it.  And I got the old Jacuzzi intake out the other day (what a mother@%#&$@ that was).

 Removed the paint from the dash and inside edges, also got the rest of it off the transom.  Still have a bit of paint on the sides that I cant get to because of the fenders (there welded on  ). So that area has to wait till its off the trailer.


 Ever seen an intake set in wood ?    There is (roughly) 3/8" of glass, then 3/8" wood, then a bit more glass, then a thin smidge of epoxy. I guess the wet wood swelled a bit and locked it in there, because it really didnt want to come out.  Of all the places to put wood, I dont think I can think of a worse place for it.


 Placed the new intake in there to see where the hull needs to be cut to.


 And I picked these up.  I think I'll have plenty of air flow now (up to 1860 cfm).   

I have a 1977 Brendella Tunnel Pickle and mine is a jet too. Oh and it's not black... I'd attach a photo if I could figure out how.

 Brendella pickle, sorry I didnt see your post until now.  Id love to see some pics of yours.  Heres the "tutorial" on posting pics.  http://www.socaljetboats.com/suggestions-support/picture-posting-instructions/
 Most of the time I just use Photobucket though.


 I did some work on mine again.

 I got the hole cut for the intake.  For some reason I was able to get the cleanout cover out past the transom and still have 2" of hull behind the cutout (didnt need to cut through the transom).




 There was alot of cracking in the flowcoat on the floors (mainly on the keel).  I decided to see how deep it went.  grabbed the grinder and went to work,  the flowcoat down there was around 1/4" thick or more in places.    I guess they didnt care much about weight.  Unfortunately the cracking is down into the glass, not sure how far.  But it needs to be taken care of.  Lots of grinding and glassing to do in there. 


 Then I decided to check the sponsons.  There are some places where the fuel tanks where rubbing on the floors out there (circled in red).  They rubbed almost half way through the hull. Brendella pickle, you better check this on yours.  The back brackets on the tanks mounted to the outside wall of the tunnels, letting the tanks move around just enough to do this to the bottom.  Its the verry back of the tanks.     While I was looking out there I saw a funny looking line on the bottom. Grabbed the grinder again. Found a big azz crack in the glass. didnt go through the flowcoat, and cant see in from underneath.  Must be an old repair to the bottom, either way it needs to be be taken care of too. 

 
 At this point I have to quote Ralph Brunt from his getting ready for paint thread (words of wisdom !!)

WARNING...if you have a boat in this bad of shape do NOT try to repair it.... take a chain saw to it and get another hull

 But Im still going to fix it. 

 Oh yea, almost forgot.  I picked up this little part for it today too.

Looking really good Proppy....


I think the reason you were able to get the inspection hole out of the hull so "early" is the "0" degree transom...Looks killer...

I actually worked on the Carrera tonight, you inspired me. Is that gay? 

 If I can do this, and Ralph can do his, You better get that Carrera on the water !!!!  Maybe less time yappin on the computer and more time on the boat ??    Tick Tock Tick Tock Summers commin !!