SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Projects => Topic started by: jmacmurray112 on February 08, 2013, 02:40:22 PM

Title: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 08, 2013, 02:40:22 PM
Hey fellas I have a 17 ft 1979  tahitti  hull  with  a  jicuzzi  jet  bolted  to  the   back.  The hull is in great shape and I I have a freshly rebuilt 454 ready to drop in.  I have a few questions:
1.   Will any ol' bbc marine bellhousing bolt up to my jet? Or does it have to be made for the jucuzzi?

2.   Are these jets any good?

3.   Where can I find a bellhousing at a cheap price?

4.   Where can i find a driveshaft at a good price?

5.   Is the bellhousing the same for a 454 and a 350?

Sorry for the noob questions i just dont want to buy parts ant have ti bring them back.
I am an avid engine builder but new to the jet boat world, so i dont have any connections yet.
Thanks for any replys fellas.

Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: mash on it on February 08, 2013, 03:59:25 PM
Welcome to the madness-

There are 2 different models of Jacuzzi- WJ and YJ. Which one ya got? There's a tag on the inside of the transom above the front bearing area.(WJ-12-B)

A 4 point mount would work well with a WJ. Dont know about a YJ. Bell is the same for a 350/454, front mounts are different. A WJ and Berk drive line are the same spline count. Sounds like you need a PTO and a drive line or source a rockwell driveline. WJ's will run like a berk, YJ's, I dont know.
Tom @ Jet Boat Performance is always my first call for jet parts. Theres Rex marine, C.P. Performance, Home Depot Speed and Marine, and others, and the classifieds here.

Post some pics of your project.

Daniel
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: crewchief22 on February 08, 2013, 10:44:46 PM
Welcome to SCJB  ;D

You have too many variables going on for us to give you an accurate answer.

Post some pics of what you're working with and you'll get many good responses and likely some leads on the parts you need.

Crewchief
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 09, 2013, 09:10:25 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 09, 2013, 09:11:30 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 09, 2013, 09:13:50 AM
454 Before rebuild

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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 09, 2013, 09:19:21 AM
Ok thanks guys i guess i did get started off the wrong way.

Here's some pics of the boat hull, interior, and 454 before I rebuilt it.

Ill have more pics later on today of my jet and more pics of what it looks like
With the interior torn out.
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 09, 2013, 09:23:26 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: crewchief22 on February 09, 2013, 10:00:47 AM
Unfortunately from the pics posted you can't see enough of the pump to confirm what it is.  From what I can see I going to guess that it is a Jacuzzi WJ, which is the better of the Jacuzzi pumps.

Now to the hull.  What you have pictured is a Hornet and not a Tahiti, the Hornet is a much better hull in my opinion (and several others around here  ;) ).  But if your title says Tahiti you need to start checking numbers before you spend too much money on it.

Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 11, 2013, 08:15:17 AM
Unfortunately from the pics posted you can't see enough of the pump to confirm what it is.  From what I can see I going to guess that it is a Jacuzzi WJ, which is the better of the Jacuzzi pumps.

Now to the hull.  What you have pictured is a Hornet and not a Tahiti, the Hornet is a much better hull in my opinion (and several others around here  ;) ).  But if your title says Tahiti you need to start checking numbers before you spend too much money on it.

Ok thanks man ill check my jet later today to see exactly what jet it is.

I wonder why the guy i bought it from said it was a  tahiti. He  said hornet was just a submodel but i guess not.

It doesnt say tahiti or hornet on my pink just says pleasure
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 12, 2013, 12:54:56 PM
Ok on my pink slip it says the year model is 1973 and the Builder is JETBTSERV.

It is 17ft 10in.

Does this still mean it is a Hornet? Ir is this a false pink?

The vin matches, however the vin on my boat looks  like it was carved in.

Ill send pics as soon as i can.
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 15, 2013, 05:52:50 PM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: ka0tyk on February 15, 2013, 06:01:21 PM
if you're looking for parts, crawl the for sale section here, on riverdavesplace.com, and performanceboats.com as well as craigslist.  theres a couple people with loads of parts, keep your eye open for a guy named "mouzer" he has a whole garage filled with everything and he sells em for really good prices.   jim brock is a board local and he also has a ton of used parts laying around.  not online much and it'd be easier to just call him. 


as far as your title and who made your boat... look on the passenger transom and there should be a bunch of letters and numbers stamped into it.  this is the HIN and the first 3 dictates who made it.  toss the first 3 into here:

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1.aspx (http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1.aspx)

cross your fingers and hope its not a tahiti. 
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: mash on it on February 16, 2013, 06:16:29 AM


cross your fingers and hope its not a Yellow tahiti with a panther pump

Fixed it for ya

That WJ will run with a berk anyday, just not as much after market support.
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 06:54:42 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 06:58:35 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 07:03:14 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 07:04:05 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 07:05:15 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 07:08:36 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 07:19:28 AM
I got all the interior torn out I was thinking about just  slap on a rhino  liner instead of carpet.
Im sure someone here has tried that how is it?

Do they sell kits to re wire these boats?



@kaOtyk Thanks man I ended up pickin up a full set of mounts from 74hondo .
                  But i'm sure i'll need more parts down the line.
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 07:30:59 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: Your Mom on February 16, 2013, 08:00:15 AM
So your going with a short drive shaft? Since your dropping in another motor find a longer with pto if your interior will allow for the room. I am stuck currently with a short due to original 3 point and interior built around it. I now have 4 point with short and its a bit more effort to pull motor for whatever...
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 16, 2013, 08:36:45 AM
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Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: jmacmurray112 on February 17, 2013, 12:30:13 PM
Well i got this one for free so i have no problem ditchin it and gettin another.
What is PTO?
What legnth should i get?
Im changing my interior anyway and im going with 4 pt. Mounts
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: mash on it on February 17, 2013, 01:43:04 PM
The short rockwell driveline will be fine with 4 pt mounts. I have had 3 boats set up this way, and never had a problem. Use quality U-joints when you rebuild it.

Daniel
Title: Re: jet boat rookie
Post by: Your Mom on February 17, 2013, 02:30:45 PM
Power take off...pto. The newer style drive will alloy you to disconnect at pto for dry starts and easier to remove engine. The short drive is okay and I have one in mine now/as stated before interior built around it. With the short you will have to move the whole motor forward till drive line comes off pump vs disconnect drive off pto and only move bout 1/2" or so to pull motor with 4 point....if your building a close/tight fit interior near engine its something to think about now.
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