1981 Eliminator Sprint

« **on:** November 27, 2012, 07:14:06 PM »

So after hanging out with some of you at the AVI get together in october, i really enjoyed the crowd and loved the boats. So after searching and finding the right one, me and B-Rad made a bonzai trip to ventura and i picked up an 81 eliminator sprint. Boat had been sitting for 5-6 years and was all original, and in pretty good shape. So i decided to do a progress thread, im sure i will be learning quite a bit from the forum in the next months and hope to have it ready by march-april. I will have to pay Brad with beer and apple pie for his knowledge and expertise!

« **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2012, 07:17:09 PM »

pullin the motor and interior

« **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2012, 07:25:25 PM »

got the motor out and on the stand, pulled the pan, intake and valve covers to check it out. that oil looked like jelly!

« **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2012, 07:28:18 PM »

paint was super oxidized even though it had a cover on it. So after 3 days of rubbing and polishing i got most of the shine back on the topside, not looking forward to the bottom. my arms felt like jelly after this

« **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:33:35 PM »

Since the boat is gutted, flip it over and tackle the bottom that way. Much easier.......

« **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:40:21 PM »

Is it hard to flip them over cus eventually I have to do the gel coat under neeth I can see some scraps

« **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:49:34 PM »

Looking good buddy!!! What are all your plans ? Keep up the hard work, march will be here before you know it

. And welcome to the jet boat side

« **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:09:23 PM »

Looks like an amazing start! Pretty little thing!

Get with Propless. I think he probably knows more what to look for on this hull than anyone. He had his head stuck clean up inside one for a couple years.

As far as the shine? If it's the original gel, stuff is hard and thick as hell and the best way to get it back and last is color sanding it then wax,wax,wax, and wax as long as you own it. Get with me, PM, whatever, my son has turned into a pro at this. Looks like a GREAT boat!

Ray

« **Reply #8 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:32:24 PM »

Quote from: carlitos on November 27, 2012, 08:40:21 PM

Is it hard to flip them over cus eventually I have to do the gel coat under neeth I can see some scraps

Na. Build a dolley of some sort, a couple of cherry pickers, some buddies and a 12 pack. Flipped a couple with Brad and we haven't dropped one yet....:-).

« **Reply #9 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:50:39 PM »

Quote from: flytime on November 27, 2012, 09:32:24 PM

Na. Build a dolley of some sort, a couple of cherry pickers, some buddies and a 12 pack. Flipped a couple with Brad and we haven't dropped one yet....:-).

Brad is a lot better at spinning them around than he is at flipping them over...

Just funnin' B-Rad, don't ban me bro....

GT

« **Reply #10 on:** November 28, 2012, 03:27:53 AM »

Quote from: 19ftDANA on November 27, 2012, 08:49:34 PM

Looking good buddy!!! What are all your plans ? Keep up the hard work, march will be here before you know it . And welcome to the jet boat side

Not sure on the motor what i want to do yet, im definitely gonna replace the interior and carpet. The trailer is gonna get completely redone while everythings out of the boat. I'm gonna try to wetsand this weekend there was still a little cloudiness in the gel on the bow and i want that damn thing lookin like new again, flippin its a good idea for the bottom too.

« **Reply #11 on:** November 28, 2012, 07:43:36 AM »

Unless it's absolutely horrible under there, or needs repairs, I don't think I'd mess with flipping it. If it's just beaching marks, you're gonna put them back in it first trip anyway. Besides, who's gonna see it under there?

The fenders look removeable on the trailer, and you should remove the tires and check the wheel bearings, etc before going any real distance on a new to you boat, giving you full access to wetsand/buff/wax the sides and majority of the underside of the bow and boat right where it sits on the trailer.

Ray

« **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2012, 06:58:05 PM »

That is a nice boat. I have heard that those Eliminator Sprints make a nice Hot Rod!
I agree, I think Your best bet for the gel would be a colorsand and buff. I did My Spectra a few months ago and am very happy with the results. I am in Vegas also, so if there is any thing I can help with, just give a shout.....Hal

« **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2012, 05:53:01 AM »

Very nice float, have to agree with others, wet sand and polish....this will make a huge difference, I did it to my old tub and im glad I did

« **Reply #14 on:** November 30, 2012, 10:14:08 AM »

for a jetboat noob you sure you sure are jumping in head first. keep the pix coming!

« **Reply #15 on:** November 30, 2012, 12:41:45 PM »

The bottom looks great cosmetically. Not one beach mark on it really. I have yet to climb under it with a straight edge to see if theres any hook in it.

Ray, propless had a sprint, but his was an earlier hull thats entirely different. Justin (Just Electric) has this same hull and has done some experimenting with setups on his already. Sean and I will be picking his brain when we get around to the setup on it.

Sean has already made this boat come a long way with a little elbow grease. ....that reminds me, I need to work on a parts list for ya.

« **Reply #16 on:** November 30, 2012, 12:46:19 PM »

oh yeah, the motor is a hardin marine 454 325hp motor (steel intake, oval heads, 2 bolt main) that appears to have low hours on it....almost looks like it hasnt even been opened since it came from the factory.

« **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2012, 02:12:54 PM »

Quote from: ka0tyk on November 30, 2012, 10:14:08 AM

for a jetboat noob you sure you sure are jumping in head first. keep the pix coming!

thats just how i am

heres some pics of my last project before and after. did all the work myself except sprayin the paint

« **Reply #18 on:** December 02, 2012, 09:37:20 PM »

lookin good your diven into that thing deep keep it up ... Do you remember or know where you got that boat from? i am from ventura and try to keep an eye on most of the boats left outside . just a thing i do on my days off look for boats with old reg stickers.. lol good luck

« **Reply #19 on:** January 15, 2013, 04:03:10 PM »

so its been awhile, been workin slowly on the boat- holidays we were super busy. But I did come up with a plan for the motor and the fun task of buying all the parts has started, heres what goin in:

Keepin the bottom end- looked really good and had good compression
Melling HV oil pump
Rework the heads, 3 angle valve job
Dooley 10 qt oil pan
Clay Smith cam .544 lift 280 duration- new lifters, pushrods, springs, etc.
Double roller chain
Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake- endurashine of course

Holley 850 DP
Holley 1000 gph fuel pump
MSD Marine Pro billet ready to run dizzy
Roller rockers 1.7s - lookin at scorpion or crane but not sure yet
Fabricated aluminum valve covers

Let me know what you guys think

« **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2013, 03:52:57 PM »

so made a little bit of progress with the float, well the trailer for the most part. used two cherry pickers to pick the boat up and pull the trailer out, got it repainted and changed out the old crappy wheels and tires for some nice aluminum ones. worked on the motor this weekend and figured out the dooley wouldnt work with the studded main cap bolts

so back to summit for some new ARP's, then tried to put the heads on and figured out the new box of trick flow head bolts i got from summit was incomplete

back to summit for a replacement set. Did get the cam, chain, fuel pump, oil pump and balancer on though so makin some progress. gotta thank B-rad for all his help, definitely teachin me a some stuff. And i finally found a guy in town to do the interior

« **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2013, 04:12:01 PM »

looks pretty. love the wheels. i gotta find me a set of something like that someday.

« **Reply #22 on:** February 05, 2013, 04:18:00 PM »

theyre a discount tire house brand, pretty reasonable.

« **Reply #23 on:** February 05, 2013, 05:03:35 PM »

i wouldnt touch the bottom unless your gonna put a rounded keel on it its fine as a delta bottom especially for what your gonna use it for. its gonna look good behind the exursion too

« **Reply #24 on:** February 06, 2013, 07:49:21 AM »

have brad check what degree your intake was set at eliminator set mine wrong after jim brock and i checked it. asked mr shoemaker at the tom papp deal since he built my boat in the 70s and he said alot were set at 0 degrees for no reason

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