SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Projects => Topic started by: tinbender71 on April 08, 2008, 04:06:44 PM
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I have recently purchased my first jetboat, a 1973 Mastercraft, with 455 olds and Berkely 12 jc pump. The boat is very solid, and needs cosmetic work. I have refurbished a few ski boats, so am familiar with boating. I practicaly grew up on the Salton sea in the 70"s! I have had this boat about 2 weeks now and have had a chance check everything for the first time out. Last Sunday we took it out for about 30 minutes, and I am hooked! The boat is very almost identical to the Wreidt that Brad of SoCal is restoring. The boat rode great but rode with the bow up high, I may just not be used to this? What I am getting at is, I noticed Brad's had a small block chevy, I am curious as to how mine might do with a mild 350 chevy. I didn't buy this boat to race. I just want to make noise and pull the kids and wife on skis and tubes. The 455 has a crack in the block, but only seeped a little water out of it. I know it may only be a matter of time before I may need an engine. I dont believe the engine was maintained very well. I read a good post on here about someone else wanting swap from a 455, and have really thought about it. Just looking for opinions.
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i think its safe to say thats damn near the same boat as the wriedt my cousin and i are doing. i have seen this same exact hull as a tahiti outboard as well.....from what i understand molds were passed around like cheap girls back in the day.
that being said....the wriedt with the sbc 350 in it does great for what its used for....pulls skiers, kids on tubes, etc....i'd love to follow your progress on this boat. please keep us updated with it.
...and lastly...welcome to the site. ;)
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welcome to the site, keep the pics coming please ;D
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Thankyou for the response, that is exactly the answer I was looking for. I have done a few things to it and will take some pics if it ever stops raining here! Just to add, I checked the local wrecking yards today for a 455 olds, or even a 350 Olds, but found none. But they all had 350 chevys! I guess i need to start looking for mounts, bell housing, and logs.
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Welcome to the site ;D
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WELCOME !! Great project, lots of potential! Keep us posted as to how things progress Lots of good folks here ready to help ! Tom
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Too bad you aren't closer... I have a 455 block w/pistons and rods that would work great for you. I even have some valve covers that are still nice and shiny ;D
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Too bad you aren't closer... I have a 455 block w/pistons and rods that would work great for you. I even have some valve covers that are still nice and shiny ;D
It's not really that far... Interstate 40 to 35 South to 10 to SD. Maybe 2200 miles. You can run about 75 or 80 all the way to CA and then things get sticky. ;D
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Tin your boat (which looks remarkably like a tahiti ;)) should work well with a SBC and B impeller,setup, done several ,simple and inexpensive swap . You will need front and rear mounts ,exaust logs and water in water out plates /hsg , you also may need a different Drive line or PTO depending on the Olds current set up Tom
heres a similar boat for comparison ..
(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi147.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr319%2Fjetboatperformance%2F16%2520Tahiti%2FDSC07751.jpg&hash=26b775dee8306ed4449b170a462962a2939b883e)
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If it was mine.... and the block was cracked on the outside,so no h2o gets in the oil, I'd run it till all the pcs for the swap are rounded up. Hammer down! have fun,welcome!
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Yeah, I am going to run it till it drops then get serious about what to do. So far I have stripped the interior, and made new seat bases. Right now I am using some new seats I had for another project, but who knows? It really did run pretty decent. A buddy of mine who is used to jets went with me, and I tell you it was different from what I am used to! Cant wait till this weekend! This will be a fairly low buck project this year, as my wife is in nursing school right now, but when she graduates next spring, and is a working R.N, who knows what this boat may look like!
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Hey there, been a little busy with my new toy! I went ahead and bought a running 350 Olds from a local wrecking yard, I freshened it up and put it in. It is perfect for me. (for now). It runs great, has great take off, and cruises nicely at about 2800 rpm. I did open it up a few times and it got to about 4000 rpm, which was plenty fast for me. In these pics I have been sanding on it and have the new engine in.
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And here is from today, I spent the weekend painting the boat. It is all white and will have a blue and grey interior. In on the pics you can see the dash panel I made for it at work. I am waiting for the new rubrail to come in, and plan on redoing the trailer this weekend. This is not going to be a show boat, but I plan to have alot of fun with it this summer!
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Good Job Bro !! Gitter done !
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Good Job Bro !! Gitter done !
SERIOUSLY ! DAAAAAAMN ! That looks a million times better !
-beerjet-
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damn, you are not f'n around :o
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Off to a great start to the season.
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Well, I am finished for now. We took it out today, and had a great time. A buddy had a GPS, and we got 58 mph out of it. I still have a lot to learn about jets. I keep forgetting "no throttle - no steer"! The rubrail came in last week, and it wasnt as hard to put on as I thought. I also redid the trailer with new fenders and wiring. My next parts for it will be an intake for the engine, and a bimini top.
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came out nice.