1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

[Bondo]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Ayuh,... I tried to get the meassurements for ya yesterday,... No Luck...
I got it shoveled out, moved everything, 'n the motorbox latch was Frozen, Solid...

I don't know that you're quite ready for the motor mounts, so I decided not to bust my latch...
From this picture, you should be able to figure out the fab-up process...

They start out as a "Z" shaped piece, goin' from the top of the stringers, inward enough to catch the motor mounts, then sloping down to the reinforcing ribs of the hull...
They're riveted to wherever they meet the existing..
I used .090 material, then skeletonized 'em where necessary, such as oil filter access, P/S cooler, etc...

When it warms up abit, or I can get this barge into a heated space,...
I can get more pictures, 'n meassurements for ya...

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

nice boat! I remember cruising lake mead in one of those as a boy.It was a nice boat,never had problems!? I would have slept in her.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

That as to be the cleanest engine I have ever sen in a boat Way to go Bondo.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

That as to be the cleanest engine I have ever sen in a boat Way to go Bondo.

Ayuh,... Thank you...

That was early last season, before I swapped the risers over to their proper sides,...

I went with the "Cat" yellow(old version) on that 1,... 1200hrs. or so ago...

Next 1 comin' up is gonna be Mack Gold.... 400 SBC...

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

I think thats why I like it Cat forklift tech here

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

I had some time (finally) to get back to work on the patch for the transom. I have the pattern that I traced onto the plexiglass but I needed the hole locations to be prefect on the patch so I blew up the cut out pattern I found on here to the correct dimension and this is what I came up with.

I thought the cutout used on VP and Mercruiser used the same cutout industry standard, but the older outdrives used a different one. It close as the four holes on the bottom line up and the cutout hole is not too big. Looks like I needed to make a patch regardless. Or at least fill the top two holes.

Good news though because allot of the corrosion is around the edges of the cutout and will be removed when I make the correct cutout mod...

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Ayuh,... The differences with the top 2 holes is the Same on Mercruisers,...

The top holes are the Older Mod.1 positions...
The lower top holes are the current industry standard....

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

It's looking great! The cutouts are different. Go buy the proper merc trasnsom gasket. They make one for between the out side transom plate and gimbal. It wasn't that expensive either. Around 25 buck it I remember right. It will give you the proper pattern with it.

I love these boats. There was one design flaw though. Have you checked for the stress cracks along the bent flange along the bottom? Right under the back end of the hood? Mine had hair line cracks that opened up every time I ran it. I eventually sold it after having it welded.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Ayuh,... The differences with the top 2 holes is the Same on Mercruisers,...
The top holes are the Older Mod.1 positions...
The lower top holes are the current industry standard...

OK.

So the rest of the material must be removed also?

Have you checked for the stress cracks along the bent flange along the bottom? Right under the back end of the hood?

The very first boat I ever owned was a 1981 21' Holiday and it was cracked on the starboard side where you are describing. This boat has no cracks...

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Quote:
Ayuh,... The differences with the top 2 holes is the Same on Mercruisers,...
The top holes are the Older Mod.1 positions...
The lower top holes are the current industry standard...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK.

So the rest of the material must be removed also?

Ayuh,... I'm assuming you mean squaring the bottom of the hole,..??
This picture shows where it should have been originally, 'n wasn't...
The water couldn't drian from the trim hose pocket, 'n caused the corrosion on the transom plating..

What's Critical in what you're doing is determining where the X dimention is going...
The crankshaft centerline are the 1st marks I make on a clean slate installation...
With your's, you can go with the original lower 4 holes, or move it....
Once the Bolt Holes are drilled, Everything in the Whole Build is based off those bolt holes..

2nd most Critical issue is the transom housing sealing against the transom plating....
It's gotta be Flat, 'n True...

As for everything inside the bolt holes, it really don't much matter,...
What you had, drained poorly, 'n was probably a real Pain when servicing the trim hoses...

The final Keyhole Must only be dug out enough for proper drainage, 'n clearance of the pieces....
More or less, it's up to You...

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

OK.

I'm going to use the 4 bottom holes as my starting point. The new outer skin patch will take care of the 2 top ones.

I started making a template today to use for making the new cutout...

Today I bought my very first air compressor. I have been looking around for awhile and came across this one on Craigslist. Its an 80 gallon and its more than enough for what Ill ever need it for, but for 300 bucks I couldn't pass it up. Its only 5 months old. Guy I bought it from is closing his auto body shop and moving to Michigan...

Ill get it wired up tomorrow...

 

[64osby]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Guy I bought it from is closing his auto body shop and moving to Michigan...

Yea we have better unemployment benifits up here and higher unemployment, imagine that.

Great buy

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

but for 300 bucks I couldn't pass it up.

Ayuh,... Nice Steal,... Looks like a 2 stage pump...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

That compressor sounds like a heckuva bargan!

So closing his biz and moving to MI???

I hear that a lot these days, only just the opposite. Meaning, closing up the biz and moving somewhere (anywhere) else. He must have a plan.

Well, seeing as you are carving out that keyhole I take it you are committed to the V6, eh! Did you find one yet? Selling off your 2.5 will surely offset the cost. Shoot, if you play your cards right, get it up and running, you might be able to sell it for just about what a junk glasser complete with 4.3 will cost ya.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

A V-6 is going in that hole no matter what. Ill know in an hour if I got a donor boat or not...



Never mind I lost the auction by 200 bucks. I have a budget and I'm sticking to it. Ill find one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...1&item=360325946720&maxbid=1324#ht_5020wt_958

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Today I had a couple of minutes of free time at work and decided to start on the patch for the transom. I had it drawn out on paper for awhile now, but today I put it down on a piece of .063 aluminum. I started to cut it out but an airplane broke and it was back to work...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Dern broken airplanes, always hampering boat rebuild progress. Happens to me all the time too.

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

What??? Work interfering with the critical cuts involved in the transom skin?

Tell your Boss to call me, I'll set him straight for ya. The nerve of some employers.

Nice work though.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Today I took the boat off of the trailer and put it on some dollies that I bought at Harbor Freight. I bolted some old rubber wheel chocks to the dollies for a nice cushy platform.

Im glad this boat is lite I was able to just push it off of the trailer onto the dollies by myself.

Once on the dollies I went ahead and pushed it into the garage, and it almost fit.

When I remove the top windshield I can get most of it in the garage. I will then hang a tarp over that to hold the heat in while I work. When Im done the boats glides easily out of the garage and to the side of the driveway. This works pretty good...

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Nice work...I assume she doesn't want to lean too much with that setup. Looks like she could tip one way or the other but probably ok I'm sure.

Man, those bow rails are sweet. I really love the look of the 60s Chieftains, makes me unsure whether the Islander is really my favorite or not.