It's Alive... It's Alive!!

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!! Updated! w/more pics

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!! Updated! w/more pics

Those of you who have followed my MFG restoration thread, will remember when I mentioned, how I lost so much "project time" this past summer. The little time I did have then, was spent on fair weather items. Like resin, glass and varnishing.
Now that old man winter is here, it's time to clean up those projects I can do in the shop. And one of those projects that had been on the bench awhile, was the motor's wrap-around cover and top cowl.
I had a top cover, but it was sort of beat up. I got this one off the parts motor I have, and it's much better.

Here, everything is wet-sanded and I'm finishing up the spot putty.
I primed it with Zinc Chromate, another quick sanding and then a coat of Phantom Black.

The results weren't as good as I had hoped. A few blemishes didn't show up in the primer, or I just missed them. So, this will get sanded down, spot puttied and painted again .. Grrrrr.......
I get bored with a lot of hand sanding. So, I decided to start in on the wrap-around cover.
First I needed to remove the decals. I tried a few different chemicals. Goof off, Goo Gone and lacquer thinner. Nothing worked very well.
Finally, I discovered heat and a single edge blade did the trick!

I soon figured out MORE heat and less razor blade was in order!

eeeeEOUCH! That smarts!! Another learning experence!.. :redface:

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Ed Huron Angler sent me a link to your motor resto and I am also watching as you go . I also have a 1970 80HP Merc which came from the dealer with my 1970 Starcraft Jupiter V . I will be watching as you do the final details as mine needs some cosmetics .


Rick

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!! Updated! w/more pics

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!! Updated! w/more pics

Ha! I do keep band-aids in my tool box!

After I got the silver stripes off, it was time to....... you guessed it! Sand in between the ribs. I wasn't looking forward to that! However, there were many nicks and scratches that had to come out....

Sanding the top cowl was looking pretty good to me now!

I've been sanding each item, going back and forth, until it gets boring.
Time to take a break, think I'll start removing the Mercury logos.

I got this down nicely! The heat gun was the ticket!

Well, there's just no avoiding it... Back to sanding I go!

Stay tuned boys and girls. I'm sure I'll find something else to post before all this sanding gets done!

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Ed, that's some quality restoration work you've done. Absolutely spectacular. Your attention to detail is like nothing I've seen.

Think maybe if I sent you my motor that, you know .......... maybe in your spare time .

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Ed, that's some quality restoration work you've done. Absolutely spectacular. Your attention to detail is like nothing I've seen.

Think maybe if I sent you my motor that, you know .......... maybe in your spare time .

Hey MB,
I know you just finished up your 800. Bet it came out real good too. Thanks for the Kudos..... but I'm just a newbee to these things. Not knowing much of anything when I started, I just took my time. Nice thing about the forums is, I didn't have to post my mistakes!

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

WOW
Ed,thats going to be to purdy to stick in the water, just put it in your living room!!

woosterken

Hi Ken,

HeHe, that's funny.... My wife puts up with me as it is.... I think she'll draw the line at the front door!

Merry Christmas

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Hi Guys,
Well now that all of the commotion of the holidays are over, I thought I'd get back at it. Sanding the wrap-around cover has been tedious ..at best! I am wet sanding with 400 grit.

Sanding in all those grooves can drive a man crazy

It's taken awhile to get this far. The devil is truly in the prep. The cowl had alot of dings and scratches that just had to come out!
I'll wash it down with Lacquer thinner and then a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water. The acetic acid from the vinegar will help prepare the aluminum for Zinc Chromate primer.
Lastly, I ordered a Christmas present for myself

These are very well done reproductions. Here's the link.

http://www.nymarine.ca/

More to come! Stay tuned.

 

[woosterken]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

I know its a little late now, but could you use "strip it" it is a chemical stripper ?
I used it on a car once and it took the paint off right down to the bare metal. i think i got it at napa.

woosterken

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

WoW! What a job stunning work,you should publish this in a book,I would buy it.I love old mercs and have done one up for my boat but nothing like your standard, maybe next year after seeing your post,I THANK YOU AGAIN


PS.Have you a link to your rebuild that I can copy, I will still buy your book.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

I know its a little late now, but could you use "strip it" it is a chemical stripper ?
I used it on a car once and it took the paint off right down to the bare metal. i think i got it at napa.

woosterken

Hi Ken,
Yea, I could have stripped it down, but being aluminum, I'd still have to sand it. A good "bite" for the new paint is a must. So leaving some paint on, actually helps. I'm learning that painting aluminum is a whole different ball game.:redface:

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

WoW! What a job stunning work,you should publish this in a book,I would buy it.I love old mercs and have done one up for my boat but nothing like your standard, maybe next year after seeing your post,I THANK YOU AGAIN


PS.Have you a link to your rebuild that I can copy, I will still buy your book.

Sean-N?s,
Thanks for your kind words! Never thought about a book..... When I started the rebuild. I just thought it would be a good idea to photograph everything. On a project like this, The first parts off, are the last parts back on! Photos proved to be quite helpful.
As you can imagine, this thread only touches on some of the milestones. Lots of behind the scene activity...There were days when all I did was de-greasing parts... hour and hours of it Many, many side projects contributed to the eight months build time. And the fact, that I had never did anything like this before.
It's been quite an adventure. Glad I gave it a go! Now to finish the cosmetics and get her wet!

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Hi Guys,
Not too much going on last couple of weeks. I'm almost done with the wet sanding on my wrap-around and motor covers.

I started in on the top cover, almost done there too. In a way, I'm glad the previous paint job had to be re-done. Found a ton of highs and lows that will be gone, this time around.

I was at the local Merc dealership the other day. Needed to get some more Phantom Black paint. I got talking with the parts guy about my rebuild, when he said "wait a minute" He went out back, I could hear him shuffling things around. "Hey come here, can you use this?" Man O Man....... you bet!
Gimme 20 bucks and it yours! Sweet... A near perfect wrap-around insulation blanket.

Sometimes you just get lucky....Makes it all worth it . don't you think?

 

[mke039]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Wow, what a nice job! I have been looking for posts on restoring old Mercury outboards and found yours. And I thought I had it tough.
I am in the process of restoring a 77 1150. I am having a devil of a time finding parts for it. I live on the Cape and sure would appreciate any of the contacts you have made for parts ect. in our area. I just opened the distributor after working my way down the ignition path (switchbox and coil OK) and found about a cup of water in the distributor cap. I am almost amused that parts for this engine cost more than I have seen the complete engine go for (although almost always 1000 mi from the Cape).
In any case awesome job on your restoration!
PS Is AV gas aviation gas?
Thanks
Mike Reardon

 

[mke039]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Finding parts for these old engines is tough. Thanks for the excellent source on decals! I just ordered a set for myself. Also, I just bought a working 1150 on craigslist for $300, so I have an engine to canabalize for parts! Life is sweet somtimes.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Hey Mike,
Glad you like the thread. Originally I started taking photos as an aid for re-assembly. Not so much for starting a thread. Some of the guys here on the forum, liked what I posted early on, so I expanded it a bit.
This thread shows most of the milestones I made. I'm sure your finding out now, that there is a whole bunch more than you anticipated. I know I did!
I did allot of wrenching on cars and things as a kid. So, I had enough confidence to take on an outboard. It's been a real adventure.
You are right about finding parts. Be prepared to scour the country. I found it took almost as much time locating things as it did to put it all together.
One trick I can offer you... Is to know exactly what your looking for. Always have the part number(s) when looking or asking around. It makes their job easier, so they are more apt to help you out. Also, if you can befriend a dealer's parts guy, he might just take the time to check the Mercury's Dealers "Network" for you. Parts guys are more willing to help you when they have some down time.. Mid afternoon worked for me. Forget Saturday mornings. Some of the dealers I've used and have had good experiences with are;
Doug Russell
Seaway
Crowely
Ferguson Poole
Vintage Outboard
There are I few more I use, PM me and I can give you more details
Lastly, you are correct, AV, is aviation fuel. My motor is a '69. so it likes the lead and the octane.
Please feel free to ask as many questions as as you like. Glad to help

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Guys,
Well I finally finished all the sanding on my wrap-around and top cowls. Whew! Thought about painting them in my shop, but I really don't want to deal with the over spray. I'm gonna squirt them outdoors the next warm day I get.
In the Meantime, I've been putzin' with a couple of small things I still had to finish up.
Below, is a photo of the top covers's front latch and rear catch housings. Both pieces have been degreased and wet sanded with 400 grit paper.

Here they are all primed up. In this case I used zinc phosphate. I usually use zinc chromate. But these parts won't see immersion. I should also mention, that I washed the parts with lacquer thinner to remove any oils. Then I gave them a wash of 50/50 vinegar and water. The acetic acid in the vinegar helps remove any oxidation on the aluminum's surface. It is a way of etching the aluminum, which will give the primer a better bond.

I can't stress the importance of a good respirator while doing any spray painting! Even more so with any zinc based paint. Here's my mug shot. Ha!

In a previous post, I mentioned my trials and tribulations locating parts. Well the photo below, shows a part that I spent well over 6 months looking for. I was super excited to finally find a brand new one! Mercury used these emblems in '68 and '69. And only on the red band motors. Imagine...a new 40 year old part! Ha, it cost me $1.56 and $3.00 to ship it! Must have been the original price!

Here they are all painted up. What I do... is to lay on a very thin coat first. Then, a second, heavier coat 10 minutes later. I then wait 20 minutes. Apply a third "wet coat" Three coats usually do it. If another coat is needed, wait at least 30 minutes before applying additional paint.

Here is the finished cowl latch housing. Pretty cool. Finding and installing these small but important detail items really spur me on!

Next up. I'll be refinishing my Mercontrols... Stay tuned....... spring isn't too far off!

 

[mke039]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Quite impressive! Since you let the camel into the tent, I DO have a question or two. I wondered what kind of epoxy you used to fill the aluminum pocks and where you got it. Also, did you use the same on the cowls?
Also are you using the canned spray paint from the marine stores (West Marine ect)?
I have seen the zinc chromate there as well as the Merc black.
Thanks alot, and I have to say that this thread has been an inspiration!
Mike

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Hey Mike,
Good questions.....
I wish I could tell you that there is a good universal filler for everything we need to do to these motors, but there isn't. Different parts and different situations require different fillers.
I could write a long dissertation about what to use and when/ how to use each, but that would be way to much to do here.
Simply, here's what I do..
For small scratches, I use a lacquer based spot putty.(not bondo brand) For deeper scratches, I like a catalyzed spot putty. Evercoat Euro Soft is very good. Heavier dings, I use Marine Tex.
Each of the above have their limitations, Marine Tex is very hard when cured. If the part flexes any, It won't stay put. Single part lacquer spot putties tend to bleed solvent for a long time. Often shrinking, and then showing the repair after painting. Evercoat is a good overall spot putty, but it is rather soft when cured. They also make a "easy sand" verison, that I like, but it can't be built up much.
As far as the wrap-around cowl goes, That's a different ball game altogether.
I spent some time trying to find a good filler that would be flexible. I couldn't find anything that will work for sure. So, I hammered out the dings, and will use a high build primer.
I do use spray cans.... And I find no reason not to if properly applied. As far as I know, OEM Phantom Black isn't available to the DYI guys in bulk cans. I've been told, Ditzler has a formula that is a good match. But I haven't used it.
For primer, I prefer the Tempo brand. But they have gone out of business. I stocked up awhile ago. Soon, I'll need to find a good replacement. Moeller makes it too. Moeller brand is more like a high build, and requires a good sanding before top coating.
Here is a trick I do.....
I warm the paint up before spraying. The paint lays out better and orange peel is at a minuim. I do three coats in about an hour. The previous post explains it.
Lastly, I buy my paint from my local Merc dealer. Believe it or not, they are cheaper than West marine.
Hope that helps

 

[pduquette]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Hi Ed ! I see you warm the paint ; do you also warm the parts too?? peter


Ps Nice snag on the NOS parts...Have you found the guy in Norton Ma that dose 'ol merc stuff ? I bought some fuel line stuff for my lil 9.8 last year .

 

[*EdC*]

Re: It's Alive... It's Alive!!

Hey Peter,
Yup, I warm the paint. The propellants tend to chill it down. I've found, warming it gives a better finish. I also will warm parts if the ambient air is below 60 degrees. Not too often though. If I'm planning on painting, I will push the heat up in the shop to 68+. Usually when the wifey is out!
Haven't met the guy in Norton, sure would like to. Bet mke039 would too. How's about posting his contact info..... If you think he wouldn't mine of course.