66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

[brobrad]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

BB, We'd really like to see some more pics of your boat! As far as the rivits are concerned, I didn't have any trouble with mine. We just did the Gluvit as an extra precaution.

Looks like we're gonna do another shake out run this Monday. I don't want to be at the lake for the fourth festivities-little too crazy for me

I'm not tryin to be one of those finish the project and drop off the face of the earth people. I just put so much work and family project stuff on hold with the trip to BC and the three week push to finish the boat, I've been swamped the last two weeks or so. And, I still have a bunch to accomplish before our two weeks at the lake starting the 18th. I've been reading all the starcraft threads and just not posting much.

Andy, I just deal with the same folks I already have my vehicle insurance with. I tend to stay real busy and I'm not really much of a "shopper".

Hey North Beech,
Thanks for the post. I'll try to get more pics when i get all of the junk out of it. I'll be busy for the next two weeks and just won't get much done. I worked on cleaning it out some earlier today between other obligations. The 104 South Mississippi heat did not allow but thrity minutes of that. I'll post more pics soon.

BB

 

[sschefer]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

NB, that new blue toy looks like a pre-cursor to the jet ski. I bet it would be a blast! I once (think I was about 14) had a Glen "L" 8' hydro that my dad stuck and old Martin 10hp motor on. It was a blast. I'd love to build another one.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

SHAKEOUT RUN PART II

OK, we adjusted the cursed shift cables and tweeked up the throttle cable and went back to the lake for another run hoping that with a little more or correct cable adjustment we would pick up a tad more RPMs and hopefully some speed. This turned out not to be the case We're still running at just a tad shy of 3500 RPMs and 27 mph. Mercruiser says we should be at 3900 to 4300 rpms at full throttle.

At first, everything seemed to be working just fine but it seems as if the shift cable or possible something else works it's way loose with use. By the time we made it to our little private island I was experiencing the same shift problems-couldn't hardly find neutral.

Then we experienced a low speed issue. The boat requires the starting throttle to be in the wide open position to keep running. Once you drop down to idle the motor runs real rough and the engine can't keep itself running long enough to build up the rpms to take off. So we broke out the tools and pulled all the plugs to see what was going on there. Looks like the front two cylinders may be fouling. So we just cleaned them up with a paper towel, let the boat set for a while and she fired up and acted normal. I pulled my nephew around on some skis for a while and some of the kids (and The Admiral) around on the tube and started getting low on fuel. So, off to the gas dock. Once we got to the dock I couldn't find neutral at all and we had a big fiasco trying to dock. My nephew threw a line to a pontoon boat lady on the dock and she dropped the line over a piling just as the boat went into drive srraight from reverse and snapped one of my cleats off the boat

So we finally gas up and the boat starts experiencing the same low power problem and we loaded up the boat and came home.

All in all, not a good day.

We're hoping the power problem is carberator related. The boat sat for 4 or 5 years and wasn't properly winterized prior to setting. Still had the old gas in the tank when I got it. The carb re-build kit will be here Thursday. Secondly, we are going to research this shifting problem. If anyone has any ideas, please throw them out. I'll take whatever help I can get at this point.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Oh Man NB that sux...

Def think gettin that old gas outta there then the carb rebuild will help..

I cant help much on the cables..Thats going to be my next major headache and honestly I am a bit intimidated by the job due to the problems you are having and others I have read about! I am pretty much thinking about actually PAYING someone to do this gig for me

In fact..may drag it to Jacksonville and let Tashasdaddy do them..heck, I can make sales calls on the way and back and get $ for it too..

 

[prelude219]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

just a thought but i had to replace the lower shift cable on my boat and it shifted alot better. I found that at the outdrive when i put it in gear the cable actually bent before it pushed the link thus not shifting well. I still have problems at the control with it taking alot of motion before the throttle "throttles up". When you adjust the shift cables on these things you gotta go right with the book. All measurments have to be exact. Mine might still be off.

We also put the thunderbolt kit on instead of the old points system. The timing was way off on the engine and had to adjust it this spring again after i figured out how to do it. Ran a million times better this past weekend.

You might also want to take a look at the choke and make sure its releasing after warmup.

But that being said i'm just shy of 3500rpms full throttle also and still looking to find out why. good luck

I have the mercruiser 110hp 1a,1b,1c EZ-shift outdrive

 

[matthewp]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Wow. I love the shots of the Liquid Limo in the water. Just beautiful. I've been flying under the radar for last month and finally got around to checking in. Sucks to hear about your shifting and idle problems. Here's hoping you get her straightened out soon. She's looking just plain awesome, NB. Excellent work!

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Kev, I found all the manuals including the parts manual. I will figure this out.

Prelude, We have the same setup. If I can get the idle and shifter problems fixed and I'm still at <3500, I'm gonna switch from the 19 prop to a 21 and see if that helps. I haven't figured how to rig a turbo up on this thing yet

Matt, we figured you were out fishin. Glad to see you're checking up on us!

Since my last post was pretty much all bad news, I figured it was time for the good news post. Who cares if it runs right as long as it looks good right?

With that in mind these goodies showed up the last couple of days. First the new switch panel from a fella called 12Voltguy.com. He is geared mostly towards the off road crowd and since my son has the monster rock crawler, he hooked me up with this guy. It's all new rockers with 20 amp waterproof breakers, two power outlets and a single power in lead so we can strip more of that wiring mess out of the boat. We'll probably wait till after the season to install but I wanted to do a little show and tell with it anyways!

Next is the little goodie I've been waiting on for a while now. Since I bought the old skool steering wheel without a cap, I had the metal guys here make me up something nice. It's solid construction stainless and since they did the logos for the side, I just had em burn the logo in the wheel cap also. Turned out pretty nice but the danged thing shines so much it's had to get a good picture!

I spent a little time today switching around cleats since the cleat/gas dock fiasco left me with un-matched stuff. This required robbing more hardware off old blue and getting in the old Thompson hardware box the guy gave me when I bought old blue. I also have the carb kit, 2 sets of plugs and new wires coming in on Thursday. I guess I'll just work my regular job till then.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Just when ya think its safe to go back in the water huh NB?

That cap is awesome NB! Man I wish I paid more attention in metal shop!
They CNC that logo on there? Very cool....

May want to set up a Starcraft aftermarket N.O.S. website!

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

That cap does look good . I like the switch panel too . Sorry to hear about all the trouble gettin her right but it will come theres always a gremlin or 2 to work out with new/old toys .


Rick

 

[QC]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Bummer you had such a rough first day

If I can get the idle and shifter problems fixed and I'm still at <3500, I'm gonna switch from the 19 prop to a 21 and see if that helps. I haven't figured how to rig a turbo up on this thing yet

The 21 should get less RPM than the 19 . . .

You should post your shift cable, running problems and the RPM issue in the I/O forum

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

The accelerator pump in that carb is a notorious weak point. I rebuilt a carb for one and ended up using a combination of auto and marine parts but helped out my friends 120 allot. His was stuttering and stalling on take off and unable to get wot.

 

[prelude219]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

when i rebuilt my carb the pump didn't work at all. I didn't have it on the water to see what the symptoms were...but it probably wouldn't have been good

 

[sschefer]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

NB, do not get discouraged, I'm finding that the boat is only the first half of the project. The engine is the second half and as much work needs to go into it to make it perfect as you put into the boat.

My Mariner 100 has been giving me fits. It didn't have just one problem but several. The power head is now on a engine stand and yet more parts are on order but I am learning to just take it in stride. I wasn't exactly smiling on the lake last Saturday when my engine was rattling like crazy and I was 5 miles from the dock.

Hang in there, it's no big deal, it's a boat, that's what boats do.

Dare I tell you about my friend that fried the engine in his brand new 60,000.00 Cobalt last weekend.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

OK folks! I dropped the boat off at the mechanic's shop two days ago to have the carb re-built and give them another shot at getting the shifter working properly. They called last evening and said things got hectic and the carb was re-built and re-installed but not yet adjusted and nothing had been done with the shifter.

In the meantime, Appaloosa and I have been going back and forth via email regarding the proper shifter cable adjustments and he suppiled me with some Tried and True hoodoo voodoo proceedures to impliment

I showed up today at 11:45 (15 minutes befor closing time) to find that nothing had been done on the boat. Some conversation and my offer to buy lunch resulted in the boat shop owner adjusting my carb while I swapped out the fouled plugs and some new plug wires. Now everthinings OTAY with the idling/throttle problems. Then we played around with the shifter cables and thanks to AP, I think we've got it.

Looks like we're off to the lake again tomorrow!!!!!!! Wish me luck

Oh Yeah, It looks like me and the shop owner came to an understanding and I'm the proud new owner of a busted up 82 Glaspar Custom. All you fiberglass boys need to run and hide cause I don't know smack about fiberglass and I'm gonna need to do some learnin pretty quick.

Don't tell my wife

PS, Tom, I can't thank you enough!!!!!!

And Bret-I'm still playin phone tag with the metal guy.

 

[61 Holiday]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Good Luck NB,
You've done a fantastic job so far and you've got to be really proud of that. Nice job on the centercap on that wheel. Seeing your steering wheel before caused me to go and find a vintage one as well. Seeing your new cap I now know I did the right thing. I do have a Mercury outboard and I was able to find a Quicksilver one with the older rack. I hope I can interchange the old rack with the newer cable.
Hey keep up the great work!

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

NB was out myself all day yesterday fishing and dodging thunder storms. Take the list with you , as you might need to adjust the stud on the shift plate.

Heck I did such a good job typing out the instructions that I saved them in a word document so I could post them easy next time.

KEEP THE CLEATS ON THE BOAT THIS TIME !

Happy fishing.......

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

NB, you have truly inspired me. I just began rebuilding a 74 21ft. super sport. I am sure that I will be bombarding you with questions, although everything you have posted to date has already answered most of them. I removed the top rub rails yesterday and had a couple questions. I am trying to prepare for putting everything back together. The first is what bolts did you use to reattach the aluminum rail onto the boat, many of my originals are not usable, and what is the model number of the rub rail material you got from TACO. BTW, when I removed the rails, most of the rivets came with it so I will be replacing all of the rivets that attach the hull to the top. I didn't read if this was an issue for you or not. Thanks again for the inspiring and information filled thread. The "Liquid Limo" is amazing.

Keith

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Floyd, make sure you start a thread about your project. I know all us Starcraft guys are dying to see your 21ft SS!

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Hopefully I will get it started in the next two days. I still have to figure out how to get my pics to load into my post. Rick also said I couldn't join the club until I posted pics so I am on a mission.

Keith

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Haha, good for Rick. Easiest way is to create an account on photobucket.com. Photobucket can even automatically resize the pics for you to the forum-acceptable size of 640x480. Plus it will even let you copy/paste the correct img code to post your pics.