Search results

Mock up of helm, styro rectangles represent the instrument panel and throttle/shift control box. Going to try to make a recessed area for the plotter built in so it can still be tilted easily but be off the dash.

I hope it works out looking alright, I'm more of a metal worker to be honest!

Been trying to figure out what I will make the helm out of now that new materials are out of the budget. After discussing an idea with a friend I decided to incorporate some cool local history into it. These pieces of wood are part of a WWII supply crate that was sent to an island amphibious...

Doubting those were tinned wire marine extension cords... lol (if there even is such a thing) So sounds like a rewire is definitely needed then. I try to use tinned wire whenever I can but damn it's expensive. I'm sure you'll get it all straightened out. It's nice when you rewire things properly...

Wow, I just noticed that this post which I put in my own restoration thread, I somehow accidentally double posted it the same day to this thread too... I am terrible with this stuff apparently lol Can't delete it now but sorry- didn't mean to hijack!! Any pictures of Your wiring for Your boat yet?

Stripped the old paint off with a wire wheel. Did primer last night and doing 3 coats of Old Ford Blue like she deserves today, this is first coat. Man I love the darker Old Ford Blue color, should've stayed with it.

Thanks! I might be building the helm today and mounting that control finally.

OMC ran the blue on the block? Good to know. I think it's safe to say someone swapped this motor out at some point probably then. As for the deck- the boat has already been restored with all new floors and transom and whatnot, these pictures were to show the condition it was in when I found the...

I wasn't able to do a compression test previously but once I put it back together I'll probably give it a try.

Thanks for the quick reply, I was thinking they looked abnormally clean too.. I didn't clean them for pics or anything. If it is a recent rebuild that then fell out of use shortly after- that'd be great! This engine literally turned over nice and easy by hand when I first climbed into it and...

Too bad they didn't include this with my gauge cluster. I don't have an idiot light, I have an idiot GAUGE! 😅

Oil pan is off for gasket replacement and to see what the deal is with the dipstick. Posted a separate thread asking about the look of the pistons as far as being stock and if they look like they're in good shape or not. I'm definitely seeing some blue paint around the block that may have had...

Oh for sure, definitely want a nice new belt on there. I took the belt off to clean the pulleys real quick with a wire brush and it seemed surprisingly flexible but it's being replaced. It's nice how it is such a simple one-belt, three-pulley system! I'll probably zip tie this old belt to a hose...

While changing oil pan gasket on this 1974 Mercruiser 188 I am wondering if anyone can tell me a little by looking at the pistons and the side of the block. Seeing blue paint on block instead of just black which seems like maybe a different 302 engine was swapped in here maybe. (guessing...

Totally agree, depth is super important especially in the shallow areas I frequent. I'm thinking I will keep my plotter reading depth below hull (no offset for transom depth) and calibrate the standalone to depth below outdrive if I can.

I hear ya. I'm just a hapless victim of nostalgia sometimes. I know a lot of people want a fuel flow meter showing exact gph but I think I'm going to skip that one as not to monetize and ruin my throttle stabbing fun! lol I figured the vac gauge would more vaguely let me know when I'm being an...

I like that idea, that's a nice low place to have the battery and make your COG even lower. The settee spot is easiest for reaching in and hooking up a maintenance charger so that's probably why it's there. Not like you have a cold starting big block engine back there that you want shortest...

Thanks Joe, I still can't believe it idles now. In my experience sometimes a steady idle can be the toughest thing to achieve. Thinking the previous owner must have legitimately drained and winterized this thing all those years ago. It started up on the old ignition system months ago but I had...

Hell yeah I am, finally some mechanical progress! Thinking I'm going to do the oil pan gasket too before I set the motor back in its home. Cheers! 🍻