1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey W_Guy. I'd love to see some more pics and vids if you have any. It really sounds good.

Thanks again..

 

[W_Guy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Both the boat and motor are unrestored original. Low hours and cared for very well. I bought it from the original owner's family last April. Always indoor storage since new. This Four Fifty has a generator and electric starter, which were standard equipment on the Starflite. I believe someone had the fuel system upgraded to '59 or '60 specs though. It does not have the fuel dump hose from the intake manifold to the exhaust. (which is probably the reason why they have such a bad reputation for using fuel) Not the slightest trace of oil slick even after a lot of idleing. It's burning the fuel; not dumping it overboard.
We were on the lake with the motor running (all speeds) for about 2 hours. I think we went through about 5 gal.

Verne

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Awsome. Looks really good, love the boat. I will be putting mine on a 1964
15' Sears Deluxe. Having the transom replaced now. Unfortunately the cold and snow has halted engine work. My barn is set up for auto and boat repair, however the heat is a real show stopper. Should be finished and on the water by May. Hopefully running as well as yours. I have been told that the torque on these old V4's is excellent.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Both the boat and motor are unrestored original. Low hours and cared for very well. I bought it from the original owner's family last April. Always indoor storage since new. This Four Fifty has a generator and electric starter, which were standard equipment on the Starflite. I believe someone had the fuel system upgraded to '59 or '60 specs though. It does not have the fuel dump hose from the intake manifold to the exhaust. (which is probably the reason why they have such a bad reputation for using fuel) Not the slightest trace of oil slick even after a lot of idleing. It's burning the fuel; not dumping it overboard.
We were on the lake with the motor running (all speeds) for about 2 hours. I think we went through about 5 gal.

Verne

Doesn't have the drain hose? Where did it go--did you remove it?

 

[McGR]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

I noticed this Fat-Fifty video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDSXqkNujHI&feature=related

This guy is living the life. Up in the woods on a lake, havin a smoke, tinkering with the old motor. Does it get get any better than that?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Man, I am so jealous. That's a sweet ride. I can only hope my early 60's Texas Maid aluminum runabout looks that good one day. Can you take a pix of the inside of your boat, standing looking over the shoulder of the Fat Fifty and facing the bow...down low showing how your seats are fitted in there? I don't have a reference for putting my final seating plan in my boat...no shots of period Texas Maids showing an original interior. I'm trying to figure out how high my seats should be off the deck.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

you sweet water guys are really really starting to tick me off.

in my area,the salt pond, all that cool stuff is long gone or impossible to deal with.
makes me wish I still had my 14ft elgin boat with a 45 elgin with the auto bail feature.
was a sweet running boat that my then 3 yr old daughter loved.
now she is 24, maybe not so sweet, but still my daughter.
ya'll are killin me .

 

[W_Guy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

FR, You have helped me many times with answers to my questions about this motor. I remember you telling me that I should see a hose on the starboard side running from the intake manifold back to the exhaust. Well, I looked for it and I couldn't find one. All I have done to this motor since I bought it was to have the impeller changed, lower unit greased and test run. I changed the fuel pump kit myself just to make sure it had a diaphram that stood up to todays gas.
Do you see anything in this photo that doesn't look like what you'd expect a '58 to look like? It runs so good with no oil spill, I figured some modification of the carb, intake, bypass had to be done at some point before I bought it.
Verne

PS: I'll post other photos of the boat later.

 

[W_Guy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Man, I am so jealous. That's a sweet ride. I can only hope my early 60's Texas Maid aluminum runabout looks that good one day. Can you take a pix of the inside of your boat, standing looking over the shoulder of the Fat Fifty and facing the bow...down low showing how your seats are fitted in there? I don't have a reference for putting my final seating plan in my boat...no shots of period Texas Maids showing an original interior. I'm trying to figure out how high my seats should be off the deck.

This is the only shot I have showing the seats from the rear.

This one may show you how the seat is attached to the floor.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Beautiful classic you have there. The woodwork is awesome

 

[jasper60103]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

I noticed this Fat-Fifty video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDSXqkNujHI&feature=related

This guy is living the life. Up in the woods on a lake, havin a smoke, tinkering with the old motor. Does it get get any better than that?

That was kinda funny. I can't imagine pulling that beast.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Yea, it was funny watching that guy when he go it started.

I had one one time that I started one time, because the battery went dead trying to start it.

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

WOW!! W_Guy.. you have got yourself a real looker. I can only hope my little Sears Deluxe comes out as nice. Got a ways to go, and snow and cold slowing me down. You need to get that lady to one of the boat round-ups.
I noticed you have that bubber boot on the top of your choke? Is that a selonoid operated choke? and is that the original boot? I have been trying to find one and was curious if that was an original or after market?
By the way, the engine looks really clean.

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey Rodbolt!! What kind of ride do you currently have? Man I had an opportunity to pick up a really sweet Elgin this past summer, I didnt and the guy ended up letting it go for like 200bucks, had an old 35hp johnson on her, great wood and new transom. windshield was awsome, chrome, everything...
Kick myself in the &^%$ for not getting her...

 

[W_Guy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

WOW!! W_Guy.. you have got yourself a real looker. I can only hope my little Sears Deluxe comes out as nice. Got a ways to go, and snow and cold slowing me down. You need to get that lady to one of the boat round-ups.
I noticed you have that bubber boot on the top of your choke? Is that a selonoid operated choke? and is that the original boot? I have been trying to find one and was curious if that was an original or after market?
By the way, the engine looks really clean.

Yes, it's an electric choke. Push button on the dash that you press while turning the key. It also has a manual pull knob if you have to resort to a pull start. I believe the boot is original but I'm not an expert on these motors by any means. Thanks for the compliment on the boat. I do hope to take it to a gathering someday.
Verne

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

I realize that times change and there's really no demand for those big fattys anymore, but I still think the old stuff has so much more class. I found a picture of johnson fatty however mine does not look as good yet,... soon!

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

rodbolt:
what would be the best way to flush out the old oil out of the lower unit?
I drained it this evening, I am going to put new seals on the bottom, but think the gear case could use a good cleaning. the bearings all look good and the shaft spins real smooth, I dont want to harm that operation, just want to clen it all up? would filling the case with kerosene and hand turning for a few minutes be safe?

DO NOT let perdue graduates under the hood, trust me.
most engineers simply cannot maintain a rig.
the engineering work was done in 1958 and worked.
needs to be maintained and repaired just like it was designed.
trust me, my father was both a mechanical and a civil engineer and wrote and did the refueling protocols on the USS enterprise back in the 60s for NNS.
last distributer cap I bought was about 110 dollars and I think the points were about 25 apiece and I dont know if they are even still avalible.
the lower unit seals tended to leak,especially the shift shaft seal.
that notor did not like overheats,go through the cooling system BEFORE placing the motor under a load I dont care how well it pumps in a barrel.
the starter uses a gear reduction unit best I recall,keep it lubricated.
mine did something around the 30 MPH mark on a 16ft tri hull.
it could also toss back a 6 gallon tank in about 30 minutes.
I got rid of it back in the mid 80s and have only worked on one since.
two if you count it as first and last that I did not own.
kinda like a 470 mercruiser.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

if you drained no water and no metal shavings I cant see a reason to flush it.
kerosene or diesel will work but no need to turn any gears.
currently my rides are,18 hydrasports fish n ski with the 07 175 ETEC,a 21 seapro with a tower and second station steering powered now by an 07 F150 and my trusty 14 jon with a modified 15 jonnyrude.
luckily I sold my 27 albemarle last fall , a happy happy day.

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Thanks rodbolt, I didnt see any water or particles, just really old oil, and the shaft was real sticky like it had tree sap all over it. I'll hold off on the cleaner and wait until the weather warms up so I can run the engine a bit more and let things turn for a few minutes ata time. and go from there. Sounds like you have a couple of big girls there.

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey all you tech guys... I have and Update from PhilfromOhio on the V4S-10.. I am enjoying the temps being over 32 so decided to heat the barn and start on the seals on the lower unit. I noticed that when I pulled it off, the O-ring that sits top of the drive shaft did not come out, its still up there. Any ideas how to get that thing out? Also, this may seem like an odd question, but I have a repair manual for the whole engine, and they do not show if that o-ring slides on the drive shaft to rest in the groove about 2" from the top of the shaft or if it just sit top of the shaft when you slide it back in? Also the timing belt was really brittle and broke, found a new one for it, now here's the kicker, re-timing it. I noticed all of the marks on the flywheel, so shouldnt be any problems there, the points all look fairly new, any thing there I should know before I press on with the new belt?