1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

You've got the offshore boat to satisfy your "Need for Speed"!

You should use this for "Chillin" not "Thrillin"!!!

 

[waterboy222]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

Good point! Already can't get my family to go boating with me... So what parts do I need to be looking for as far as dressup parts are concerned. I would like to paint the block and use chrome accessories. Alternator was easy to find, but what about the valve cover? Is it just a GM dressup part? Searches under Mercruiser 165 aren't getting me anywhere.

 

[waterboy222]

When removing the stringers, do I need to grind out ALL the tabbing too? There's almost 6" of tab on either side of the stringer!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

As long as it's good glass and adhered well then no. Just scuff it so it's all fresh glass so the new will adhere well.

 

[waterboy222]

Thanks WOG. When I'm grinding out the glass, what type of wheel should I be using? I see the masonry wheels mention fiberglass but the steel/metal grinding wheels don't.
I have to buy a grinder and there's only about $30 difference between and 4" and a 7". I have a TON of grinding to do, would the 7" be the better choice?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

The most commonly used here on iBoats is a 4 1/2" with a Backup Pad and 24Grit sanding discs. I use a Porter Cable from Lowes. I use a ScotchBrite pad rubber banded over the vents to act as a filter for all the dust getting to the brushes. Here's what you should buy IMHO.

 

[waterboy222]

The scotchbrite filter is a GREAT idea. I was just thinking today how I'm going to have to blow out the dust from the brushes after every work session. Im gonna steal that idea. So you're not really using a grinding wheel, just a sanding setup. I'll check into that when I head to lowes tomorrow. Thanks again

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

The resin sanding discs for grinders are tough as nails and will cut thru glass like butter. Be CAREFUL or you'll go thru the hull before you know it.

 

[waterboy222]

Any advice on where in Tulsa to find my materials (CSM, resin, etc..)

Since boaters world closed down, I don't even know where to start. Or maybe I'll just bring a shopping cart to your house and stock up! Ha!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

No place in Tulsa, I order all my Glassin' supples from www.uscomposites.com. Great products but shipping is kinda pricey but I can't find a distributor anywhere better. You're gunna need 15 gallons of 435 resin, 25 yds of CSM and 15 yards of 1708 biax. Some Cabosil and chopped fibers to make PB and some micro ballons to make filler. A Bubble Buster roller and that should get you on the way. That's gunna be right @ $700 bucks with shipping.

 

[waterboy222]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

Well since we've managed through the holidays and snagged a couple of 60+ degree days, work has resumed on the Banjak Uang.. Took a few weeks off to get all the stuff we needed to complete our shop. Since there is 2 other family boats in line for work, we figured we would go ahead and get all the stuff we need to keep working. Plumbing in a new 240v compressor, air lines, air tool bench, parts washer, shop press, welder and gantry crane has kept any ACTUAL boat work from happening!

But, Hard top and windshield is finally off. I can't even begin to tell you how heavy this piece was! holy moly.. I started it myself thinking I could just slide it off the side and lean it against the wall.. No way, jose.. It was so heavy that when it finally came off, the trailer tilted and landed on the brake lights! d'oh!

Slow, small steps. It sure looks goofy without the top on now..

A&M trailer supply in Tulsa helped me get the wheels, tires, hubs, brakes, reservoir, brakelines, brake and marker lights all setup. It took two days just to mechanically restore the trailer..

I painted the wheels a sort of retro look. Red centers and white outers. Just trying to find the right size lugnut covers now to complete the setup!

 

[waterboy222]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

Now that the shop is complete for the most part, its back to work on the IMP. Motor, drive, gimbal and wiring is all out..

Make sure you have good straps!

Hooked a strap to the steel header and down to the front eye hook.

Push the trailer out of the way.

Set the hull on the floor very carefully..(we are replacing ALL the gel so we didnt care about chips and scratches, you wouldnt want to do it this way if you werent doing a full resto!) Make sure the floor is really clean, thats a lot of weight laying on a tiny rock that you didnt sweep up!

Move the gantry to the front, lift using the deck eye to relieve pressure on the header strap, unhook it and lower it to the floor

 

[waterboy222]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

Hook a strap through the transom and to the rear eye to help distribute the weight and keep from cracking the deck or letting the port side strap slip up.

Push the hull over by hand with tension on the straps and slowly start lowering it to the floor while pulling the boat where you want it to end up.

Using 6x6 blocks and lots of shims, block the corners of the deck all the way around and unhook your straps..

 

[waterboy222]

Re: 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop restoration

After a minor fiasco of ordering a gantry crane that we didn't realize would NOT fit around the boat, we decided to have one built. Its made out of 2 sticks of 1/4" (yes HEAVY) 4x4 square tube. 10'wide to fit around the trailer for the race boat and the IMP. Its 10' across the top, 11'3" tall with 5' legs and casters from attwoods. Rectangle 1.5"x4" tube for supports. I have about $300 in material (4x4 tube is about $7.5/foot plus the casters were $25/each. A local machine shop cut and welded it for two hours of shop time.

Got it back to the boat shop and threw a coat of latex enamel bright red on it... This thing is unbelievably heavy and over built. Just like we like it!

to give you an idea of the size..

a quick coat of paint and a LOT of solvent/degreaser to get all the dang cutting oil off it.. (took FOREVER)

Wish my welds looked half as good as these do!

This tool is worth the time and money, thats for sure.. We've already used it on a half dozen projects..

 

[waterboy222]

No Title

Wow, I can't believe it's been 6 years but the project finally has some steam again.. My Father retired and now has considerable amounts of free time to dedicate to these boat projects.. Just a quick update:

A few weeks back, my Father and I were poking around our local marina visiting with one of the salesmen there that's a good family friend of ours. On our way back to their parts room we noticed a hull up in the rafter of their ancient dry storage building that resembled an IMP. We asked about it and he said it was "an old hardtop IMP".. Immediately we were interested in it but he said that their crane quit working years ago and there was no way to get the boat down. The only boats left in dry storage were ones owned by the marina or hulls that they had kept after people quit paying their bills and never showed back up for it. Getting it down had not been a priority. With high hopes that the boat was in perfect condition (talk about being optimistic), we told them that if they could find a way to get the boat down we would give them $1000 sight unseen.. Sorta, as we had been able to see the bottom of the boat and the drive from 35' below...

A few days later they called and said they had the crane up and running but wasn't sure if they could get it over the new office buildings they had built in front but we were welcome to come see the boat. Turns out it was a 1966 IMP Aztec V hardtop that had been there since it was new. This marina was a dealer for these boats in the 1960's and 70's.. It had been owned by the marina and bought/sold a few times over the years and finally ended its life as the local service boat running around the lake doing winterizations. But the lack of space for mechanics and coolant meant the boat got stuck up in the rafters sometime in early 2000's.

Long story short, we now have TWO 1966 hulls.. Unfortunately the newest one has the same dreaded floor/stringer/transom rot but is in fantastic condition otherwise..

It will go into our storage on its new trailer until the first hull can be completed then a full resto will begin...

The Red/White IMP is at the fiberglass shop having the motor mounts finished up and a new coat of Dupont Imron shot on the deck and hardtop. The new (remanned) motor arrived yesterday in a crate from Michigan Motorz. We plan on going back to complete original setup on it. The only difference will be the gauges, dash panel and flooring. Teak/Holly flooring will be added in place of the vinyl floor and engine turned dash panels with retro gauges will jazz up the dash.. Hopefully will be updating this thread more and more over the next few weeks. We should have the hull back to our shop around the first week of April..

 

[Bayou Dave]

Wow!! A 6+ year long project and you take on another project. You have more guts than I do! lol

 

[waterboy222]

Its either more guts or less brains, I'm not sure which at this point. Not sure when (of if) we will ever get to the tan boat but I know for sure the hardtop is in better condition on it than our original one so it very well may be a parts boat for a while. Plus having one available to verify measurements has paid for itself time and time again!