1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

The next thing is the decking. Any suggestions?

3/4" exterior grade or marine grade plywood sealed with epoxy resin(2-3 coats) is a good way to go. Get the marine grade if you want to spend a little more and have no voids.

I am covering my deck with nautolex marine vinyl. It is easy to clean and UV resistant. Some prefer carpet on boats but not me.

What about gauges... Mine has a MPH gauge but have not seen them on there boats. Is this an add on? Where can I get one? Nav and running lights? Originals or close to them

You can get new or retro Starcraft gauges from greatlakesskipper.com or on ebay. GPS is the best speedometer out there for accuracy. Tach, volt, oil pressure and gas are the best ones to have for your boat I'd say.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

I also came to the same conclusion 3 years ago. Cost to rebuild with a ? block was just too risky and to much $. I went with a brand new 3.0 from michiganmotorz for I believe $2,000, plus 12.75 flywheel (so I could reuse my old starter, rebuilt standard old chevy starter), new style engine coupler, new distributor ($100), plus shipping I think ran me $2500 ish.
I now have 140hrs on the motor and all is going well. If you reuse your old manifold it takes a special gasket, because the new motor will have smaller cylinder head ports and the old manifold will have large holes.
My new engine came with oil pan and everything except manifold, carb, distributor, engine coupler.

One think I had is the coupler bolts hit the flywheel cover just a bit. So the engine had a knock knock or thump thump about 5 min after it warmed up. It was the heads of the coupler bolt thumping against the flywheel cover. Had to pull the engine again and took I think 0.050 off the heads of the bolts. Basicall just took the grade stamp marking off. No thump thump thump anymore. New motor runs just a touch faster than the old one.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Also forgot. Might want to pull the top cover off your outdrive and look at the upper gears. I lost my upper gears 2 years ago. Since it was an old outdrive and cost for gears and rebuild was not cheap, also my lower section had some bad looking threads behind the prop I went with a sei 106 outdrive.
So far so good for me.
But it looks like you need some gimble housing parts? If you check your outdrive and find out the gears do not look good, you might be cheaper to buy a whole new engine/outdrive/gimble housing and everything.
I think they run $5,000 ish, had I know my outdrive was going to go bad I would have priced a whole new set up.
$3,000 in the motor, $1300 outdrive,

The sad thing for me was I bought a 1986 boat and did not know I got a 1971 engine and outdrive until a week or so later.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

I have had great success in getting old motor parts from ( boats.net) I do not know if he has any I/O parts but worth a try. he will answer you very soon with answers.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Another floor option to consider. I used marine ply wood and primed and painted with skid not from lowes. I used the skid not primer and followed the directions. So far 5 years later it has not cracked or peeled. I have recoated it 3 or 4 times on the high traffic areas to keep it none skid. I really like it because it is not slippery to walk on and I hate carpet with the fish blood and scales.
I also put 2 drains in the floor and duel bilge pumps. So at the end of the day I wash the floor down with soap water and/or bleach and water. when the floor get blood and stuff on it while fishing I just wash it down with a scrub brush and some ocean water.

I do however store the boat inside most of the time, but typically use it 10-25 days a year on the Oregon coast.

 

[STOVIE]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Well, I have to post-pone the deck until the end of the month.

My question is; what gimbal housing is a compatible replacement with what I have. I believe that I have a Alpha 1. The steering lever and shaft are trash. I took it to the marine shop I have been talking with, and they said I shouldn't waste my time with it and upgrade any thoughts on where to get a good used replacement?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Post your I/O questions in the I/O repair section for best results. I have not seen a lot engine questions getting answered outside of the engine forums.

 

[STOVIE]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

OKAY!!!!! I have found a gimbal housing, for the same year of mine, for 275. I am going to rebuild my 2.5. Found out that the 3.0 that I was looking at was a newer model and would have to upgrade the flywheel and coupler.

In two weeks I will have the deck repaired. By the 12th of June, I should have the motor back to reassemble. Week five... test run.

I'll send picture of the update.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Make sure you inspect your coupler and splines real good. They should be square and good looking. I spun a coupler (old style) a few years ago, left me 8 miles out in the ocean, 2 hrs later on the kicker I made it to port with a coast guard escort accross the bar just incase I got into trouble.
If I had known what to look for I would have caught that the coupler was wearing out. I have a brand new coupler only few hours old hanging on my wall. Because after I put a new coupler and drive shaft in the boat my motor failed. I upgraded to new style coupler, flywheel and engine.
Make sure and align the engine, grease the splines when you reasemble.

 

[STOVIE]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

8 miles! That had to suck! I will look over the coupler and replace if needed.

I am stoked to get some gauges, throttle control and trim switch from jasoutside in a couple days and look forward to the new dash. I'll put up some pictures of the progress.

Anyone know a good remedy to close up holes on the gangway?

 

[STOVIE]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Starting up again. Here are a couple of pictures of the engine assembly. Anyone have a source to get a timing gear cover from? Found some pin holes in mine after cleaning it up, so I am on hold until I get a new one.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Try JB-Weld on your pin holes.
It's good stuff.
GLG

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

stovie
I have a good timing cover off my old engine, no rust at all I just need to pull the timing gear off. I really have no use for it. Send me a PM if interested.
I would have to look to see if I can get the gear off for shipping, I do not think I have a puller that will work. If interested I will spend a few minutes seeing if I can get the gear off.

 

[diverbob]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Post your I/O questions in the I/O repair section for best results. I have not seen a lot engine questions getting answered outside of the engine forums.

ezmobee

Another NB here

I've owned my 1965 Starcraft Newport deep-V 110hp IO (fiberglass) since it was new. I've replaced the floor, frame, carpet, gas tank, and re-glassed were it was needed. Now it's time to replace the windshield. I really the looks of your replacement for your 1966. I wonder were I could find something like that? diverbob

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

ezmobee

Another NB here

I've owned my 1965 Starcraft Newport deep-V 110hp IO (fiberglass) since it was new. I've replaced the floor, frame, carpet, gas tank, and re-glassed were it was needed. Now it's time to replace the windshield. I really the looks of your replacement for your 1966. I wonder were I could find something like that? diverbob

Thanks. I found mine on ebay. I believe it came off an older Larson bowrider. I've seen a number of them that would work as well on Craigslist.

 

[STOVIE]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

FOAM!!! What is recommended? These big 2x4 pieces of melted foam are crazy. What are you guys using to replace the old school foam?

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

timing cover is off a 140hp, chevy, 1971, 2 piece rear mainseal engine.
So is the pulley.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

FOAM!!! What is recommended? These big 2x4 pieces of melted foam are crazy. What are you guys using to replace the old school foam?

We're using the pink/blue sheet foam from Lowes/HD cut and pieced in to fit. Or.....I went with something even more colorful

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2378.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2380.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2382.jpg

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

3/4" exterior grade or marine grade plywood sealed with epoxy resin(2-3 coats) is a good way to go. Get the marine grade if you want to spend a little more and have no voids.

I am covering my deck with nautolex marine vinyl. It is easy to clean and UV resistant. Some prefer carpet on boats but not me.



You can get new or retro Starcraft gauges from greatlakesskipper.com or on ebay. GPS is the best speedometer out there for accuracy. Tach, volt, oil pressure and gas are the best ones to have for your boat I'd say.

I get ny Natulex flooring today. Is it difficult to lay without getting wrinkles in it.?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1968 Starchief I/O 120HP

Is it difficult to lay without getting wrinkles in it.?

Wrinkles? No. Bubbles? Yes.