1970 SeaKing

[Drb007]

I finally got around to doing some more work on the boat tonight. I did some wet sanding on the gel coat with good initial results. I will want to go back over it with higher grades I think, so I will keep at that project.

I was able to get the impeller out. I had been waiting to place the order to Franz Marine for the plugs, wires, impeller, etc until I could get the impeller out and see what I needed.

I snapped a picture and sent it to Franz around 9pm tonight. At 9:20 my cell rang with an unknown-to-me number, which I almost didn't answer. Glad I did. It was Franz! He said he is leaving tomorrow morning for a week of vacation, so if I wanted the parts, he would package it all up tonight and ship it out before he leaves in the morning. Then he gave me his cell in case I had any questions. He was worried that he would have poor cell service where he was going, but if I left a message he would get back to me asap. Seriously. I am blown away at the service and knowledge. I didn't even really ask him for a total when I paid...he's just the kind of guy you know you can trust. That just makes this hobby that much more fun.

People are good.

 

[Drb007]

I thought I'd give an update, more for therapy for me than anything.
After I got the parts from Franz, I put in the new plugs, wires, impeller, new lower unit oil, etc. I found a guy about an hour from my house who said he is an expert on these old Chrysler outboards. He charged me $50 for a tune up, and I gave him $80 to show me how to do it, rather than just do it for me. He's a really nice guy. Turns out I was not pumping water after my impeller change. Seems the water tube didn't get hooked up right when I reassembled it. I finally got that hooked up and working right. We put a new diaphragm in the fuel pump and adjusted the carb. Got it running pretty decent. I had hoped he would check my work on setting the points and then set the timing. We were running late on time, so he kinda rushed through that part. However, it ran well enough that I figured we were good to go.
We planned to go up to our friends' lake home for the 4 day weekend over the 4th, and I spent just about every night for a week getting the boat ready. Wax, new period-correct vinyl flooring, fixed some lights, etc.
We got up to the lake, dropped it in the water, and it wouldn't start. After a bit of work, I was able to get it running and was able to keep it going by manually revving it with the throttle on the carb. Once it warmed up a bit it ran pretty well. I had my friend drive the boat back to the dock while I drove the truck back to his house. He ran a few laps on his own, and said it ran great. By the way, this is the guy that was supposed to have bought the boat but backed out. I tell you, when his wife saw the boat, she was very upset that they passed on it. By the end of the weekend her bid was up to $2000 to buy it from me.
Anyway, he ran a couple of laps, then picked up his daughter and mine and took them out for a couple of laps. I was down at the dock by then and he picked me up. With the 4 of us in it top speed was a whopping 23mph. He said it was moving a lot faster when he was alone, but he didn't look at the speedometer.
After another lap, the overheat light came on. I shut it down right away and let it cool down. We restarted it and all was good, and it was pumping water. Another lap and it just died, almost like we ran out of gas, but no sputtering. Just kind of bogged down and quit. And it would not restart. I left it tied to the dock for a couple of days because it looked so cool in the water. We tried numerous times to get it to go, but eventually the starter quit and we were done.
I took the starter apart and found the ground brush wire had been soldered and this came apart. I tried to fix it, but it only held for a few minutes.
I took the start to a nice guy who really fixed it and worked on the starting issues again tonight. I was able to get it start on starting fluid and then could keep it running by manually working the throttle. But, I noticed I was not pumping water again, and shut it down. While it was running it was running poorly.
I did a compression test again and now the bottom cylinder is 140, the top is just 70. Yikes.
So, off with its head. Huh...it's a Hemi!
I got lucky...the head gasket was blown.
I will get another this week and see how much of issue this solves. Wish me luck, and shoot me any advice!

 

[Drb007]

I've been posting my updates and issues in the Chrysler group. For an update, I've redone about everything on the motor it seems. New carb, plugs, timing, coil, and will be replacing the rectifier.

Finally to a point where it is running well.
It's a fun ski boat, though it isn't such a good boat for tubing.
Really great little cruiser.

Tops out around 23 mph.

Today I got the gauge lights working, and after rebuilding the dimmer switch, it all works like new.

I think they are pretty neat!

 

[southkogs]

That looks real nice ... I'd be boatin' at night just to stare at it Styling from that era is just great.

 

[David Young]

Nice. I think you got a good deal