1974 Chieftain 25 "Adventurer" Restoration

[IslandExplorer]

Intake manifold quick test fit, everything seems to match up nicely. It's a Ford Bronco roller 302 that I will be marinizing for this project.

 

[IslandExplorer]

More critical parts for the Adventurer: Crusader big block heat exchanger and Johnson F6B9 raw water pump have both been acquired. This will be cooling the engine and the new PCM (Pleasure Craft Marine) exhaust manifolds. Still need to figure out what risers I'll be running.
Pump lines up with the bolt holes on the old FoMoCo pulley that was on the Mercruiser 188 but sits way too far in so I'll be making a spacer for it.

 

[Drivewayboater2]

Looking purdy… following along

 

[IslandExplorer]

Upper windshield pieces, lots of resealing needed ...

 

[IslandExplorer]

Working away on the Adventurer again finally.

Port side cabin wall, untrimmed kitchen vent pipe protruding.

Thinking this was a spot light base. Has a broken off ball joint socket in it.

Windshield foundation/tracks

 

[IslandExplorer]

Time for the ol Bronco to hang up the hooves and get some sea legs finally

E7TE heads and a standard truck cam

Looks pretty good I think.

 

[IslandExplorer]

That sums up the last 7 days of work on it. Going to soak pistons in ATF, clean rest of it, and do rebuild really soon hopefully. Have the parts just sitting in a box.

On a lighter note, I'm trying to decide what color to paint the block a d whatnot once it's done... I don't think I want to do the original (boring) black on black Merc scheme. I'm thinking it's going to be at least 2 tone. Block I want to be slightly brighter than black, like, say, orange maybe.

 

[BWR1953]

View attachment 409711View attachment 409712View attachment 409713View attachment 409714View attachment 409715View attachment 409717View attachment 409718View attachment 409719View attachment 409720View attachment 409721View attachment 409722View attachment 409723
That sums up the last 7 days of work on it. Going to soak pistons in ATF, clean rest of it, and do rebuild really soon hopefully. Have the parts just sitting in a box.

On a lighter note, I'm trying to decide what color to paint the block a d whatnot once it's done... I don't think I want to do the original (boring) black on black Merc scheme. I'm thinking it's going to be at least 2 tone. Block I want to be slightly brighter than black, like, say, orange maybe.

Good work so far!

I've seen a lot of very large boats with actual engine rooms that have the engines painted gloss white. Supposedly to quickly show any kind of leak.
And I've also seen hot 2-strokes painted the same way for the same reason.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Thanks, trying not to get lost in the details and just keep the project moving ahead. And it's funny you say that about the white paint job showing issues more easily bc that is a big part of my lighter color reasoning! The all black is definitely pretty great for hiding issues.. Seems more like the used boat salesman paint job to me!

 

[IslandExplorer]

Platform feels pretty solid. Still need to figure how I'm going to mount the kicker motor bracket back there and the additional bracing for it. Looks like another trip to scavenge the scrapyard is in order.

 

[IslandExplorer]

The new 'spun silver' Faria gauges came in. I really like the look of these poking through my seabees crate console.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Serious delay- had to cut roof out bc of defective plywood issue. Prob better I'm replacing this particular piece with marine ply anyway. Piece I removed was delaminating and swelling like crazy, despite being painted and sealed, thoroughly messing up my windshield reinstall. If you ever feel like you just don't like a sheet of plywood for some reason- don't use it! This sheet was totally a covid era factory screw up apparently and I just knew there was something up with it. Decided to remove the aluminum skin along with it for esthetics.

 

[IslandExplorer]

5/8 marine ply roof replacement bolted down last night. Think I'm going to keep the cabinets out, at least for now. It's so roomy without them, way more head space. Still have loads of storage space available. Plus now I've got room for a nice porthole in the galley! This boat is a lot of fun to work with, aluminum is so easy.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Windshield predictably was a pain but it's back on there finally as of today.

Test fit to trace alignment before drilling

Glued and screwed

 

[IslandExplorer]

 

[captainnate]

nice work, thanks for sharing all the pictures

 

[IslandExplorer]

nice work, thanks for sharing all the pictures

Thanks, it's been quite the long project. Hoping the pictures might help someone else someday maybe. "Don't do it like this"

 

[IslandExplorer]

Head is almost complete. Still haven't mounted the TP holder or done the trim but it's mostly there.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Been insanely hot at work lately, harder to work on boat after hours so not a ton of progress the last few days but did get water system to 100% the other night. New galley sprayer faucet for the admiral and the sink in the head works great. Tried to post pics but it isn't working again.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Got the starboard 60 gallon tank back in and securely strapped in place, hopefully will get the port tank in this evening maybe. Had to use 90° preformed elbows on the filler pipe but it all came together just great. Will be time to do more exciting things like the engine bay and reassemble the 302 really soon..
Hopefully picture posting will be back soon! Only being able to post text about these projects is really lame.