1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

[BansheeVision]

Thought I would start a thread to use as a chronological log and for inspiration to quicken the restoration. At this point the thread is not intended to be a source for 'How to do a restoration', though I will share tips, tricks, and traps I encounter along the way. For a great overall source of information take a look at "hull extension in progress with pics" by oops! This is possibly the mother of all threads, and if that guy had enough sandpaper I believe he would be fairing the Rocky Mountains into the Bonneville Salt Flats.

A little background and where I'm at: This is my 5th boat and at 28 years old, I believe it is the newest/youngest one I have owned yet. The boat is a 84' 25 foot Regal Ambassador 255XL and I'm just not feeling the love for it yet like I did for 2 of my previous boats. The GOOD: Only paid $250 for it and it is all there. The cabin area is actually pretty nice inside. I believe all the canvas including the zip-out windows are all there and in great shape (still have to go through that stuff). The BAD: It is an OMC 800 stringer, the 350 chevy motor is shot, access around the windshield forward from the cockpit is about 4" wide between the side window and the rail, and its more than a step or two to get there. The boat is heavy, HEAVY, HEAVY. The UGLY: The upholstery in the cockpit is roached. The bow pulpit has some damage and looks as if it were used to inflict a righteous ramming during sea battle, and it's OMC.

Acquired a galvanized trailer for $300. It came with a 26' Reinell that has no motor or outdrive, but it is parts rich. Set that boat off, spiffed the bearings and bunks, and the Regal is now on the trailer. The trailer still needs some more adjusting and modifications. Removed all the cockpit seats/interior and have taken the old upholstery off of them. Some of the wood will have to be replaced, the goal for tomorrow is to have the seats ready to be covered. I have started on repairing the pulpit and will take some pics of this. I would have loved to see what it rammed! Started getting the motor ready to pull. My brother has been helping, but his heart is not in it. I told him it's half his boat if he will help. He's ready to sell.

Would like to know???- I have the shore power cord. I have a long 220 extension cord I use for wielding, it is straight blade crow foot, female/male. I want to make an inexpensive adapter to go between the shore power cord and the extension cord so I can plug into my shop power. I am currently running 4 220 compressors/wielders at the same time, so power in the shop is not a problem. There is a good read here: www.marinco.com/files/media/guides/AC Boater'sGuide.pdf ... I would like to know if anyone has done this using plug ends from the local "hardware mart". Adapters are about $45 to $65 plus shipping at the boat sites. Mine does not have to be yellow, I have paint.

I have the manual for an 88' Regal Ambassador 255XL in pdf format that I would be happy to pass along if anyone wants it. I am sure I'll find it useful even though there is a 4 year model difference.

These first two pics are of how I found it. I will try to update with a few pics at each stage. Pulled about a bazillion brass staples out of upholstery today. Not much interesting about that.

Jim.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

What are you going to use for an engine for the boat?

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

I have a 70's 21' IMP [V-hull, closed bow, run about style, cool older stuff in it] with a hot rod 355 (350 bored 30 over). I love this boat! I'm thinking I'll pull this motor and remove the ported Dart heads, roller rockers, stud girdles, molly push rods, port matched Edelbrock performer RPM intake, 750 cfm double pump carb, along with a bunch of other race car parts and use the bottom end with the Regal's heads/intake/carb/etc. If the block in the Regal is good and is a 4-bolt main, I'll do a 383 with it to put back into the IMP. I'm not exactly overjoyed about doing this because I have a ton of machine work in this engine. Not to mention all ARP fasteners, Jackson timing gear set, high dollar cam and lifters, machined windage tray. It has been balanced from the harmonic to the flywheel. So I would loose all that when I sold the boat and most people would not understand that the high pitch whine coming from the motor is normal for timing gears -vs- a quiet timing chain.

My two other options are to rebuild the motor back stock. About $400 in parts and another $400 in machine work (I can't see spending that much and rebuilding back stock, I would end up stoking the fire and spending more). Or find a used motor. I have rebuild and dismantle licenses and can buy salvage from insurance auctions. I would love to find a wreaked 1985 or older c20 pickup with low miles and just stab a motor out of that into the Regal and call it a day. I could then sell the rest of the parts and have a free motor!

Because of the OMC 800 stringer, the motor has to be a 2 piece rear main seal to bolt up to the crank/flywheel. (Bolt pattern changed in 86' on all first gen chevy small blocks when it went to a one piece rear main seal).

I'm open to all suggestions!

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

I ran across these pics taken as I found the boat. Should have taken more to document the occasion when I witnessed the essence of primal boat ugly.


The stuff piled up front is the full canvas top. When I took it out, it looked as though it was unused. The stove, sink, and fridge look as though they were not used either. This boat may have not ever been used for over night trips. My brother says break out the black light.


I don't know why this is disconnected and sitting here rather where it is supposed to be... I will save fixing this for last!


I should find out who purchased this new and send them some of these.


Here is one of the anchor.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

I think you should do some research on the OMC Stringer Drives. I think you will find that they are NOT a desirable motor and most people here on the forum that are "In the Know" about them are in favor of swaping them out totally. I am NOT an I/O guy, just passing on knowledge learned from hanging out here for the past couple of years and doing a LOT of research.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Yes, unfortunately it is a 574SPHRCRA OMC 800 stringer. Regal/OMC also went with cast# 462624 heads in the motor package(the least desirable Chevy small block heads, and this is where the magic happens in sbc motors). I am definitely NOT an OMC guy, I had a V8 boat with electric shift OMC and that was it for me. After paying $250 for the boat either I could scrap it for metal and parts and make about $800, or throw in a few hundred to get it running and make all the bells and whistles work. After shining it up like a new penny with upholstery and buffing I should be able to get around $3500 not counting the trailer. I'll take that and roll it into another boat. You would be amazed by what I could scare up with that!

If anything gets a drive upgrade it will be the IMP with a Volvo. Still not feeling the love for Regal boats! After some use it probably gets sold down the river - literally.

The sbc block in the Regal is a cast# 14010207. This is actually a fairly good block and was used in Corvettes and trucks. For some reason GM used this same cast number for both 2 and 4 bolt main versions. I'll have to tear it down to see if it has future hot rod potential. Even if it is a 2 bolt it is worth a few hundred bucks as is, and there is my upholstery material.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Late start on the moose boat today. I now have the pulpit pulled around where it needs to be and am ready to prep it for glass. It was not as bad as I thought it would be to get back into position. After releasing the railing and cap molding around it, I was able to just grab a hold and wrestle it back. Had storms this afternoon so that was it for outside.

Picked up some wood and glue for the seats and made a lot of sawdust. Just about finished with the big double wide back to back - this one is the material eater. The total for wood/glue/fasteners to redo the entire cockpit should be about $100 if my reuse assessment is correct.

Tomorrow we should be done with the seats rebuild and I hope to have the pulpit ready for glass. Here is the pulpit shortly after I began working on it. Maybe I should do some serious reinforcement for future battles.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Seats coming along, but not fast as I hoped. Used one and a half sheets of 1/2", a half sheet of 3/4", maybe 1/8 lb of brads and staples through the finish guns, along with almost 8oz of glue so far. Spending way too much time rehabbing fasteners, but stainless stuff is outrageously expensive and adds up real quick. Found a great alternative for SS T-nut prong anchors that are about five times cheaper. Spent less than $10 for hardware to this point.

Wasted almost a day this weekend with paperwork for Dealer, Wholesaler, Dismantler, and Parts Recycler licenses due to Alabama's asinine new laws that require proof of citizenship to do anything here, each with its own creative requirements. Can do uniform procedure business in every other state, this one requires performing the soft shoe and at least 3 stupid human tricks per transaction. The fax machine must have figured I needed a grain of salt with that, so it up and died. Searched the auctions and could not find a motor donor. If anyone has a 80-85 truck with a 350 and lives in the south, please let someone run into it and sell it to their insurance company! If the weather is nice tomorrow we'll take the boat and position it near the gantry to finish preparing the motor to pull. Need to figure out how much fabric the seats need to cover them. There is quite a bit left over from the cj5 projects and I'll try to use as much as possible, inserts or something, (when I look at the stuff 'Zoot suit' comes to mind).

 

[Rollinunknown]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

i have a 1985 gmc 1ton box truck with 52k on it i will be pulling the motor runs great has a 400 trans shifts great .It was donated to my grandfather about 7 years ago (Church Program) its just been sitting .....well when my grandfather passed everything was left to my father and i will scraping the truck due to no tittle and be pulling the motor& Trans selling the box for next to nothing and if u need a good motor you could come check it out before i pull it and make a large trailer lol. She fire's right up doseint miss a lick... i have quite a few small blocks laying around but this one is turn key and could be had to you for the price of maybe a 5gal bucket of poly resin .


Rob.
area code is 63123

Seats coming along, but not fast as I hoped. Used one and a half sheets of 1/2", a half sheet of 3/4", maybe 1/8 lb of brads and staples through the finish guns, along with almost 8oz of glue so far. Spending way too much time rehabbing fasteners, but stainless stuff is outrageously expensive and adds up real quick. Found a great alternative for SS T-nut prong anchors that are about five times cheaper. Spent less than $10 for hardware to this point.

Wasted almost a day this weekend with paperwork for Dealer, Wholesaler, Dismantler, and Parts Recycler licenses due to Alabama's asinine new laws that require proof of citizenship to do anything here, each with its own creative requirements. Can do uniform procedure business in every other state, this one requires performing the soft shoe and at least 3 stupid human tricks per transaction. The fax machine must have figured I needed a grain of salt with that, so it up and died. Searched the auctions and could not find a motor donor. If anyone has a 80-85 truck with a 350 and lives in the south, please let someone run into it and sell it to their insurance company! If the weather is nice tomorrow we'll take the boat and position it near the gantry to finish preparing the motor to pull. Need to figure out how much fabric the seats need to cover them. There is quite a bit left over from the cj5 projects and I'll try to use as much as possible, inserts or something, (when I look at the stuff 'Zoot suit' comes to mind).

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

That would be perfect, the only problem is you are 375 miles away!

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

The computer just burped and I lost my post - so in a nutshell: Have just about gone through 3 sheets of plywood so far. Still have some more to do on the seats. The moose boat is moved over to the gantry, should have the motor pulled in the next few days and a postmortem completed. Picked up an Ebbtide fishing boat with a 85hp Johnson to flip, not a beauty queen. Fixed the transom, spiffed it a bit, and have it running good, advertised it priced to sell quick. People calling and asking if it has sparkles in it and is it pretty after seeing the pics on craigslist. WTF people??? it's a fishing boat! I have searched for what is out there at that price - there is no competition. Will throw in new carpet, buff the cap and raise the price $350 tomorrow. Maybe toss in a Zebco and a can worms.


Should look into recovering a post - I see the auto save flash, but not where or how to recover.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

The weather was not nice today so I finished the seats and will take them to the upholstery guy tomorrow. I'm right at the $100 budget for doing the structures. Materials used: 3 sheets of 4'X8' exterior 1/2" plywood, about 20oz of Tightbond II & III glue, and maybe $20 worth of brads, staples, and T-anchors.

I was able to significantly reduce the cost by: Rehabbing henge fasteners when possible. Used plated furniture T-anchors @ $0.57 each rather than SS T-anchors @ $3.35 each. For good measure I gave the completed assemblies a coat of leftover exterior house paint. Also reused/cut down and re-purposed about 1/2 sheet worth of ply.

Priced carpet at the hardware mart for the Ebbtide. It is about $3.30 a linear foot off a 6' wide roll. I should be able to it for less than $70 depending on the glue. Beginning to have too much time invested in that boat. I should put it in the water at least once and beat the dog snot out of it to ensure its suitability for fishing.

The salvage pools are flush with storm damaged travel trailers now. I was thinking of picking one up for a roof mount AC unit/generator and mounting it on the Regal. I could then scrape the remaining debris off, convert it to a utility trailer and sell it. I'm sure this has been done, just not sure if installing a generator is worth it.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Good progress today. Most of the seats are at the upholstery guys' shop. The engine is out and disassembled. Good and bad engine news - The motor appears like it had just been rebuilt. The motor could not of had more than 10 hours on a complete rebuild! Someone had put a bunch of money into the boat and then just let it sit. The cylinders were 20 over(strange choice) and the crank turned 10. There had been some water over the pistons and while sitting the rings had rusted/pitted the cylinder walls a bit. The block is now at the machine shop and he will see tomorrow if punching the holes another 20 for a total of 40 over will clean it out. The crank will only need a quick polish. Total for engine rebuild parts kit will be about $300 including pistions/cam/lifters/oil pump with upgrades for brass freeze plugs and a double roller timing set. About another $200 to bang the holes and a head job. The disappointing discovery was that the engine is a 2-bolt cap. I'm not at all impressed with the Regal/OMC power choice of going with a 2-bolt bottom topped with 462624 heads. I guess because it has a Rochester quadrabog carburetor they would consider that some kind of performance engine package. I'll throw in a few dirt track engine tricks - I'll be OK for what it is.

I forgot to look at what it would take to remove the fuel tank to flush it out. It is a 76gl tank and I'm sure it's not going to come out easily. If anyone has done it on this model or a similar one, I would like to hear about it. I don't know the dimensions, but it will have to come up through the engine compartment. May just go with a couple of extra inline filters.

A few more days of pleasant surprises with forward momentum and I could be converted to a Regal fan.

Tomorrow I'll finish up some odds and ends - go through the canvas - clean up the shop and try to post some pics. Will make an effort to take more as I go along.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Researching inexpensive teak restoration - found this: http://www.mabelwhite.com/TeakCleaningandOilFormulaMW.pdf - The Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) could be applied to large areas such as the swim platform with a pump-up weed sprayer set to fan spray, as well as the vinegar neutralizer with a second sprayer (I have these laying around). Split open plastic trash bags could be used for masking material, and smaller pieces removed first. When you add it all up there is quite a bit of teak on the moose boat.

Does any know where to obtain Fractionated (or Light) Coconut Oil? Can this be obtained in the baking isle at the grocery store? The stuff is about $0.70 per oz from essential oil sources. It does not have to be food or cosmetic grade. "Fractionated Coconut Oil" is simply smaller length carbon-chain fatty acid triglycerides that are separated from whole coconut oil using a non-chemical process. This is why it won't become rancid or tend to solidify at room temp.

'1 Pound of Bee Pollen' - just how many bees would you need?

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Not much boat love today, just a few odds and ends and then went to an auction. Ready to start focusing on the engine rebuild and move that to the front burner. Thought I would dump out the camera and post a few of the cockpit seat build.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

I have a few old cans of exterior house paint, so I'm giving the exterior plywood a quick latex coating.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Finished all the left over odds and ends from the motor break down and rebuilding the cockpit interior. The machinist has not called yet and I need to know what size pistons to order. Would like to order the rebuild parts tomorrow to have them by Wednesday or Thursday morning so I can reassemble Friday. That will give me a few days to go through the bilge area and make sure everything is working before hopefully reinstalling Saturday. The extinguisher system is probably nonfunctional after sitting so long - it has a sprinkler head so most likely its not halon. Have not paid much attention to it yet. It seams the project keeps slipping behind schedule, though luckily not over budget. Thought about knurling the valve stems, a wast of time on this motor and not worth setting up the lathe for. I will smooth out/volume balance the runners and port match the heads to the intake, but don't think I'll bother with the exhaust manifolds(the input side is enough tedious grinding and filing). Along with punching out the oil passages, and a 3-angle grind on the valves should do it for the old barge.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

Went out to see the upholstery guy and ordered the remaining material. Stopped by the machine shop. I've been bumped due to a race car engine needing a cam swap and dyno-pull for an upcoming long track race. This being Alabama that is understandable and I'm fine with it. Some kind of muscle memory or genetic reaction to drop everything and jump on a race car when it pits.

Sold the Ebbtide for what I wanted without replacing the carpet or buffing it out. - Good day. I love hardcore fishermen! Getting calls on the old 26' Reinell cruiser sitting in the bone yard(Have not even advertised it). Need to get out there and remove the cool stuff I want.
Should also pull the big Mark Twain out and advertise it as a project. Boating fever has definitely set in here.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

No boat-love today and falling farther behind schedule. No news from the machine shop. Went out of town and hiked the salvage auction lots. Found 5 or 6 boats to bid. Overpowered high-end fishing boats and pickup trucks are hot right now and sell fast(I hate painting trucks). Need to dump the little sports cars - maybe take them to auction. If I get news tomorrow from machine-man, maybe I can order parts in time for the weekend to reassemble the motor.

 

[theres_b]

Re: 1984 Regal 255XL Restoration

I have the manual for an 88' Regal Ambassador 255XL in pdf format that I would be happy to pass along if anyone wants it. I am sure I'll find it useful even though there is a 4 year model difference.


Hello

I would really be happy for a manual for an 88 Regal Ambassador 255 XL.