1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

I spent most of my time today taking down all the plastic and tarps and cleaning. I was able to get alot of the black over spray off with a little mineral spirits but have a few spots that will will touch up white. I also got to see the new paint in the sun lite, since I took down the paint tent. The pics are below. I also got everything organized so I can move on to the next task.

I did get some work done on the motor though you can check my 3.7 thread for updates.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

I just got harassed a little by "fatfanny" on one of my other threads about not working on the boat so I figured I would stop in and give some update...

I will be diving back into the boat the weekend..my plan hopfully is to

1) Clean the inside of the boat to prep for fiberglassing the Deck
2) Fiberglass the deck
3) Install windsheild
4) Install cuddy roof port hole & kleets
5) finish wiring motor
6) fill motor with fluids
7) Wire new gauges
8) Start motor
9) and maybe paint the bottom..bottom paint should be in tomorrow.

Lets see If I can pull it off!! I also Have to cut the grass....My little 1 1/4 acre is starting to get a little tall!! Even with the 42" rider it takes a good 2 1/2 hours..

Another weekend of long hours...but I am on track to be in the water by June 1st.....water up hear really dosnt get warm enough to get wet until then so I am not missing to much till then!....I can fish from shore for now!

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

OK its late Sunday night and lets see what I got done.....

The weekend to do list!
1) Clean the inside of the boat to prep for fiberglassing the Deck
2) Fiberglass the deck
3) Install windsheild
4) Install cuddy roof port hole & kleets
5) finish wiring motor
6) fill motor with fluids
7) Wire new gauges
8) Start motor
9) and maybe paint the bottom..bottom paint should be in tomorrow.

I got the Windshield and cuddy hatch on !

I got the deck cleaned an preped!

Pre cut and placed 10oz fiberglass cloth!

Applied resin and waiting to Dry!

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

The weekend to do list!
1) Clean the inside of the boat to prep for fiberglassing the Deck
2) Fiberglass the deck
3) Install windsheild
4) Install cuddy roof port hole & kleets
5) finish wiring motor
6) fill motor with fluids
7) Wire new gauges
8) Start motor
9) and maybe paint the bottom..bottom paint should be in tomorrow.

Wired new gauge cluster..........but first had to modify old dash!

The old gauges
Face

Back

Had to fill unwanted holes and make surface flat because old gauges mounted from front with screw so the surface of the dash had cut outs for screw....out came the body filler!

Then painted installed gauges and top cover....I even modified the Four Winns name plate that was under the gauges on the original so I could use it.

Original dash

New gauge cluster

Rebuilt wire harness for gauges and switches

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Had to make two post to fit every thing...............continued....

installed in boat

Wired motor!

I ran into a small probem when trying to start the motor.....My battery dosnt have to power to turn the motor over under compression,,,it just turns it real slow one or two cranks at a time, or the starter needs rebuilt...to tired to fus with it today.....so it waits for another day! Did get all the liquids in it and pre charged the oil system by turning motor with started with no plugs in,,,,the starter turns the motor just fine with no compression....I will be going into this in depth on the 3.7L thread.... well until next time!

 

[duke3478]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Just awesome. Can't wait to see completed pics. In the water!

 

[SBTOM]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Looking good! I had that same issue with slow cranking. after trying four different batteries, I realized that one of my cables was slightly corroded and just wasn't getting good contact. I know you probably already thought of that, but just my 2 cents

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Looking good! I had that same issue with slow cranking. after trying four different batteries, I realized that one of my cables was slightly corroded and just wasn't getting good contact. I know you probably already thought of that, but just my 2 cents

I will be doing a hole inspection of the starter wires and the solineiod. I pulled the starter today and hopfully will get it done and ready for another shot tomorrow before I have to come into work.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

I got new connection wires for the battery and that was the issue. Once I got it going I was able to find out that the coil bad so I will need to replace that. More info on this in my engine rebuild thread.

I used some time today and re-built the wire harness for the trim pump and re-rap the boat wiring harness with proper wire wrap instead of the electric tape. I pulled a bunch of wires that went to no were from the harness, it was nuts. I dont know if one of the PO or the factory wrapped the tape but it was a mess.

This week end should be a productive one!

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

I got the motor running...I got the motor running....I got the motor running!!!!!

The video link is below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldeUvKat94Y

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

I don't care what anybody says Solar the colors and style of your boat are the sh-t and I also love the color combo for the engine and the idea for it (leak detection) the black and white on the hull is perfect not to flashy just right!, And Gene Wilder (young Frankenstien) gotta love it only in Ohio!. I'm also glad to see you stuck with a power plant that has been frownd upon and made it work BALLSY. Keep rollin. By the way what's her name?

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

. Keep rollin. By the way what's her name?

Thanks!!! I am getting pumped now!!!

"Wet 'n' Nerdy"

My wife came up with it........Her break down of the name was she's "wet" and I'm "Nerdy"........I couldn't argue with that so thats what she gonna be named.

Just have to find text that I like to get the letters made up.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Can't argu w/ wet, but use some nerdy text. I know it's kinda off the subject of boat names but I saw a add in the Alliance review today for For sale rail road air horns!!!!!!! how cool would that be? I personally wouldn't want tot install a air compressor to power the damn thing. Wet and nerdy cool!!!!!

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Can't argu w/ wet, but use some nerdy text. I know it's kinda off the subject of boat names but I saw a add in the Alliance review today for For sale rail road air horns!!!!!!! how cool would that be? I personally wouldn't want tot install a air compressor to power the damn thing. Wet and nerdy cool!!!!!

Yea I It had a real small horn that was super quiet so i am defiantly upgrading to a big noise maker since I am on the lake a lot and have to deal with some big boats. if they cant see me they will defiantly hear me!!!

I want to try and do the name text so that wet is in a elegant text and the nerdy in a blocky bold text....I think it would make the joke of the name stand out so people that see it get the meaning of it

I did think of naming it "spaceballs One" just so I could label all the instruments as "Mr"..."Mr blower"..."Mr bilge pump" and so on..Plus I could put captions on the helm side under the window "Capt A**hole" and under the passenger " Lt. Mj. A**Hole"......cause anyone on the boat will be sarrounded by A**Holes.

I luv the old comedies and SpaceBalls is my Fav movie.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

I got the motor in its home now!
We mounted the bell housing and the transom mount, got the steering cylinder in and got the motor in!

On the way to the boat.

Ready to go in

Bell house

Transom mount

Motor in

Dash together for the most part

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

To top such a good day off, I dropped the truck in the oil pit that is in the floor of the barn. Lucky for me I had to guys with me that could help get it out!! It was funny as hell cause right before it happened we were discussing how it would suck if it did happen! Low and behold we found out first hand.
We used a 10,000lb strap and the over head gantry to lift the truck and slid some oak boards over the pit so we could drive the truck out.

Good thing I had a good day or this would have really pissed me off!! But we had a good laugh and got her out.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Solar that sucked! glad to see it had a good ending. Are you gonna paint that bilge? or are you going for the raw look? just kidding keep up the good work.

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Solar that sucked! glad to see it had a good ending. Are you gonna paint that bilge? or are you going for the raw look? just kidding keep up the good work.

Yea I am going to paint the bilge. I have to lift the engine one more time to seal the front mounting bolt holes and I have to get new washers and spacers for the transom mount so when I do that I will throw down coat of paint.

Yea it did suck, but was funny as hell!

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Awesome!!! Feels good to get the motor in huh?

 

[solar7647]

Re: 1987 Four Winns 215 Sundowner Refit/Repower

Awesome!!! Feels good to get the motor in huh?

God yea!! Its starting to feel like a boat again!!