Chrysler Valiant new thread

[beerrun]

Sorry about the other one being so big, I thought I had made the pictures small enough but obviously not. That was difficult.
Anyway,Tashasdaddy, You were right! The motor turned out to be a 1956 30HP Lark from what I could figure out. We plan on trying to get it running but I am not holding my breath. If that does not work we will look for a Chrysler. The labal on the boat says 55HP max. How close to those labels do i need to stay? As I said...first boat...no experience, this is a big learning thing for me.
I will be cleaning it up some on Sunday so I will post some more pics (smaller). Thanks for the input.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Chrysler Valiant

Chrysler Valiant

If you do go for a Chrysler, Look for a 45. The made many more of them than the 55 and will be easier to find a good running one. As far as max hp, "Too much horsepower is never enough." Seriously, if you go much over 55, you may be stopped by your local Fish and Game. The boat could probably handle a 75, but is it worth the worry? also, the 75 weighs much more than the 45-55. the 45 only weighs 156 lb. --probably the lightest one ever made. So the added performance with a 75 will not be that much, and the added weight in the stern will have you shipping water when you slow down quickly.

 

[tashasdaddy]

that 56 lark is worth repairing. or atleast selling on ebay.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

If this is Lizzzy's Valiant: Dang Lizzy! I would have bought that boat based on just the bow light. Unique!

 

[mike176]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

The max plate on those old boats are in reality off by a good bit but if it says 55 go with a 55 or less (you can never have enough power) its the law. Now its time to strip that beast and pull the cap off!!! there is no dout as far as i'm conserned every thing is rotted so get all that dirt that used to be wood out and replace it so you can get out on the water in that thing.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Thanks everyone, I definitely want to try and fix the Lark, I think it looks great on the back of the boat.Its only a 30HP but I figure I will fix it and see how it works. If its not strong enoughh, then i will look for something else.I'm dying to get out there tomorrow if I can blow off some of the easter festivities and brave the cold up here in NY(its freeezing) . Frank, the bow light is too cool, isnt it?! I'm not sure how to get the cap off, but I will find out tomorrow.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Legally you should stay with the max h.p. rating stated. It is your risk if you choose not to and the possibility of your insurance being invalid.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

just send that lark to me. i'll dispose of it for you.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

hey, Tashasdaddy, I dont think thats gonna happen right away. If I do decide to get rid of it I will let you know though. We took the motor off the boat today, cleaned out all the mouse nests, and the thing actually turns over. I think that all its really gonna need for now is a good cleaning, replace gaskets, change plugs and wires, and replace the fuel filter.I do want to repaint it and see if I can find some replacement emblems for it, ya know...make it pretty. The bolts that hold the motor to the transom broke when we were taking the motor off, we had to cut them off. I hope theyre easily replaced.
As for the boat itself, theres alot of work to do. We noticed a big crack along the bottom of the stern.(Look at me, a landlubber using boating terms)!My next day off I will try to start stripping down the boat.
I took a bunch of pictures, I'll post them tomorrow night.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

the bottom of he stern is cracked.

kicked the mice out

broke the handles(damn)

cleaned up pretty nice
I hope these pics are small enough. I'm not sure how small they need to be.
Do I need to take the cap off to start fixing the floor? The guys at the marina told me I dont have to but I trust the opinions here much more.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

if you want to do it right pop the cap. there are many old motor with handles like that, vise grips work real well. some people even broke them off to cut down on theft. it looks like it's runnable, just a little TLC. to give you a dollar value, i just paid $300 plus $170 shipping for my 58 35 johnson. i can't justify the money, but it's what i wanted.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Thats a nice motor, $300 doesnt seem too bad, is that alot for a motor like that? The $170 shipping is what kills me. To just start it and go, thats gotta be a good price. I looked into replacing the handles and bolts we broke taking it off the boat and they were $37.50 each. Thats almost 1/3 of the way to a new motor for two!! I'll wait for a swap meet and see if I can find some. This boating stuff isnt cheap, huh?!

 

[mike176]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

you need to get the cap off. Pull the rubrail off and under it should be screws, take them out and then the upper part of the boat should lift off. it will be very heavy, get help. Next step is to clean everything in the boat and take pictures of it from there you can get help here. As for the motor do a compression test and, check it for spark. if its got around 80-90psi of compression i would say your doin good. If you have spark thats good too, but i would still put in new points and condenser due to its age and who knows when they where last replaced. Once you have spark and compression you need to get a carb rebuild kit and rebuild the carb, this part can be tricky you might need help. Befor you try to run it you need to replace the water pump impeller.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Thanks! That was lots of info. I was trying to find out what the compression was supposed to be but the marina couldnt give me a straight answer.They want to sell me a new motor. I knew you guys would know. Today we took most of the floor out, it already looks better, or at least like progress. I'm going to try to get the cap off Saturday. Having a job is really getting in my way right now. All I want to do is work on the boat. I will post pictures as soon as I am a little further along, probably with lots more questions. Thanks again, everyone here is so helpful. Its great.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

This boating stuff isnt cheap, huh?!

Tip o' the iceberg bro!!!​

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

put a some marvel mystery oil in each cylinder, tilt the motor all the way up, and block it. leave it over night. with the plugs removed, turn it over to get the oil out. then do the compression test. hopefully some where around 90psi would be great. but more important, is that the numbers are fairly equal. turn it over 4 to 5 times when taking the reading. same # for each cylinder. good luck. we'll see how good a deal i got on that motor, next week, when it arrives.

 

[mike176]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Boat stuff cheap? Its a hole in the water that you trow money into! BOAT Bring On Another Thousand =BOAT. Who knows why we do it, its not a very good investment it just makes us happy.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Thanks, I didnt even think about the marvel mystery oil thing. Makes perfect sense. I'm just waiting for my day off now. Its good in a way, gives me time to think everything through and ask all my questions.
I never heard that bring on another thousand thing, pretty good. Its funny, I will deliberate in the grocery store over a 14 cent difference in butter prices but when it comes to the boat, price doesnt seem to matter all that much... if the boat needs it I gotta buy it.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Well, we got the top off today, took out some more of the floor, and removed the rotten transom.It was soggy as all get out and full of termites!I will get some pictures up tomorrow night. I dont have a cable for my camera, i need to get them on disc. The rub rail and the cap were pop riveted on, we had to drill out each one.
A few questions:
The crack that we saw along the bottom edge of the stern extends nearly clear accross from port to starboard.Theres a picture in my April 10th post. Can I fix that with fiberglass on the inside and use filler on the outside?
Theres one stringer and it seems OK. Seeing as I have the boat all opened up should I replace it anyway or leave well enough alone?
Should I add extra stringers?The floor is 58 inches wide.
Due to an overcrowded barn We are working outside. How cold is too cold to be out there working with fiberglass?
Any reccomendations on what type of foam to use on the floor? I have seen pictures of people using rigid insulation but that seems a little cheesy. Is that really good enough?
Thanks for any input.

 

[beerrun]

Re: Chrysler Valiant new thread

Heres some pictures

The top was not as heavy as I thought it would be. It looks so weird sitting on the ground like that.

Its hard to tell from this little picture, but those are termites or some kind of flying ants just livin large in the old transom. It was nasty.

Here the transom is actually out but it looks like theres still a thin veneer from the plywood.It came out easier than we thought it would.You can kinda see the crack all along the bottom.