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]

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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.