Ernest!!!!

[JOKERSWILD]

Give us a update on Burt...how is she comming .....I want to see some pics....more importantly when are WE gonna go pick her up
Shoot we may have to have a little gathern when you dump her back in the water.
joker

[Ernest]

Well, I had a hick-up with the trannies. The shop delivered the wrong bell housings, so I was delayed all last week getting that corrected. We were going to pull the gas stuff and test fit the diesels and new trannies early last week so we could start cutting out and rebuilding the new engine beds. Now, looks like we will be doing that next week.

The new power trains will be dropped in and pulled out something like five times before its all said and done. Of course, until I get the engines and trannies finally positioned, I can't have the new shafts mfg'ed, begin fitting the new struts, or repaint the engine compartment.

Good news is fabrication is in progress on new stainless engine bed covers/saddles to support the new engines. Basically, we are cutting out the old engine beds on the inside and outside, rebuilding them with fresh wood/fiberglass, and then capping them with stainless covers/saddles to deal with the torque and vibration of the bigger engines. New dash is being fabricated along with new wiring to the bridge. Gauges have not arrived yet, but have been ordered. They are currently pulling all the thru hulls and installing fresh ones. I figure 32 years is decent service on all the old thru hulls, so I might as well change them out.

They are also engineering/fabricating a new sliding stainless battery tray to relocate my batteries within the engine compartment so as to lower my center of gravity. New pure lead batteries have been ordered and should be here within about a week.

Still have a long way to go, but we are making good progress. Its kinda like building a house with a critical path, and delays in any event along the critical path delay all the other efforts. But, thats the drill, and I am trying to get it all done right, instead of done right now.

On my end (at the house), I have yet to begin fabricating the new cockpit and flybridge panels (sintra/formica/Imron), building the new teak cabin door, or building the new flybridge bench seating. But, those are kinda extras that I can do at any time and that do not directly impact performance. The electronics are also just sitting around waiting to be sent out for service. I also need to get all the measurements together to order the autopilot.

A coming out party is tenatively planned for early April. Probably be an all night blow out held at the Flower Gardens. Bring your own bleach and old clothes, because its anticipated to be an extremely bloody affair.

No pic's yet of anything interesting. I will see what I can do.

Talk to you later. Hope your fishing this weekend because I am stuck at the office again.

[SSNJOHN]

Ernest,

Give me a call if you need some help on the repower or accessories. Would like to get a good look at the those transmissions before you cover them up :+) Any heat/temp measuring electronics or alarms ? Will you be able to see the Oil cooler hose fittings without a mirror ?

Also, remember when building the Flybridge bench to get that forward edge smooth or put in a channel with replaceable wicking for the blood from your calves.

Just changed the water pump impellars, lower unit grease, oil & filters, & spark plugs on the GB. Think I saved a little money and learned quite a bit about my engines.

John