JB's Spectra 18 rebuild

[Quicksilver]

So this is my first boat rebuild: 1976 Spectra 18 mini day cruiser with a Ford 460 and Berkeley JE-A jet pump.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra3.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra2.jpg

[Quicksilver]

I got the boat home and started the process of going through everything. I pulled the wheels off the trailer to check the bearings and found this:

WTF?

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra31.jpg

Someone had used studs that were way too long and the inner races and bearings needed replacing. I did some research online and found some Dexter hubs complete for $90 shipped. Now the hubs look safe enough to roll down the road.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra32.jpg

Half of the lights weren't working on the trailer and someone had put yellow marker lights on the rear. So I replaced all but two of the lights and rewired the whole trailer. Now the electrical is all worked out.

I also purchased a new coupler for the trailer but it needs to be welded on. The boat currently has the old style hitch with the knob on top, but it is missing parts that keep the knob from backing off.

[Quicksilver]

With most of the trailer issues worked out I needed to find out what my vibration was with the boat. The guy that was giving me advice seemed to think it was in the pump or the harmonic balancer. I pulled the bench seat out to get a better look at the harmonic balancer and it looked to be ok. I knew nothing about jet pumps so I spent days researching online. I decided it was best to tear it down and check everything out since there really isn't much to them. Unfortunately you have to pull the motor out to fully inspect it.

I did a compression test on the engine and got over 190 psi on some of the cylinders. :eek: The seller said he was running 87 octane pump gas in this thing. What the hell is in this engine? With #'s that high there is no way it will run for long on the cheap stuff.

I pulled the heads only to find some nice domed pistons in the cylinders. They would be great on a hot rod engine but are way too high compression for a boat motor that you want to run on cheap pump gas.

[Quicksilver]

I got the engine pulled out, then pulled the bellhousing and flexplate to mount the engine on a stand for further inspection.

Over the years Ford made two 460 blocks. The early blocks (1968-1978) had internally balanced crankshafts. The later years (1979-1997) had longer cylinder bores which required the crankshafts to be externally balanced. The later crankshafts had a hatchet weight behind the harmonic balancer and used a flexplate with a counterweight.

My engine didn't have the hatchet weight but I did have a counter weight on my flexplate. Hmm. I think I found the cause of my vibration, but I had to pull the oil pan to confirm my suspicion. I have an early crank with the wrong flexplate. Upon pulling the pan I also confirmed I have a 4 bolt main block. :D

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra9.jpg

Here's some pics of the pistons that won't be going in the new motor.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra8.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra7.jpg

[Quicksilver]

I tore the pump down and inspected everything. The shaft was in good shape and was straight, and the thrust bearing was good as well. All that needed work was the bowl. Two new bushings and a seal, plus a new nut for the impeller and it went back together.

Here is the shaft on my workbench after it was all cleaned up. The original steering wheel in the background is going back on the boat.
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra11.jpg

I got the jet pump all reassembled. The new reverse bucket cable is installed. Also note new bellows.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra33.jpg

I bought a new steering cable and helm that will be going on the boat as well. :thumbsup

[Quicksilver]

The new steering helm and cables are installed. Here is the original Morse unit and the new Uflex unit. With the new unit you are supposed to cut a larger hole in the dash to bolt up the steering. With the new unit the steering wheel would have been closer to the driver's seat and that would have cramped up the cockpit too much. I wanted to use the existing two holes so a little fabrication was in order.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra34.jpg

I made up this round plate for the front out of 1/8" aluminum plate.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra38.jpg

I mocked up a dash out of 3/4 inch plywood to build everything on. I made a plate for the backside as well. I installed shorter screws after I took this pic. I just used what I had on hand to mock this up.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra36.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra35.jpg

Now the steering is bolted up to the dash using the two holes that were already there and I have a steering wheel that doesn't wobble anymore.

[Quicksilver]

I'm looking for pics on how the alternator is supposed to mount up on my engine. Anyone got some?

The boat also has Ford motor mounts that should probably be replaced while I'm in there. Any idea on what part #'s they should be?
Thanks

[spectras only]

The alternator is mounted with one long bolt with short spacer on top to the cyl head and an alternator bracket on the bottom with long spacer to the timing cover . This is a 429 engine ,mounting is identical to the Harman Fords . You could get the engine mounts from the dealer or make your own solid mounts.

http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/ford460jpeg.jpg

[Quicksilver]

The alternator is mounted with one long bolt with short spacer on top to the cyl head and an alternator bracket on the bottom with long spacer to the timing cover . This is a 429 engine ,mounting is identical to the Harman Fords . You could get the engine mounts from the dealer or make your own solid mounts.

http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/ford460jpeg.jpg

Thanks. BTW, where did you get the remote oil filter assembly?

[Quicksilver]

I almost forgot to mention: Jet Boat Performance has the motor mounts I need. :thumbsup

[Quicksilver]

I haven't posted in a while, but I have been busy working on the boat. The engine is mostly assembled and I'm waiting on the machine shop to get my heads done. The weather was nice so I pulled the boat out of storage and got some waxing done. I also got my numbers and registration on the boat. Its coming along little by little. I can't wait for warmer weather again!

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc95/greenz1977/spectra50.jpg

[vdcruiser]

Boat looks nice, my first Howard 21 had that same color/scheme.

[Quicksilver]

Boat looks nice, my first Howard 21 had that same color/scheme.

Thanks. I'm loving the white and red too.