WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

Project Edge Stealth Jet

Fonz69

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Came across a vintage set of Bassett headers that have never been used and they are stamped 1980!
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I think they really fit nice even though they are not water injected.
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Fonz69

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So the one thing I tried to reuse from my last go fast jet was the RacePump mechanical fuel pump and regulator I used on my blown 540 from around 2007. After not being able to get it to prime I found out the seals inside were shot and they no longer are made...well that figures so I ordered up a magnafuel pro star 500 which is good for 2000hp so I should be covered for a little while.
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All I can say is this pump definitely looks like it will do the job and seems well built, came with a filter that is removable to clean and reuse.
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New routing with the different pump arrangement but I was able to use my existing bracket to mount the new pump.
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Fonz69

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Well after testing the new pump it definitely moves fuel....and right past my old regulator. I tried to reduce the pressure but it would only come down to 12psi so time for a regulator upgrade.
Installed a magnafuel regulator which of course required different fittings!
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Fonz69

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Had the motor builder Shawn from “Big Block Shawns” in Eau Claire WI stop down and help with the initial startup and dial in on the carb and timing.
Was able to use my water recirculating pump to keep water in the block while doing all this and we’re able to achieve a steady 190 degree temp.
Setup the MSD grid so I am retarding the timing 10 degrees from 0 to 500 rpm to help with starting. Seemed to work great so far.
Here is a short video of that test day.
 

Fonz69

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Had the finishing touches put back on the boat today. Wade from Hotrodstripes.com recreated the original painted on emblems that were gone by the time I bought the boat. I was sent some original pictures from a previous owner showing what they looked like. I think it turned out great!
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Fonz69

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Boat looks nice in the sun...it’s been awhile.
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Took it down to the landing for a leak test and all looks good, now just need the weather to warm up, the river to calm down and a chase boat.
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King295

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Looks and sounds great. Really love everything you have done with this boat.
 

Fonz69

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So today was the day it finally made it in the water.




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HydroSkreamin

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So happy for you, man!! That had to be exhilarating; I know mine was.

I’ll guarantee your son won’t ever forget that ride either.

Thanks for updating your thread, and enjoy your boat.
 

King295

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Looks and sounds great. Your attention to detail shows and this is truly a masterpiece. Those kids will always remember the rides you take them on.
 

Fonz69

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So I tried to get some data off my pressure gauges and it seems they do not like all the vibrations and waves going across the water and the batteries seem to wiggle around causing them to turn off.
So this is my second attempt.
Moved sensor input to the top and the out to the side.
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Still using the quick connect fittings that now lead up to the passenger seat.
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Picked up a foam filled case from Harbor Freight and cut out spots for the gauges and my cell phone. I really don’t want to drill a hole through the case yet as I’m able to lock the far side latch to keep the cover closed but test runs will prove if it all stays together.
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So the data log from each sensor can be downloaded to my phone in the future but what I found was more effective the first time out was to hit record the screen on my phone and after the pass I would have a short video I could edit.
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Here is all I was able to capture the first time I tried before the batteries shook loose in the sensors and disconnected.
 

Fonz69

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Seeing as how I am not running the HP that I planned on when the keel was done Jeff suggested that I try a flat shoe to help lift the tail up more and free up the boat. Having MPD make a flat shoe is the right option however I need to send the one I have across the country to have a pattern made to fabricate the new shoe😬 I really didn’t want to take that chance of it getting lost in shipping so I had ordered a piece of 6061 aluminum from McMaster Carr and wanted to see what I could do to try and make my own.

Cutting in the relief for the ride plate.
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Hand cutting the center out and touching it up with the Bridgeport.
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4” grinder and patients…
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Air 90 degree with small sanding wheel
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Marking the shoe. Came out at .626 thick at the biting edge and matched the opening location of what the 1 degree tapper shoe was at I have.
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MPD 1 degree in right and mine on the left.
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Fonz69

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So went to my first race and after only having the boat in the water 4 times I was interested to see what the boat would do in the 800’ course this group races. I entered in the 85-95mph class, passed inspection and before I knew it I was in the water flying down the track.

So they do a rolling start which was something to get used to. I messed up on the line trying to make sure I was even with the other boat and not paying attention to the flagger so he took a 1 boat holeshot and I couldn’t catch up. He ended up winning the class in the end but was a veteran racer so I took my rookie lashes.

Breakout allows 2 mph over so you cannot go faster than 97 mph. There is a gps check boat at the finish line and mine read 96.5 mph so I was good to go into the losers bracket as it’s double elimination.

 

Fonz69

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So the next race I wasn’t going to watch the boat next to me and pay better attention to the flagger. I had an ok launch but took off toward the start pontoon and had to cut hard right to correct. Was able to get my first win!

Another 96.5 mph gps at the check boat and I was good to go into another round of racing.


 

Fonz69

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Last race the plugs were a little fouled as everyone has to keep starting up and running upstream until your number is called to race. Must have done this dozen times and the motor didn’t like that on the launch.
I had to try and run down the other boat and the finish line guy said it was too close to call and they wanted us to go again. That was great right until I looked down at my gps that read 102 mph….so I broke out and DQ’d but still had a great time. Looks like I will need to go up a class and maybe add a little nitrous for next year so I can be competitive against boats that weigh half of what mine does.
 

HydroSkreamin

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Looks like you guys had fun.

How far was this race upriver from your house, like 4-7 miles? You had to jump pools though, right? They’re on the other side of the dam from you?

Glad you had a good time. Did your data logger work?
 

Fonz69

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Looks like you guys had fun.

How far was this race upriver from your house, like 4-7 miles? You had to jump pools though, right? They’re on the other side of the dam from you?

Glad you had a good time. Did your data logger work?

This section is 1 above where we live.

I didn’t run the data logging gear during the race with the exception of what the Msd grid logs.

Got to meet your buddy with the white 23 eliminator. He did good in the 65 mph class for such a big boat and only 800’
 

poncho

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Boat looks and runs Bad Ass. I still run a Racepump, when I heard they were closing shop I grabbed 2 kits for it and it just showed its first burp last time out.....7 years on it.
 

Fonz69

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Boat looks and runs Bad Ass. I still run a Racepump, when I heard they were closing shop I grabbed 2 kits for it and it just showed its first burp last time out.....7 years on it.

Im sure all mine needs is a seal kit and it would be fine. Probably had 20 hrs on it when it was in my 540 but sat for 12 years…
 

Fonz69

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So in order to help dial in my boat for the next race I picked up a “Dragy” gps tool. Since our group UMPBA runs an 800’ course and each class has a max gps speed at the finish line I can setup this tool to tell me at any given point on the water my 800’ distance eta and speed @ 800’.

It also will provide incline, gforce, 0-30,0-60,1/8 mile so on and so on.

For $159 it’s a cheap tool I hope will help me dial in better.

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It has magnets and comes with 2 thin metal plates with 3m tape to stick to things such as the carbon fiber center council I have. Blinks different colors to let you know what it’s doing or if it’s locked in.

I added a ram mount for my cell phone to activate the app and record data. With a twist of the knob on the side all that’s left under the dash is a tiny pivot.
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Fonz69

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Rebuilt the top end on my J head Bridgeport so it was now time to fabricate a 1 1/2 degree shoe as requested to try by Jeff Bennett. The thought here was my boat did not like the flat shoe but responded better to the 1 degree that the MPD intake came with so we’re going to keep pushing it until the boat stops liking the angle.

McMaster Carr 3/4” aluminum plate, not exactly cheap but less risky then sending my matching shoe to CA to get a copy made.
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Table was 0 and the part shimmed to 1 1/2 degree
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Material removal complete.
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Little bandsaw action.
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The fun part…..angle grinder with a grinding wheel then a flap disc.
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Finished up with a air 90 degree sander.
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Test fit checks out.
with .093 worth of shim I’m back at the same biting edge depth as the 1 degree shoe.
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Come on Spring!!
 

Fonz69

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First trip of 2022 was bitter sweet.

Tried to test the Draggy device but it didn’t record like I thought so had to remount my phone in front of the wheel so I can start the video and then hit the gas so hopefully it will capture my 800’ time and mph so I can try and pick the correct bracket to race in this season.

Little warm up in the driveway on 91 pump gas.



Then a few passes on the river.




Then the fun loading the boat….current was really strong and it slid the trailer under the pier before I could even have a chance to load the boat. RH side got caught on the pier and then twisted the trailer so the LH side crunched the concrete landing.🤦🏻‍♂️😡

Managed to pickup the trailer and had the mrs drive ahead slowly then swapped sides to the downstream end and pulled the boat back on.

Both fenders were toast and Fleet Farm happened to have a sale and 2 in stock, unfortunately not stainless but I need something on the trailer to make it 3 hrs to the first race June 4th.

Had to fab new brackets and attach the carpet boards, one side is close and just started the other.
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On a good note I seen 107 mph today after only a couple little tweaks. Still need to baseline the setup then try out that new shoe to see if it makes a difference.
 

Fonz69

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Finished up the mounts and trimmed the fenders down.
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Few coats of black paint add the carpet sides and mount them in place.
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Tomorrow is wiring lights and adding the rubber foot step.
 

Fonz69

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Little testing today with the Dragy device, think I figured out the video part but still working on the mph and ET data.
 

Fonz69

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Well made it to the Three Lakes Radar Run last weekend and had a good time. Motor was idling a little rough but still made a decent pass. Ran a 101 twice and took the 1st place in the jet boat class.
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Fonz69

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So the motor wasn’t running the best at that Radar Run and struggled to idle in the water so I figured might as well change the oil cut open the filter and do a compression test.

Needless to say #3 was not happy…
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Pulled it out and dropped it off at the builders shop to see what the problem is.
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He found a broken rocker shaft on #8 so maybe its a blessing in disguis that I didn’t run the last race.
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Lifters and cam looked good so time to dig deeper, unfortunately the deeper the dive the more $$$$ this gets…still better then a major failure.
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Hopefully soon we figure out what it was as the leak down test didn’t show anything obvious. My guess is either head gasket or rings but who knows. All I hope is I can get it sorted out in time for the local race on 8/13.
 

Fonz69

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Well nothing definitively found on the motor so back together it goes. Only thing that was noticed on the leak down test when the piston was at TDC it struggled to hold pressure. When it was down in the hole it would hold 85 psi of the 100 going in. Builder thought piston might be rocking a little up top to show this loss. Maybe a taper in the cylinder? Not really sure but I’m going to run it and hope for the best. Plans to either add a blower and e85 or better 20 degree heads and roller cam to push it up near 1200 hp. Just waiting to find the sponsor that wants their name on the side of the boat to help fund that next step 😎
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D19

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So the one thing I tried to reuse from my last go fast jet was the RacePump mechanical fuel pump and regulator I used on my blown 540 from around 2007. After not being able to get it to prime I found out the seals inside were shot and they no longer are made...well that figures so I ordered up a magnafuel pro star 500 which is good for 2000hp so I should be covered for a little while.
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All I can say is this pump definitely looks like it will do the job and seems well built, came with a filter that is removable to clean and reuse.
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New routing with the different pump arrangement but I was able to use my existing bracket to mount the new pump.
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I ran that fuel pump on my twin turbo BBC. Good pump. With only 7-10 hours of run time, I had a bearing seize and had to get drug back to the marina one day. Get yourself a few extra bearings and a seal kit to keep in your tool bag. They're not that difficult to swap out.
 

Fonz69

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Not an ideal day for racing with the rain all day but we made the best of it.
Motor kept running so I let her eat.
First race I went too fast and broke out, second race I was able to slow down and cross the finish line first but my hand held gps messed up and only said I went 70mph so I was out on a gps malfunction 😒

Still had fun working on the start boat for the first 3 classes hangin out with some other racers and got to make a little noise for the large crowd that gathered even in the rain.

New gps mount on the way for the last race of the season and a better “slow down” game plan if necessary.

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Fonz69

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Well the motor seemed to be slower and running rough so after some tests and having it back at the builder only to tell me it was fine I pulled it apart myself and found what he was hiding….😡
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Block had been previously welded between #1 and #3 also between #3 and #5. Irritating to say the least when I was told it had never been hurt.
Had a local shop heat up the block and pull #3 sleeve.
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Block is done and that means it might be awhile before I can afford to rebuild with a new block. This time I’m tooling up and plan to have the local machine shop prep the new block and I will do the rest. The list of half lies on the parts that were supposed to be in the motor keeps getting longer and this was the last straw, not many people you can trust out there anymore. 😒

Next build will probably be a 582 solid roller setup for around a 300hp hit of nitrous. 😎

Now all I need are a few sponsors 🤔
 

Fonz69

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Found a sponsor to help me chase my racing dream and a great fellow jet boater who just so happened to be stepping up his game for next season and was willing to give me a real fair price on a proven motor.

More to come soon on the new bullet install and fabrication.

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poncho

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Good for you, you have built a Bad Ass sled and it's going to be fun.👍👍
 

HST4ME

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NICE! I'm really surprised your old motor held up for that long, what a mess.
 
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