1980 Ski Nautique Total Restoration

Watauga wrote:    Been a while, so I had to reacquaint myself with using a clean out tap chucked up in a cordless drill to clean up all the bolt holes. Saved me a lot of time.

Be REAL careful using "clean out taps". The H limits on them don't always match the originals.

+1...... cleanout taps will get you into trouble real fast.

forvicjr wrote: +1...... cleanout taps will get you into trouble real fast.

Especially the junk Chinese ones from Harbor Freight!! I'd rather buy crapsman than Harbor and that would be a last resort.

Watauga wrote: Thanks, All, for the good advise. Nothing worse than snapping a tap off below surface in a casting.

Snapping a tap off can be done with any type of tap! I think we all have done it. These are handy and available in 2,3 and 4 flute.

The seals are for the later Chevy engines. PCM uses the same thermostats in all Ford applications as the newer 5.7. Only differences are one has a bypass plug and the ratings for temperature.

Got the exhaust manifolds and risers installed last evening. Pretty satisfied with way it went. When I removed the risers way back when, I snapped about half of the bolts off in the manifolds. With much trouble I got the remnants out of all except one, which I had to drill all the way out and put a Helli-Coil in. Wish I had invented those. I torqued the manifold bolts to 18, but the risers I torqued to simply "goodandtight", since it seems that it would be overly troublesome to invent some way to accurately torque them. Also got the 2 new sending units installed, and the Fram particulate filter reinstalled on the on the cradle.



I spoke with Holley Carburetors tech department today to obtain their recommendation relative to which rebuild kit to order. Seems like there is about a gazillion options. They recommended the 703-33. Although the online pictures of the kit do not show the blue reusable gaskets for the bowls and metering block, they assured me they were included. The representative also said the kit includes the 6.5 power valve, so all is good. Got that ordered.

I got the distributor gutted and prepped for the PerTronix 91581 Ignitor II with the adaptive dwell and the 45111 Flame Thrower II coil. Hoping for the best with this, if I am unhappy I can throw it in the lake and go back to original. I see this as an experiment; I never had any trouble with points that I couldn't figure out quickly.

Thinking about ordering a set of Taylor plug wires. Any experience, good or bad, with them?

Wautaga - Looking great!   FYI, most people using Pertronix have had bad experiences with it.

Arklie,
I'd leave the riser bolts as is. I'd have to say there aren't many who will go as far as calculating and torquing them.

The only thing I have against the Helicoil insert is the need to buy their special tap which is at least 4 times the cost of normal taps. Threaded inserts are all over and not an "off brand". My supply of choice is McMaster. They are available in a multitude of sizes and designs. The big plus is they thread into a standard tapped hole.

threaded inserts at McMaster

Watauga wrote: I am unsure about chucking the ballast resistor. I understand that it is no longer necessary with the new units, although you can still use it if you wish. We shall see.

The installation instructions should give you a value in voltage or resistance if the ballast resistor is needed. All you need is a VOM.

Kristof wrote: Watauga wrote: and the Fram particulate filter reinstalled on the on the cradle. Pete, how could you have missed this??

Kristof,
He's got a PCM oil filter pictured. The Fram mentioned is the fuel water separator. There is an alternate but I haven't heard anything bad about the Frams.

SNobsessed wrote:    FYI, most people using Pertronix have had bad experiences with it.

I must be an exception to the rule then as I have had the Petronix EI in for about 8 years and haven't had any problems with it. Coils yes....went thru 2 coils after the swap over when I went to the flame thrower coil 5 years ago. Never had a problem since then..... Knock Knock!   

8122pbrainard wrote: Morfoot wrote: I must be an exception As always!!

Yeah, well...there's always that one guy!

Zach,
I feel you are very handy so I'd suggest pulling the shaft out yourself. The bushings may just be gummed up from old oil and I doubt it but the other problem may be a bent shaft. With the shaft out, you can also do some measuring of the bushings and shaft bearing surfaces. Normal clearances are .001" per inch of shaft diameter.

Morfoot wrote: SNobsessed wrote:    FYI, most people using Pertronix have had bad experiences with it. I must be an exception to the rule then as I have had the Petronix EI in for about 8 years and haven't had any problems with it. Coils yes....went thru 2 coils after the swap over when I went to the flame thrower coil 5 years ago. Never had a problem since then..... Knock Knock!

Haven't you seen Pertronix's ad? Adam tested TimBob approved!