73 Mandella

[65Mandella]

Yeah, didn't want to hi jack your thread
Just finished a customer's truck ( paint ), and next week pulling boat into shop to paint it...
My motor just got out of machine shop, and pretty close it looks like to your build, minus H beam rods
Got Forged crank, pistons, balanced rotating assembly, etc....
Try to dig up some pics, but no big changes.... Yet..
Glad to see projects moving along for both of us!!!

 

[73mandella]

I consider it contributing, not hijacking. All Mandella photos and comments are welcome! If anyone has rigging photos, please post.

Yeah, didn't want to hi jack your thread
Just finished a customer's truck ( paint ), and next week pulling boat into shop to paint it...
My motor just got out of machine shop, and pretty close it looks like to your build, minus H beam rods
Got Forged crank, pistons, balanced rotating assembly, etc....
Try to dig up some pics, but no big changes.... Yet..
Glad to see projects moving along for both of us!!!

 

[65Mandella]

Busted tail for a week and a 1/2 on the Mandella. Not a showjob, but a decent base/ clear metal flake paint on her. Kept close to the original purple although my boat from Lou was factory purple from head to toe. I wanted to break it up a bit....
Going to do a quick cut and buff and get her hopefully fitted with a motor this spring/summer

 

[73mandella]

That is a great purple and the contrast with the white really works. Keep the pictures coming. What are your plans for the engine? Are you planning for a trans, velvet drive, or a direct drive (in-and-out). What type of seating are you thinking about: bench, front facing buckets, to back-to-back buckets?

 

[65Mandella]

Thanks for the compliment on the purple. I tried to get close to OG purple. Added some metal flake for the "60's gel look".
Going to go with a velvet drive for ease of skiing, docking, wife driving etc...
Seating is going to be a full bench up front and then two forward facing seats in back ( probably switch to back to back in a few years ). I have little ones so want to keep something in between them and the hot motor ya know and keep em in the boat, ha,ha....... Going with logs and thru transom exhaust. She is really just a higher hp ski boat. Not trying to make her into something she was never meant to be...

 

[73mandella]

Looks like we are headed in the same direction. I am looking for about 500hp from the 454 Chevy. I was following the information I found in an online car magazine. The article was a three-part story on how to build a 500hp Chevy called FrankenRat. I too have a velvet drive. I bought a new one when I started the project a few years ago. I also bought some OT exhaust from someone on River Dave?s Place. All I need to do is polish and ceramic coat them to make them look good and easier to clean. I really want back-to-back buckets, but my wife wants a bench seat so it will be safer for the grandkids. As for making the boat something it was not intended to be, remember that Mandella is one of the top marathon boats of the 60s and 70s, so it can handle the pounding of a 500 mile race and the power to win.

 

[65Mandella]

I agree that Lou built a great boat, and I specifically looked for one for my use.. They are bulletproof, built stronger and still have a great cool look to them. I guess I mainly meant the hull as far as a drag boat.. Over 80-90 +in a mid sixties boat is pretty dicey without a ton of work!!! These 17'4" boats struggle to hold the nose and porpoise at high speeds when you run out of motor.... I think the 20ft version was better as far as speeds, but I could be wrong..
With a velvet, thru transom exhaust and putting seats for kiddo's I've chosen a very calm but hoefully cool look, but should be a great user friendly fun boat!!! And is the perfect fit for what I want it to be...... If I can ever get her in the water, ha,ha.....

 

[73mandella]

Been picking up some more parts for the engine over the last few months. Picket up the pistons, flywheel, dampner, Edelbrock RPM Airgap intake manifold (endurashine finish), and Edelbrock Performer RPM 6155 marine aluminum heads. The block is at Teague's and they will bore, hone, and prepare the block. They also have the rotating assembly to balance and I should get it back sometime next week.

 

[65Mandella]

Me Likey those heads a lot!!!!!!!:thumbup:

 

[73mandella]

Thanks. We're going to put the block together when my son visits from Florida in a couple weeks and are only missing a few parts for a complete engine. It has been a long time, but we're getting there. We have been busy rebuilding the engine (460 Ford) and jet (Dominator) for the 77 Caribbean. We hope to get it together real soon so we finally have a running boat again.

 

[73mandella]

Finally decided to go forward with the build and took the Mandella to S & S Performance & Marine today. The plan is to have the boat rigged and two gas tanks built. Once the rigging is done, I'll have the parts polished and ceramic coated. After that, all I have to do is drop in the engine, build the seat, and complete the wiring. With any luck, I'll be ready for vacation in June.

 

[73mandella]

Does anyone know if Neovane makes an extension for the V-105-3 water pump. It is the style with three, not four, bolts to the cover.

 

[RiverDave]

Does anyone know if Neovane makes an extension for the V-105-3 water pump. It is the style with three, not four, bolts to the cover.

Not sure exactly what you need done there, but I'm sure I can machine you something if you need it.

RD

 

[Kylemenz1]

Do you need the cam drive extended? It's a pretty easy job. I had a friends dad machine an extension for me when I had my old Dragon Craft. It should take RD all of 10 minutes to bust one out for you.

 

[73mandella]

RD ? Kylemenz1 - Thanks for getting back to me.

I need a three-inch extension for the Neovane water pump because the pump hits my counter balance if bolted directly to the timing chain cover. Neovane usually has a 4-bolt pattern for the pump to the timing chain cover, but mine has a 3-bolt pattern. I just found out yesterday that the three bolt model was made specifically for Lou Brummett. I am going to call Carson Brummett in Pasadena on Tuesday to see if he has any left at his shop. If that fails, I?ll drop you a note.

 

[goin5150]

The engine is done.

Here is a clip of it on the dyno.

[video=youtube;4lF4ZhVWvnQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lF4ZhVWvnQ[/video]

 

[73mandella]

Engine was spec'ed for 500hp and it looks like we made.

 

[73mandella]

Been working on the boat for a couple months. SS Performance is completing the rigging, A-1 is working on the upholstery, and son (Steve) worked in the engine and part of the rigging.

 

[73mandella]

a little art work by Bob Thompson

 

[73mandella]

A few more pic's

 

[Wheeler]

Looks Great! :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[73mandella]

Hope to get it back tomorrow...some more pixs

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

A lot of cool stuff going on there! its great to see this so close, and the family history with this one is cool, good luck on wrapping her up. I saw Kenny on Saturday, he dropped by my house out of the blue, was in great spirits and just looked terrific, he couldn't remember the color but I am thinking it will come to him. Trying to get him on a road trip up to the farm in the next few weeks, ill let you know if we come up with the color.

 

[doubleeagle]

A lot of cool stuff going on there! its great to see this so close, and the family history with this one is cool, good luck on wrapping her up. I saw Kenny on Saturday, he dropped by my house out of the blue, was in great spirits and just looked terrific, he couldn't remember the color but I am thinking it will come to him. Trying to get him on a road trip up to the farm in the next few weeks, ill let you know if we come up with the color.[/QUOTE

Hey Spectra 20 Thanks for posting up on Kenny I have tried to get in touch with him a few times with no luck. I don't have a number except the old shop Number. If you would PM me a cell or land line for him would love to talk with my buddy and mentor again. Thanks Mike.

 

[73mandella]

I had Bob (Team Thompson Lettering - Lake Havasu) finish some work on the 73 Mandella (Krazy Kraut). He got most of the work done before I left on vacation last July, but I finally decided what I wanted for the finishing touches. This is one side.

 

[73mandella]

This is the other side.

 

[73mandella]

I haven't posted updates for quite some time. My brother-in-law (A1 Canvas in Upland, CA) is responsible for the upholstery. He designed the seats, but I provided the labor. Here's a shot of the seat frames.

 

[73mandella]

This is what she looked like when we finally launched her.

 

[73mandella]

I have to be careful what I say to my wife. I've always wanted a tunnel ram on our first boat, but never made the switch. When my son got the boat, a 1977 Caribbean jet, he rebuilt the Ford with a dual carb tunnel ram and it ran and looked great. I said that the Mandella would look fantastic with a tunnel ram. The next thing I know she had my son find one and he switched the single carburetor system for a tunnel ram with dual carbs. He also added an oil breather system.

 

[73mandella]

I forgot the new shifter for the Velvet drive

 

[Headless hula]

Not my style of boat, but that thing is a work of art. Absolutely stunning to see these pics. What a neat piece. 👍👍👍👍👍

 

[73mandella]

Not my style of boat, but that thing is a work of art. Absolutely stunning to see these pics. What a neat piece. 

Thank you; it was a family project and it's now time to enjoy it.

 

[65Mandella]

Been along time since I checked in on the site, but glad i did.
Boat looks great!!!! Congrats!!