'81 Hondo runner bottom "Flat Loose"

[Vamodsquad]

I managed to sneak out to the garage a few times over the weekend. Got my Nicson throttle pedal mounted. It had a Stellings in it that had a welded toe strap that I didn't care for. Same design but the mounting holes were not the same. Also the curves don't match up exactly and the bracket has one bolt on both ends, I may make a new one and make it taller to run 2 bolts at each end. Now that I type that, I'm not sure I'll mess with it. I'd rather not drill more holes in the stringer's.
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I also brought out my Moon tank. I originally laid the cast mounts on the rails and it looked like I could use one set of holes to mount the tank and tie in the strut braces mounts. Unfortunately once I grabbed that tank and slid the mounts over it it's too narrow to catch the rails. I have some brackets that fit this tank from my other boat and they will raise the tank up probably 6 inches. I've been looking for the box that I know they are in but I haven't found it. I think I have some angle that crossed the stringer's from the other boat too, if not, I'm thinking that's the direction I'll go.
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I could also probably just mount it to the strut braces inside of the rails? Definitely have options moving forward

Where'd you get the Hondo banner ? One of those would look good in my garage !

 

[warpt71]

Where'd you get the Hondo banner ? One of those would look good in my garage !

BANNERS | HOT BOAT GEAR

www.hotboatgear.com

 

[Vamodsquad]

BANNERS | HOT BOAT GEAR

www.hotboatgear.com

Thank you !

 

[warpt71]

Thank you !

Im waiting to order the neon light next

 

[warpt71]

@Clank123 how would you, or how would they, have mounted this tank back in the day other than in the passenger seat area.

Im going to the drags this weekend with out my kids so Ill be looking for inspiration and taking pics.

 

[Clank123]

@Clank123 how would you, or how would they, have mounted this tank back in the day other than in the passenger seat area.

Im going to the drags this weekend with out my kids so I’ll be looking for inspiration and taking pics.

Not totally sure what your plan is but I’d mount the battery inside the stringer behind the drivers seat and use a piece of channel to mount the tank to the rails behind the engine.
Probably split the difference in height between the 2 pictures you posted if that makes sense.
Jimmy did it this way on the Porky Pig.
Textbook old school.

 

[J DUNN]

Yes. Solid drive line and I have the original from this boat. That motor will go into this one but it's mounts are from my first boat and I will keep them complete with it. This boat will get all new motor mounts, I have a Stellings flywheel cover that should work nicely. Setting up the solid drive line is going to be a pretty big challenge for me but I'm not afraid to ask for help

The drive line on my Mandella is also solid and has been in the boat since rigging in early 80's. Mine is driven off the snout of the motor which I believe was for benefits of prop rotation for circle racing. Looks like yours is not that way but I agree with you on the drive line alignment, wizardry to me.

 

[warpt71]

Not totally sure what your plan is but I’d mount the battery inside the stringer behind the drivers seat and use a piece of channel to mount the tank to the rails behind the engine.
Probably split the difference in height between the 2 pictures you posted if that makes sense.
Jimmy did it this way on the Porky Pig.
Textbook old school.

View attachment 1222424

Thats about what I had in mind, and how my tank was mounted in my first boat. The tank in PP looks wider than mine. I think I could use some channel and offset it to come further inside the rails. Keep the ideas coming, I appreciate them! Ill see if I have good pics of the original mounting tonight at home.

 

[warpt71]

This is how my first boat was rigged and I have all these pieces still to use. It's something to consider at this point. I think I might be able to come up with something better than angle crossing the rails to build off of though. The old forklift battery box was right there so the angle had somewhere to blend in.

You can see the channel that was used to raise the tank and mont to the angle that was bolted to the rails. That whole fi system seemed really complicated too, the boat had 3 fuel pumps!

It's not pictured but I have a Hilborn canister fuel filter for the bottom of the tank too

Now that I went looking for these pics, I don't know that I can buy replacement screens anymore. Holley has bought out Hilborn and there's not much available, that's a bummer.

 

[Vamodsquad]

BANNERS | HOT BOAT GEAR

www.hotboatgear.com

You bought the last one !

 

[warpt71]

You bought the last one !

I've had mine a couple of years. I actually bought it off of FB before that site was active I think?

 

[warpt71]

I went to the boat drags this weekend and was really looking at the rigging of the boats. Awesome weather and a fair amount of boats to watch.

I had some of my own ideas that I think I still want to explore. I like the idea of making brackets that hold the tank and have bends to reach out to the stringer's. I want to run the original MOON brackets though. I took today and really went through the cabinets in the garage searching for the rest of my tank bracket parts. I was successful so I bolted up what I have to get more ideas. I don't like the small angle that crossed the stringer rail. Placement wise, if the tank can land right there over the strut braces I'll use one set of holes to bolt the tank brackets to the rails and then brackets underneath to catch the strut braces. If I move this closer to the transom I may be back to the drawing board but I'm thinking still.

I also found my Hilborn fuel filter. I don't think I'll be able to use it unless the screens are available somewhere? Hilborn got bought by Holley and they don't appear to do MFI stuff anymore. Beyond that, there are probably better filters out there now.

I think it's a really cool vintage piece. I may run it empty just for the look or maybe there's a way to put a modern filter element in there?

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

Get rid of the angle and incorporate the tank mount with the strut brace mounts. You still have to attach the strut brace to the stringers and or rails or both.

 

[warpt71]

Get rid of the angle and incorporate the tank mount with the strut brace mounts. You still have to attach the strut brace to the stringers and or rails or both.

My thoughts exactly. I have some more angle and I want to say its 3x5 t-6 and I think I can make one bracket for the braces to the rails, leave it oversized so that the tank risers can catch it. Maybe Ill sketch what Im thinking, Ive got time today.

 

[coolchange]

2 pieces of that 4” channel that run across from stringer to stringer. Use as a line bulkhead also. Cut away all material that has no function.

 

[warpt71]

2 pieces of that 4” channel that run across from stringer to stringer. Use as a line bulkhead also. Cut away all material that has no function.

the strut braces could be used for line bulkheads too, or add pass through holes. Im going to make new strut brace plates too, these dont touch the new rails

 

[warpt71]

Make 4 of these to tie everything together. Scale is pretty close, I might end up another inch wider. Guess I need to cut some material up lol

 

[warpt71]

I had some time this week and I emailed Kinsler Fuel Injection to pick their brain about my old filter. I was shocked to find out that they have the screens still available and the washers too!!!! Talking about Art Anderson got me thinking and he always said the the guys at Kinsler were first class so I gave it a shot. The filter takes 10 screens and 16 washers. Ill be ordering and making plans to run this thing. No real progress this week, I've been busy as hell

 

[warpt71]

How do you guys feel about drivers position? I feel like the steering wheel is in my knees. Is there a point when you can be too far back and not have enough leverage or control of the down pedal? Would sitting up higher help? I'm only 6' but long arms and legs. This position didn't feel the most comfortable but I don't think it's going to be comfortable. Maybe I'm overthinking

 

[Vamodsquad]

How do you guys feel about drivers position? I feel like the steering wheel is in my knees. Is there a point when you can be too far back and not have enough leverage or control of the down pedal? Would sitting up higher help? I'm only 6' but long arms and legs. This position didn't feel the most comfortable but I don't think it's going to be comfortable. Maybe I'm overthinking
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I have a Hondo. When I first got it, I knew it didn't fit me good. I'm 6'2" and my knees were up in my elbows. I bought a new set of seat brackets, mocked them up how I wanted them, and was able to move the seat back about 4 inches, and I still used the same holes in the stringers. It's a whole lot more comfortable now.

 

[warpt71]

I have a Hondo. When I first got it, I knew it didn't fit me good. I'm 6'2" and my knees were up in my elbows. I bought a new set of seat brackets, mocked them up how I wanted them, and was able to move the seat back about 4 inches, and I still used the same holes in the stringers. It's a whole lot more comfortable now.

V-drive bracing will limit how much movement I can get backwards. It's funny, my straight deck Hondo felt good right where it was and I never messed with it. This t-deck is throwing me off. If you have some pics I'd love to see some more ideas

 

[Vamodsquad]

V-drive bracing will limit how much movement I can get backwards. It's funny, my straight deck Hondo felt good right where it was and I never messed with it. This t-deck is throwing me off. If you have some pics I'd love to see some more ideas

I see what you mean now. My angled braces/bracket goes back farther than yours. That is a tight spot. This is an old picture before I changed anything.

 

[westair]

My seats are about the same position as yours but I'm 6'4" ....lol ... not sure what I'm going to do yet. Going to run it for a little and get more of a feel for it, but probably going to

have to move the pedals

 

[warpt71]

My seats are about the same position as yours but I'm 6'4" ....lol ... not sure what I'm going to do yet. Going to run it for a little and get more of a feel for it, but probably going to View attachment 1231160 have to move the pedals

Throttle is easy enough to move, plate pedals, not as easy. Careful getting your feet under the dash, that's the whole reason they made t decks.

I'd love to see more pics of your Hondo

 

[oldschool]

Might need a longer steering post and move the seat back, also may have to change the v drive bracing.

 

[warpt71]

Might need a longer steering post and move the seat back, also may have to change the v drive bracing.

Steering post is 10" + the wheel dish and the wheel is 10" above the stringer. I think new seat brackets are in order for mine. I may pull the brackets out of the old Hondo and see how they fit. At least the holes for the seats line up. Definitely want to get rid of the recline and tip it forward for sure

 

[westair]

Throttle is easy enough to move, plate pedals, not as easy. Careful getting your feet under the dash, that's the whole reason they made t decks.

I'd love to see more pics of your Hondo

Here's a couple more .... still have a few things I'm working on, like the seats ... those are just temporary. Just added the splash guard, didn't want to but i'm going to be taking out on havasu for the first time in the water probably this week .... so I thought ok ....lol

 

[warpt71]

Here's a couple more .... still have a few things I'm working on, like the seats ... those are just temporary. Just added the splash guard, didn't want to but i'm going to be taking out on havasu for the first time in the water probably this week .... so I thought ok ....lol View attachment 1231514 View attachment 1231515 View attachment 1231516

Looks like you have a really nice sprint! Enjoy the first outing, if I can be of help let me know, Im right in the middle of town.

 

[warpt71]

I was out in the garage doing laundry and I noticed that my golf cart had a flat tire. That said flat tire was causing the cart to rest on my Hondo. I took my boys out to the garage to help me get things straightened up. Sent the oldest under the boat to get to the flat tire with the air hose. Once aired up we had plenty of clearance and rolled the cart out of the garage. I also pulled out the extra stringer rail material, it's been under the trailer and blocked by the cart, that came with the boat, it's 3X5 and I figured I'd cut it up to make other brackets.

With plenty of room to walk around now, I started looking at the seat brackets. I'd already pulled the drivers bracket out and wasn't excited about trying to modify it. I went to pull the passenger and found that the bolts went in from the inside and wouldn't come out without pulling the v-drive braces. I gave my oldest the task of pulling all the hardware for the braces out, removing the braces and then putting the hardware back so we didn't lose anything. He did really good, even kept the washers in order.

Meanwhile, my youngest son is nosing around and asks what all the holes around the t-deck are for. I tell him a windshield goes there and then point to it in the corner of the garage and I can tell he doesn't quite get it. I ask him how many holes there are, he comes up with 9. Now I'm digging through a box of screws looking for 9 that match. Looks like I'm installing the windshield!

Hopefully they enjoyed themselves and maybe learned something. I'd really like to be able to give them a ride this fall

I took some measurements while we were wrenching and I have about 9" on the stringer between all the v-drive bracing. I looked at that 3X5 T-6 and started measuring between all the random holes and I'm pretty sure I can get 4 9" sections out of it and make new brackets.

I ordered a motor plate that should be here tomorrow too. I'm not sure I'll try setting the motor in by myself this week but ya never know! I need to pick up some jigsaw blades so that I'm ready to start trimming.

It's not big progress, but it's progress none the less. If you're still following along, thanks

 

[warpt71]

A couple new pics of my old boat surfaced today. Not bad for a little motivation

 

[warpt71]

Not anything huge to report, but I had my chop saw out for another project and decided to also do something for the Hondo. I had bought a metal blade with the intent of being able to easily cut my angle aluminum for some seat brackets and whatnot. The boat came with two sections of 3X5 angle and I had done some measuring months ago and saw that I could get 4 equal sections out of the two pieces and all the holes that were drilled already.

I have never cut metal with a chop saw that typically would be used for wood. I gotta say, it was easy as could be! I successfully made 4 even pieces that I will eventually drill and mount for my seats.

I clamped them into the general area that the old brackets were and I'm liking where this is headed.

I have it in with the 3" side to the stringer. I'm pretty sure I could reverse it and get some more height out of this if I want as well. Currently these mounts will have about the same base surface as the original brackets did.

I really need to make plans and get some help with the motor mounts. I have a couple offers that I need to take advantage of. Weather is finally really good for getting things done. I'm thinking I should get my new tires mounted next weekend and have everything roadworthy.

 

[warpt71]

Well, one down!

I have the other side all marked up to drill, I'll probably do that tonight. I ended up making these brackets level with the stringers and motor rails. If I feel that I need some forward angle to the driver's seat I can make another set of brackets. I'm trying not to add a bunch of holes to this thing. I did have to drill the stringer for that front bolt. I've never had good luck drilling straight while leaning over the side of the boat but I nailed it today. I had the brackets pre drilled and clamped into place and my drill bit came through both brackets clean.

I'm by no means a fabricator, but I'm having fun with some basic tools. I'll keep plugging away and eventually get to drive this thing.

 

[warpt71]

Im putting this here because after looking at my pics on the computer vs. the phone I thought Id see if those allen bolt covers were still available, turns out they are! Im not sure I really want to go all out and buy new stuff but I have a bunch from the original install and I think its period correct.

https://www.killerbolts.com/shop/cup-washers/cup-washers/

Anyways, Ill forget where I found them if I dont post it somewhere lol

 

[warpt71]

Seats are mounted.

I had all the pedals out too and took some time to clean off all the over spray. I also opened up the cav pedals box and I'm glad I did. The gears inside would have bound up from all the rust and dried up grease.

I think the up pedal got put back in one tooth off so I may pull that back apart and try again but everything is in and functional so far.

Thanks for following along

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I just saw this thread....There were two Flat Loose 118's. Craig crashed one and I'm pretty sure it was a total loss. I could have swore the first one had all the good paint job and the second one was plain black, but I could be wrong. He may have just had the paint added to the black gel later. Craig was a friend of my dad's who went to the river at Water Wheel above Blythe and lived in the Escondido area. I know he was racing a very competitive Nova the last I heard. I live in Escondido and was hoping to run into him one of these days. I'll try and make a couple calls and see if I can get any info.

 

[warpt71]

I just saw this thread....There were two Flat Loose 118's. Craig crashed one and I'm pretty sure it was a total loss. I could have swore the first one had all the good paint job and the second one was plain black, but I could be wrong. He may have just had the paint added to the black gel later. Craig was a friend of my dad's who went to the river at Water Wheel above Blythe and lived in the Escondido area. I know he was racing a very competitive Nova the last I heard. I live in Escondido and was hoping to run into him one of these days. I'll try and make a couple calls and see if I can get any info.

Most of that information is correct. The Hondo that I own was painted as pictured here. The next boat was a Cole TR3 or 4, definitely a raised deck boat and that is the boat that he crashed. It was plain black. I have pictures of the crash, it was at Chowchilla if I remember correctly. There was a 3rd boat built too, and I have heard that Craig made a couple of laps in it and it never felt good so he parted ways and went car racing.

So it appears that I have the first boat, the 2nd was crashed and I have talked to a guy that owned the 3rd. I have never made contact w/Craig but would love to get the history from his point of view.

I did talk to the original painter and got a few pics from him. As soon as it cools off I'm hoping to get the motor mounted and maybe ready for water this fall. Please reach out if you track him down

 

[warpt71]

Well, Flat Loose got some sunshine today and then parked back into the garage. I pushed it out into the back yard sometime earlier this year or last year to make room to fix the motor in my jet boat. Jet boat is done and cooler weather is coming so I cleaned out the garage and made the boat fit inside again. Feel free to give me shit for not working on it more often!

I may make a few brackets for the strut braces and tank mounts before tackling the motor plates but the motor plates are the next big hurdle for me.

For now, it's inside and I stand a chance of actually working on it a little bit. Wish me luck if you're still following along

 

[warpt71]