Need help / 1955 Chris Craft project

[Nord]

this was my Dad’s Dad’s boat. Needs a lot of TLC. Gas tank is removed but is full of gunk. We were told that it can be boiled or chemical treated to clean our. Anyone know if this?

 

[HST4ME]

Very cool! Most gas tank repair facilities can clean it for you.

 

[Shrub Lurker]

or radiator shop

 

[monkeyswrench]

Mattson's Radiator in Stanton used to do ours, but didn't see where you were. I'd heard it was getting tougher though with EPA/CARB, so don't know if they're still doing it. Is that a galvanized steel tank? Looks comparable too a Rootlieb "speedster" tank. They are a sheet metal company up in Turlock. May be an option if needed.

Neat boat, looks like a fun project!

 

[HNL2LHC]

That is so cool to have a boat that has been in the family that long. Hope it goes well!!!

 

[redone76]

Associated Radiator in Covina can handle it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Backlash]

Why not get a new tank from Imco and avoid any fuel-related problems down the road?

 

[Shlbyntro]

In a 1955 Chris craft , it's all about originality. I say keep the tank if salvageable. Long live the MEL motors!

 

[rrrr]

These guys reconditioned a couple of tanks for an acquaintance. He was really pleased with the service and price.


https://orozcosautoservice.com/gas-tank-repair/

 

[Backlash]

I pulled the tank on my Formula and it seemed to be in good condition......until I flipped it upside down. There were pinholes near most of the corners that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. You could always pull the OG tank, and save it if there is an inherent value in it.

 

[Nord]

Thanks guys. We will make some calls tomorrow. The tank is OG to the boat so we wanted to take that route. Trying to figure out what we want to our $$ wise into the boat. Motor needs to be pulled, drained and possible new pan. I can’t seem to find one with a windshield like this one online. Wondering if people swapped them or something.

 

[Taboma]

As a kid, dad cycled through many Chris Crafts, friends had many more. First thing that struck me odd when I saw your post was the windshield.
The windshield is more similar to what was seen on the larger Sportsman series, yet the smooth deck (Lack of joint caulking stripes) leads me to think this is a plywood Cavalier. The 2nd thing I noticed was the hump for the down draft carbs, like the popular 131 hp KFL with triple DD. Most in the mid- 50's had the updraft, although Cobras were using the triple DD 131's.
So help a curious lover of old Chris's out here --- whatcha got there ?

 

[Tank]

Hey Nord, a good friend of mine is well versed in 50’s Chris crafts and the like. He’s refurbished from stringers up a couple very nice wood boats. If you have any questions I’m sure he’d be happy to talk to you. Let me know and I can have him call you if you need.

Tank

Oh, and sweet boat!!

 

[footer]

I've been helping a buddy get a '54 utility back on the water up here in Wisconsin, and a local expert told him to just replace his tank. The utility models were made in relatively high numbers, so originality isn't a big deal. Being safe and seaworthy is more important than original. His windshield also isn't what seems to be original, and the same local expert said it was because the local Chris Craft dealer would frequently change the boats at the customer's request.

This is me skiing behind the old girl last summer with skis, rope, and vest all from the early 1960's.

 

[Nord]

Here is a pic of the motor If anyone can ID. Still trying to figure out what model this is but leaning to Cavalier Plywood. Someone told my the engine looked like Hercules 131 KBL (three downdraft carbs).

What say the experts ?

 

[Nord]

Couple more.

 

[Taboma]

Here is a pic of the motor If anyone can ID. Still trying to figure out what model this is but leaning to Cavalier Plywood. Someone told my the engine looked like Hercules 131 KBL (three downdraft carbs).

What say the experts ?

Chris Craft Marine, Hercules KBL 131 HP triple down draft carbs. Dad had one with that engine, the later 131's we had were KFL series with two updraft and no hatch hump.

Here's some fun stuff for ya ----

http://woodie.ppworks.com/references/docs/SpecsAndTolerances.pdf

This one isn't the KBL, but other K motors, again interesting reading

http://woodie.ppworks.com/references/docs/OperatorsManual.pdf

These engines are worth a LOT !!!

https://mccallboatworks.com/chris-craft-hercules-kbl-6-cyl-tri-carburetor-1956/

 

[Nord]

Awesome info!
Motor hasn’t been ran since 1992. What is protocol on getting it started?

 

[Shlbyntro]

Awesome info!
Motor hasn’t been ran since 1992. What is protocol on getting it started?

Hot battery, Fresh fuel, fuel pump if you can find one (or a rebuild kit for it), rebuild the carb, flush or replace the fuel lines, full tune up with wires and points, all new fluids, and impeller at a minimum. Use high zinc oil such as valvoline VR1. Change oil again after 5 operating hours; you're likely going to be freeing up some sludge in that guy when you do get it fired up.
This is all assuming good compression on the engine of course

This is also a boat your going to want to soak regularly with a garden hose for a couple weeks before splashing as well to help the wood swell back up and close the holes. A Billy bad ass bilge pump or 2 is not a bad idea either.

I had a hand in getting a 57 Chris craft going again a couple years ago so im a little bit familiar.

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

As far as the wood windscreen, it looks like a Lyman Boat setup, without the wood side supports.

 

[Nord]

As far as the wood windscreen, it looks like a Lyman Boat setup, without the wood side supports.

The look is similar with our the side windows. I don’t think they would put a Lyman windshield on a Chris Craft?

 

[Taboma]

Awesome info!
Motor hasn’t been ran since 1992. What is protocol on getting it started?

Since shlbynitro covered so much, I'll just add a few things I can recall from a bit more than 50 years ago, when daddy-o moved on to fiberglass --- Whew, nuff sanding in my childhood to last a lifetime
I absolutely love looking at these beautiful creations, just seeing the pictures floods me with memories of sight, smell and sound.
If I were to ever own one, I'd just sit in it and drink beer --- maybe roll it out of the garage on sunny days, then sit in it and drink beer, LOL

I have no idea and you may not either, what's been done over the years to this engine in terms of upgrades or modernization.

Each and every one of these dad purchased, got taken home from Lake Arrowhead and had a top end job done on it. These Hercules had soft valve seats, so heads resurfaced, valve job and most of all, hardened valve seats installed.
I even still had all the tools, but thanks to the wildfire they're nothing but memory.
Of course in the 50's and early 60's when we owned them, we still had leaded fuel which helped to cushion the valves. Not even sure if you can find TEL additives, but you're going to want to find out if this engine's been hardened for modern fuel. Replacing the fuel lines to modern "Ethanol" specs would be prudent. (Mandatory really).

Those Chris Craft all came with a self-bailing system. It consisted of a reverse clam shell on the bottom that set up a suction as the boat ran. Against the inside of the transom was a section of copper tubing configured in a tight vertical "U" shape, at the very tip top is a tiny hole ---- very important, that tiny hole must be kept open or that self bailing bilge system can reverse into a siphon the lake INTO your bilge system.

One reason for this self-bailing system was that the old propeller shaft logs were intended to drip a bit while running as a way of lubing the shaft. We'd usually tighten them until they just barely stopped dripping while stationary, then watch that they'd drip a bit underway. Of course, these might have been replaced with modern drip-less ?

Be careful running these on a hose --- again, provisions may have been made for this, but if not, or even if so, run the water pump suction hose into a 5 gal bucket in the boat, then a hose adjusted to just refill the bucket --- OR YOU WILL HYDRAULIC the engine --- those head gaskets won't hold shit for pressure

During the winter we kept ours garaged. Several weeks prior to our planned trip back up to Arrowhead for the seasonal launching, we'd place layers of old carpet under the garaged boat. We'd keep the carpet wet, the high humidity would start the process of re-swelling the planks.
We'd only put water into the bilge a week or two prior to launch, because any bare wood exposed to long to FRESH water is subject to dry-rot.
The bottom would still leak after launching, so we'd sling it with ropes --- we didn't have the luxury of having power at the dock for a charger --- -and solar panels hadn't been invented yet Usually after a week, no more leaking and other than the shaft log drip, which we'd mop up after the weekend, we'd have a dry bilge.

One other thing to be very careful about --- Some Chris Craft had a dash mounted pull-out cable throttle --- some had a cute little handle mounted in the center of the steering wheel. If you have the wheel mounted throttle, be careful if you're wearing a cuffed shirt or jacket, you can snag that throttle as you turn the wheel -- if this happens while docking, a busted plank might be in your future ---- of all people, just had to happen with dear Mom during our first weekend back in the water
Boat was pulled, went home so we could replace the plank, quite the project. Mom never drove the boat ever again

Sorry to ramble on, just trying to recall anything that might be useful.

Please share some info on what hull, length etc.
Is it Plywood as the deck appears ? If so, there's no real need or worries about hull pre-soaking, that was the convenience of the Cavalier line.
Our 17' Cavalier was the easiest of any Chris Craft we owned. But, it wasn't as heavy and the ride quality suffered a bit.

 

[cpdad93]

Chris Craft Marine, Hercules KBL 131 HP triple down draft carbs. Dad had one with that engine, the later 131's we had were KFL series with two updraft and no hatch hump.

Here's some fun stuff for ya ----

http://woodie.ppworks.com/references/docs/SpecsAndTolerances.pdf

This one isn't the KBL, but other K motors, again interesting reading

http://woodie.ppworks.com/references/docs/OperatorsManual.pdf

These engines are worth a LOT !!!

https://mccallboatworks.com/chris-craft-hercules-kbl-6-cyl-tri-carburetor-1956/

Mariners Museum...For I think $60, from the ID on the motor, they will give you the whole build sheet, tell you who first purchased it etc....It's kinf of cool. We have a whole book on ours..It even tells you the original key number and how many life jackets were sold with it.

 

[Taboma]

Mariners Museum...For I think $60, from the ID on the motor, they will give you the whole build sheet, tell you who first purchased it etc....It's kinf of cool. We have a whole book on ours..It even tells you the original key number and how many life jackets were sold with it.

If the boat in your avatar is yours, well you've got quite the little project going on Whattcha got ?

Spanning the 50's till the mid-60's we had a FEW --- 1949 17' Chris Runabout with the same KBL-131 as Nord. 1950 17' Chris Utility, 1953 19' Chris racing runabout with KFL-131, later converted to a 1955 331 Hemi for ski racing. 1955 21' Chris Cobra, repowered with a 354 Hemi for ski racing (Torque caused two roll-over accidents in turns while racing). 1957 17' Chris Craft Cavalier, 1957 18' Mercury Mustang (Bill Nollenberger boats, Piru Ca. / not Mercury Marine) with a Greymarine Fireball (Packard 327 CI). Flatter bottom, much faster than the Chris Crafts, but sacrificed ride quality when it got lumpy. Finally, my first boat at 16 YO --- a 1956 16' Mercury Sabre with a 6 Cyl Greymarine.

My two favorites were the 19' Racing Chris --- although ridding in the rear seat you needed scuba Actually saw one of these about a month ago on Lake Havasu
My all time favorite was the 21' Cobra, although a poor all around family boat with only seating for 3 up front. Had a custom car type spring seat to absorb the lumps --- as a light weight kid I swear sometimes my ass would bounce higher than the gunnels Barrel rolled it on two occasions negotiating left hand turns during a ski race. Tried to duplicate it after recovery, never could, twice was enough, dad sold it.

That ended the wooden boat era for our family, fiberglass baby, LOL I'd saved my dad's collection of brass & chrome screws, mahogany plugs, some clam shells, a prop, various tools, for no reason -- but all was lost including all the pics and 8mm film of 50's Arrowhead, Catalina Ski races, Mead ski Races, all that history erased in an hour.
Even had 8mm film of dad teaching Johnny Carson how to water ski behind the racing Chris --- gone.

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

Awesome Boat! good luck with her.

 

[cpdad93]

If the boat in your avatar is yours, well you've got quite the little project going on Whattcha got ?

Spanning the 50's till the mid-60's we had a FEW --- 1949 17' Chris Runabout with the same KBL-131 as Nord. 1950 17' Chris Utility, 1953 19' Chris racing runabout with KFL-131, later converted to a 1955 331 Hemi for ski racing. 1955 21' Chris Cobra, repowered with a 354 Hemi for ski racing (Torque caused two roll-over accidents in turns while racing). 1957 17' Chris Craft Cavalier, 1957 18' Mercury Mustang (Bill Nollenberger boats, Piru Ca. / not Mercury Marine) with a Greymarine Fireball (Packard 327 CI). Flatter bottom, much faster than the Chris Crafts, but sacrificed ride quality when it got lumpy. Finally, my first boat at 16 YO --- a 1956 16' Mercury Sabre with a 6 Cyl Greymarine.

My two favorites were the 19' Racing Chris --- although ridding in the rear seat you needed scuba Actually saw one of these about a month ago on Lake Havasu
My all time favorite was the 21' Cobra, although a poor all around family boat with only seating for 3 up front. Had a custom car type spring seat to absorb the lumps --- as a light weight kid I swear sometimes my ass would bounce higher than the gunnels Barrel rolled it on two occasions negotiating left hand turns during a ski race. Tried to duplicate it after recovery, never could, twice was enough, dad sold it.

That ended the wooden boat era for our family, fiberglass baby, LOL I'd saved my dad's collection of brass & chrome screws, mahogany plugs, some clam shells, a prop, various tools, for no reason -- but all was lost including all the pics and 8mm film of 50's Arrowhead, Catalina Ski races, Mead ski Races, all that history erased in an hour.
Even had 8mm film of dad teaching Johnny Carson how to water ski behind the racing Chris --- gone.

it’s a 59 17’ sport with the 283. 100 percent of all original parts there, except the engine cover, including the air horn that you blow by pumping a little tire pump. No rot. Still has the vinyl floors in it.

 

[boatpi]

Some of these had a 392 HEMI, starting n 55-56.

 

[Taboma]

Some of these had a 392 HEMI, starting n 55-56.

Didn't think the 392 came out till 57' ?
You could be right, hell, I was child when my dad was enjoying his racing days. By the time I got old enough to participate on the rope or seat, the ole fart claimed his back hurt, LOL
When I sqawked about getting a flat bottom --- same thing, his back hurt
I got to ski behind em and sand em ---- well first I sanded and when I complained he'd ask that same damned question --- Do you want to ski next summer ? So I just kept sanding and sanding

Got out of the Army and bought my first own flatty --- blew a hole in a piston and discovered my big bad Chrysler Hemi was a friggin Desoto
That was the last Chrysler --- errrr Desoto I ever owned LOL

 

[Taboma]

it’s a 59 17’ sport with the 283. 100 percent of all original parts there, except the engine cover, including the air horn that you blow by pumping a little tire pump. No rot. Still has the vinyl floors in it.

Sweet, the original recreational water ski boat, especially with the 283, way cool !! You're not using that in the desert are you ?

 

[jetboatperformance]

this was my Dad’s Dad’s boat. Needs a lot of TLC. Gas tank is removed but is full of gunk. We were told that it can be boiled or chemical treated to clean our. Anyone know if this?

Once drained and properly disposed of (fuel) we would partialy fill with acetone or laquer thinner , then put in a handfull or two of steel nuts , put it then into a pickup truck bed (secure it) then drive around for a few days , they come clean , lastly we pressue wash and dry... suspect the engine is a Hercules marine flat head

 

[cpdad93]

Once drained and properly disposed of (fuel) we would partialy fill with acetone or laquer thinner , then put in a handfull or two of steel nuts , put it then into a pickup truck bed (secure it) then drive around for a few days , they come clean , lastly we pressue wash and dry... suspect the engine is a Hercules marine flat head

there was someone in our area that did it. Not sure if they are still around...they would put some type of sealer on the inside after they cleaned it.

 

[cpdad93]

Sweet, the original recreational water ski boat, especially with the 283, way cool !! You're not using that in the desert are you ?

not using it at all yet. My guess is about 300 hours to bring her back. Hopefully ready for the Sandpoint and McCall wooden boat show next year.

 

[rrrr]

The 392 debuted in 1957.

Pretty cool story, Taboma.

 

[Ouderkirk]

Hot battery, Fresh fuel, fuel pump if you can find one (or a rebuild kit for it), rebuild the carb, flush or replace the fuel lines, full tune up with wires and points, all new fluids, and impeller at a minimum. Use high zinc oil such as valvoline VR1. Change oil again after 5 operating hours; you're likely going to be freeing up some sludge in that guy when you do get it fired up.
This is all assuming good compression on the engine of course

This is also a boat your going to want to soak regularly with a garden hose for a couple weeks before splashing as well to help the wood swell back up and close the holes. A Billy bad ass bilge pump or 2 is not a bad idea either.

I had a hand in getting a 57 Chris craft going again a couple years ago so im a little bit familiar.

You're spot on with your advice.

I rebuilt a 1941 16' Chris Craft 20 years ago. It was a five year project. A friend of my father's guided me through it. He was an avid rebuilder of mahogany boats.

It was recommended to use distilled water to avoid the chlorine in tap water.

Mine was a 4 cylinder and it was a fun little runabout. Not too fast, but it was an enjoyable cruiser at about 15mph. That was the sweet spot for it. Would cut waves like butter.

 

[spectras only]

My friend has a 392 Hemi in his 1923 Dodge Watercar.
Rare boat, originally a 4 cyl boat.
Hemi baby, awsome sound

 

[spectras only]

I do like the hybrids my friend builds. Vacuum bagged fiberglass hulls with African mahogany topsides.
This was the first 25 Adriatic from 2003

Latest from Tony,just finished a few days ago.

 

[Nord]

Seems the gear rod won’t move? Any tricks to check it to free it up or get into gear? Rod seems to be free from shifting knob to back of engine gear box.