Need help from the jet guys

[Toolman]

I decided to donate some of my labor to the project of restoring this boat. I’ll be doing some machine work on it. We’re also gonna fix some of the Mickey Mouse stuff on it and make it right. First pictures up are to help me identify this hull. i’ll be posting pictures as we go through the restoration. The hull seems to be very solid. The stringers are rockhard and the plywood floor seems to be good. The transom also seems to be solid. So first up, what hull is this please.

 

[rivermobster]

@jetboatperformance

 

[Riverbottom]

Possibly a Sleekcraft Rebel. Might be an early Weimann. Old Rigger should be along with the correct answer.

 

[jetboatperformance]

I'm fairly sure its a Roger Weiman , The Jet is a "split bowl Berkeley" Most likely a Berkeley 12JA or B . The Hull looks decent and from your description sound like a decent starting point for a successful project Let Us know if we can help Tom

 

[mattyc]

Well this is going to be a cool project, especially since @Toolman is involved. What's the plan for this thing?

 

[Toolman]

The bilge is filthy. We will pressure wash as well as we can. Then we will sort out the wiring and clean that up. Little things that are Mickey Mouse for example is the bilge pump exhaust on the back of the transom (previous pics). Someone used a gasoline tank vent which won’t flow water very well. Also gas tanks were set up to drain one or the other which causes you constantly to have to balance the boat. We are going to rig them to drain equally. Also, the alternator was being driven off of the pump driveshaft. We are going to move the alternator to the front of the motor which opens up a whole other can of worms that I will be posting pictures in the near future of the big block nail head motor that this bad boy came with. lol

 

[Toolman]

Well this is going to be a cool project, especially since @Toolman is involved. What's the plan for this thing?

Well it’s gonna be more go then show. We’re basically just gonna fix everything that’s wrong on it and clean it up and make it presentable. The motor seems to be pretty solid. Good compression, no clicks or knocks. I’m taking a crash course on nailhead motors right now trying to learn everything I can and I’ve already learned that the balancer on the front of the crankshaft is wrong which is why they had to run the alternator off of the back of the motor. yeah I’m a V drive guy, but jet boats are fun and they definitely have a purpose. Outboards have their purpose too. My boat is an In-N-Out drive. It’s all good

 

[lenmann]

Well it’s gonna be more go then show. We’re basically just gonna fix everything that’s wrong on it and clean it up and make it presentable. The motor seems to be pretty solid. Good compression, no clicks or knocks. I’m taking a crash course on nailhead motors right now trying to learn everything I can and I’ve already learned that the balancer on the front of the crankshaft is wrong which is why they had to run the alternator off of the back of the motor. yeah I’m a V drive guy, but jet boats are fun and they definitely have a purpose. Outboards have their purpose too. My boat is an In-N-Out drive. It’s all good

Looks like a fun project, lots of potential.

A word of caution on hull integrity based on first hand experience. Until that carpet is all pulled out and the bilge cleaned up I wouldn't claim victory on hull integrity. Lots of evil can lurk under all that junk.

If you need some more Nailhead insight reach out to Russell and Matt Martin at:

Home | Centerville Auto Repair

www.nailheadbuick.com

Russ built the 401 for my 65 Riviera project and is widely recognized as the west coast expert on all things Nailhead. His son Matt is doing a great job carrying on with the family business. They are both super knowledgable, friendly and helpful.

 

[Toolman]

401 Buick nailhead. The previous owner must’ve been a plumber.

 

[Toolman]

First repair. Got lucky, no inserts needed.

 

[lenmann]

Those exhaust tails are awesome!
Modular, readily available spare components, and best of all none of that pesky polishing.

 

[Toolman]

Fabbed up some exhaust flanges for the back of the manifolds which will get an aluminum tube TIG welded to it with some elbows and some rubber hose going out the back of the boat. The inscribed circle is to help the welder line up the tube.

 

[Toolman]

I just noticed something. I believe there needs to be a couple of quarter inch pipe tap holes in these plates to let the hot water out. The plates that came off the boat did not have any water exit holes and it does appear that the manifold was getting hot at that far back end. Anybody chime in please.

 

[4Waters]

I just noticed something. I believe there needs to be a couple of quarter inch pipe tap holes in these plates to let the hot water out. The plates that came off the boat did not have any water exit holes and it does appear that the manifold was getting hot at that far back end. Anybody chime in please.

@jetboatperformance

 

[warpt71]

I just noticed something. I believe there needs to be a couple of quarter inch pipe tap holes in these plates to let the hot water out. The plates that came off the boat did not have any water exit holes and it does appear that the manifold was getting hot at that far back end. Anybody chime in please.

Im assuming that you used the front cover of that log to pattern the piece that you have made? What I am seeing is 2 water ports on that cap.

It also appears that the log has one open water jacket on 3 sides of it correct?

If thats all correct, then I assume that water was going in and out from the front of the log and circulating through. I think you may be better off forcing water in the front and exiting the rear if you could add a port to the flange that you have made. I suppose you could also tap the log to make an exit? I think a in and out at opposite ends would be better than in and out at the same end. Hopefully that makes sense.

Cool project you have going on and amazing skills!

 

[mash on it]

Im assuming that you used the front cover of that log to pattern the piece that you have made? What I am seeing is 2 water ports on that cap.
View attachment 1310022

It also appears that the log has one open water jacket on 3 sides of it correct?
View attachment 1310023
View attachment 1310024

If thats all correct, then I assume that water was going in and out from the front of the log and circulating through. I think you may be better off forcing water in the front and exiting the rear if you could add a port to the flange that you have made. I suppose you could also tap the log to make an exit? I think a in and out at opposite ends would be better than in and out at the same end. Hopefully that makes sense.

Cool project you have going on and amazing skills!

Typically, the water is preheated by the logs first, and then into the water pump ports on the front of the block.
Then exits out the thermostat housing on most V8s, although this nailhead exits out the front of the heads, and on to the snails, or in this case, out to the exhaust tails, to cool the exhaust and exit the boat.
They are filled from the bottom up, to purge any air out of the cooling system upon start up.

Dan'l

 

[jetboatperformance]

I just noticed something. I believe there needs to be a couple of quarter inch pipe tap holes in these plates to let the hot water out. The plates that came off the boat did not have any water exit holes and it does appear that the manifold was getting hot at that far back end. Anybody chime in please.

Lots of Old School manifolds have small pipe plugs for water drains , even the EMI manifolds we use regularly have them probably not a bad Idea depending on locale

 

[warpt71]

They are filled from the bottom up, to purge any air out of the cooling system upon start up.

Dan'l

That makes total sense! And Ill add that I think if water was plumed in at the bottom of the back of the log and exited at the top of the front of the log there may be better cooling and not see the possible hot spot. Im imagining forcing the water to run across the length of the log once vs. making a loop back and forth.

 

[mattyc]

That makes total sense! And Ill add that I think if water was plumed in at the bottom of the back of the log and exited at the top of the front of the log there may be better cooling and not see the possible hot spot. Im imagining forcing the water to run across the length of the log once vs. making a loop back and forth.

This seems most logical to me. With in and out at the front, the water wont circulate at the rear, it will just reside. I think an additional exit at the back would help but ideal would be an in at one end and an out at the other

 

[Toolman]

Update.
Slowly making progress.

 

[old rigger]

Possibly a Sleekcraft Rebel. Might be an early Weimann. Old Rigger should be along with the correct answer.

I'm fairly sure its a Roger Weiman , The Jet is a "split bowl Berkeley" Most likely a Berkeley 12JA or B . The Hull looks decent and from your description sound like a decent starting point for a successful project Let Us know if we can help Tom

Missed this thread somehow.

I'd bet money it's not a Weiman, Rogers or a Rebel but not sure what it is.
The gunwale's have a smooth transition onto the deck, the bottom doesn't have strakes that run forward into the entry like the Weiman's, early Rogers which were both based on the Tahiti bottom.

I dunno, cool project and a beautiful nailhead to boot!

Wonder what's the story on that welded up TA?