New project followed me home...'73 Spectra

[redone76]

Sold my Chaparral deck boat last year cause it wasn't being used much. Started to get the itch for another boat so I hopped on the internet....

Found this 1973 Spectra 18 jet boat project on OfferUp and headed out last Tuesday to take a look.

Guy got in over his head mechanical wise when he realized the timing cover on the 455 Olds engine was leaking water into the oil. He's had the intake and valve covers off for almost 2 years now.

Other than it not being covered very well and the engine issue that's about all i can see wrong with it. It's original gelcoat, stringers and floor are fantastic. Fiberglass tank has been upgraded to a 38 gallon IMCO belly tank. Berekely 12JC looks solid except for the bowl paint. It's had a place diverter added to it. Original seats are in so so condition. No big rips or tears. Wood looks great as well. Original shag carpet is gone but the guy had made new marine carpet templates before he tossed the shag.

So I gave her a deep scrub this weekend and started my to do list...
Change oil and do a compression test to see if this 455 is healthy
Yank the engine to replace the timing cover and get a look at the bottom end
Yank the floor to give the hull a good cleaning and install the carpet while the floor panels are out
Get a closer eye on the pump input side
Install a bilge blower
Repaint the jet bowl
Sand and oil the teak swim steps
Deep clean and condition the interior
Polish and wax the gelcoat
Go through the trailer...gotta find some era correct wheels. Thinking mags or turbines
Anyone know where I can get a windshield made? I found the original mounting brackets under a seat

I'll keep updating the thread as I go. Plan to get my 10 year old son involved this summer to teach him some skills and keep him off the tablet

Any tips, tricks or suggestions are more than welcome...

 

[RVRKID]

Looks like a nice find. Install engine oil drain with hose when you have the engine out..

 

[redone76]

Looks like a nice find. Install engine oil drain with hose when you have the engine out..

Funny you say that cause it has one...problem was i couldn't figure out how to get the hose out the bilge plug hole without putting an upward bend in the hose and the oil wouldn't drain out! I ended up just using my fluid extractor down the hose to suck the old oil out.

 

[CommanderLee]

Being an Olds, if the motor needs to be rebuilt call Mondellos and get all of their products to help the oiling issues. My first boat had a 455 that I used their products on and never had an issue in 18 years.

 

[redone76]

Being an Olds, if the motor needs to be rebuilt call Mondellos and get all of their products to help the oiling issues. My first boat had a 455 that I used their products on and never had an issue in 18 years.

Thanks for the heads up! I've been studying up on the 455 oiling issues. Is there any way to tell if my engine has had work done for that?

 

[CommanderLee]

Thanks for the heads up! I've been studying up on the 455 oiling issues. Is there any way to tell if my engine has had work done for that?

The cam bearings will have a tiny hole in them for oiling. In the main bearing oil galleys there would be restrictors. Reduces them from about the size of a pencil to the lead inside of it. With this and a 10 quart pan it should live a good long time. I always ran VR1 20W50 in mine as well. This combo worked very well for me for 18 trouble free years.

 

[Jay Dub]

Sold my Chaparral deck boat last year cause it wasn't being used much. Started to get the itch for another boat so I hopped on the internet....

Found this 1973 Spectra 18 jet boat project on OfferUp and headed out last Tuesday to take a look.

Guy got in over his head mechanical wise when he realized the timing cover on the 455 Olds engine was leaking water into the oil. He's had the intake and valve covers off for almost 2 years now.

Other than it not being covered very well and the engine issue that's about all i can see wrong with it. It's original gelcoat, stringers and floor are fantastic. Fiberglass tank has been upgraded to a 38 gallon IMCO belly tank. Berekely 12JC looks solid except for the bowl paint. It's had a place diverter added to it. Original seats are in so so condition. No big rips or tears. Wood looks great as well. Original shag carpet is gone but the guy had made new marine carpet templates before he tossed the shag.

So I gave her a deep scrub this weekend and started my to do list...
Change oil and do a compression test to see if this 455 is healthy
Yank the engine to replace the timing cover and get a look at the bottom end
Yank the floor to give the hull a good cleaning and install the carpet while the floor panels are out
Get a closer eye on the pump input side
Install a bilge blower
Repaint the jet bowl
Sand and oil the teak swim steps
Deep clean and condition the interior
Polish and wax the gelcoat
Go through the trailer...gotta find some era correct wheels. Thinking mags or turbines
Anyone know where I can get a windshield made? I found the original mounting brackets under a seat

I'll keep updating the thread as I go. Plan to get my 10 year old son involved this summer to teach him some skills and keep him off the tablet

Any tips, tricks or suggestions are more than welcome...
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looks like a fun project, enjoy

 

[rivermobster]

Awesome project for you and your son.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Sweet!!!! Cool boat!

 

[coolchange]

Always liked those and the little Hallets too. Check the bottom while the motors out.

 

[redone76]

The cam bearings will have a tiny hole in them for oiling. In the main bearing oil galleys there would be restrictors. Reduces them from about the size of a pencil to the lead inside of it. With this and a 10 quart pan it should live a good long time. I always ran VR1 20W50 in mine as well. This combo worked very well for me for 18 trouble free years.

Thanks for the detailed info. It has a 10 quart pan on it already. I'll report back what i find after i crack the bottom end open

 

[redone76]

Always liked those and the little Hallets too. Check the bottom while the motors out.

Thats the plan sir! And give it a good scrub

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

On the 455 I believe there is some kind of stuffer that needs to be put in under the intake for cooling or something like that. I'm not an olds guy but @n2otoofast4u could fill you in. I know he just did all this not to long ago on one of his.

 

[redone76]

On the 455 I believe there is some kind of stuffer that needs to be put in under the intake for cooling or something like that. I'm not an olds guy but @n2otoofast4u could fill you in. I know he just did all this not to long ago on one of his.

Cool! I look forward to seeing what he has to say. I did see Mondellos makes a windage tray that keeps the hot oil off the bottom of the intake

 

[redone76]

Got some fresh oil in her and she has 35 psi while cranking. Had my son hop in and we had fun learning about compression testing and how it works.

Cold engine with the intake off these were our numbers

Squirt some oil in the low cylinders and 5 is the only one that slightly increased. #8 spit the oil out the intake side so that tells me something is up with that valve.

Regardless the engine is getting pulled so I'll pop the heads off and see what's what.

 

[redone76]

Scored a set of mags as well

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Mondellos actually wrote a book on modifying the Olds big blocks. I'm sure you can still pick it up on Amazon, it's worth getting as a reference if nothing else.

If the engine in the boat is the same Hardin Marine engine that the boat came with, then it has all of the good parts. The good blocks, crank, K or Ka heads and stuff like that. These started out as 390 hp Toronado crate engines.

As was mentioned, if not already done a few easy mods makes the Olds a reliable engine for a weekend fun boat. If you desire to try and win river drag races with it you'll need to start spending $$$ if you want to stay with team Rocket.

 

[boatpi]

Anything Olds, seek out Joe Mondello parts https://mondelloperformance.com/

 

[redone76]

Mondellos actually wrote a book on modifying the Olds big blocks. I'm sure you can still pick it up on Amazon, it's worth getting as a reference if nothing else.

If the engine in the boat is the same Hardin Marine engine that the boat came with, then it has all of the good parts. The good blocks, crank, K or Ka heads and stuff like that. These started out as 390 hp Toronado crate engines.

As was mentioned, if not already done a few easy mods makes the Olds a reliable engine for a weekend fun boat. If you desire to try and win river drag races with it you'll need to start spending $$$ if you want to stay with team Rocket.

So the story goes that I bought it from the second owner. His uncle being the first. He's not sure about the engines history but supposedly it was never touched. It does have a 10 quart pan. It has KA heads and an Edelbrock Olds 455 performer intake. What can I look for inside the block? I believe it's all original Hardin marine

I have zero plans of racing this thing! Haha! Just want a nice reliable unique cruiser.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I used to know all of that backward and forwards, but it has been 20 years since I was neck deep in Olds stuff. The fact the Ka heads are still there means that if someone swapped in a smog motor from the late 70's at least they kept the heads.

There is a web page called Oldsmobile FAQ or something along those lines, Google is your friend there. Between the content on that site and Mondello's book you can answer most, if not all, of the questions you have.

 

[redone76]

Anything Olds, seek out Joe Mondello parts https://mondelloperformance.com/

Thanks! I've been drooling all over that website

 

[redone76]

I used to know all of that backward and forwards, but it has been 20 years since I was neck deep in Olds stuff. The fact the Ka heads are still there means that if someone swapped in a smog motor from the late 70's at least they kept the heads.

There is a web page called Oldsmobile FAQ or something along those lines, Google is your friend there. Between the content on that site and Mondello's book you can answer most, if not all, of the questions you have.

Great info! I'll start googling! Thanks again!!

 

[redone76]

Cleaned up the wheels and gave them a few coats of clear. New lug nuts and valve stems. Ready for some rubber

Got the rust off the steering wheel and gave it a polish. Oiled the wood as well
Before...

After...

Polished up some other stuff...

Sanded and oiled up the teak swim steps

Now I gotta get this engine out and focus on that! Stop messing with the little crap

 

[Fabhouse]

Looks great Mark! My first boat was a Spectra 20 and I love the 18's.

 

[redone76]

Looks great Mark! My first boat was a Spectra 20 and I love the 18's.

Thanks Kenny! I'm stoked to finally join the jet boat club!! We'll have to get down your way soon!

 

[redone76]

The Spectra project got put on hold for a month or so while I wrapped up a few other little projects around the house. So to get back into it I removed all the interior and gave it a deep clean and conditioning. It'll work for now until I decide what I want to do with the interior.

Pulled up the floor which was actually pretty easy with it being in sections screwed to the stringers. Gonna reseal and carpet with black marine carpet.
Gave the hull and stringers a good cleaning/inspection. I was happy with how it looked and felt. Nice and solid for being 50 years old

 

[redone76]

Yanked the 455 and got it on a stand for tear down...

Cracked open the engine and it was pretty clean inside. Intake valves had some rust and the timing cover was toast. Dropped the heads off for a rebuild. Tore down the rest of the engine and did some measuring. It looks really good and it's all stock inside. I plan to refresh it with a quick hone job, new bearings and rings.

 

[redone76]

Honed and cleaned up the cylinders. All oil passages cleaned and inspected. New rings and bearings installed. I also went with a mild Comp marine cam and Cloyes double roller timing setup. Just waiting on the call for the heads to be ready...

 

[redone76]

Spent 5 hours this Saturday morning cutting, polishing and waxing the gelcoat on this old girl. She shined up pretty well!