So I'm re-rigging this Hondo ......

[shan]

I had to order a new Tig machine torch and hose kit, mine is now leaking and shocking the hell out of me . (26 + years old)

Thanks for asking . G

Well shit. I just got 3 sets of water lines and gas hoses NIB on a pallet of stuff I gave almost nothing for at an auction. Could have helped you out if I had known.

 

[AzGeo]

So I've been working on the clamps for the cav spring kits, and extending the 2 gauge pod (not shown).

Make a 'plate mounted oil gauge pod', this will mount on the motor plate, facing 'up and at' the driver's seat, from the passenger side of motor . (mechanical gauge)

MSD box will mount below the driveline cover, working on those mounts now .

New Tig Torch and hose kit, with black leather covering . Gotta' get on this and repair my 'overhead hose older' so it will last another 25 or 30 years .....

Thanks for the offer Shan, but I deserve a nice new set up ....... HA HA (well that's what I told the BOSS)

Almost forgot to mention that I'm 'angle drilling' the water outlets for the transom . (3) They will be stainless with stainless inserts to make the water spray UP, and seen from the driver's seat .

The inlet and 3 outlets are going thru the transom back up plate, so there won't be any holes thru the gel .

 

[AzGeo]

I've been 'trying and test fitting' which makes things move forward slowly .

So this oil gauge is facing up and over at the driver's seat, just in case the electric gauge gets lazy .

Oil, MSD, drive line ring, starter nose cover, and tube up to distributor .

MSD plug and wiring cover, for impact and UV prevention .

Front side of mount, one tube to distributor, and the other side is going to an electric panel that will be near the starter with a cover over it . My plan is to have 'no wires showing', anywhere .

I'm starting with the wiring, and then on to the plumbing, all in 303/304 stainless tubing, of various diameters .

 

[Backlash]

Beautiful work George! Thank you for taking us along for the ride! I look forward to your updates!

 

[AzGeo]

anymore leaning over this boat today .....

Stainless lines for wiring, and water, fuel lines to follow .

Lines at foot throttle go to gauge pod and thru bulkhead to Tach above throttle .

Main power box, with coil, breakers, warning horn, relays, will cover starter below cylinder head line .

One water pump inlet, two motor water dumps, bilge dump is not installed here .

Need to finish main power box cover, and plumb the electric fuel pump from filter thru pump and up to motor . Last photo looks like lines are at angles, they are straight up, it's camera angle .

Then it all comes apart and goes out to powder coat .

I'm going to sit by the fire now ......

Happy Happy and Merry Merry, be safe out there .

 

[warpt71]

Man I like that alternator cover! :thumbsup:thumbsup

 

[AzGeo]

I'll show you how to make your own, to fit your needs .

I have aluminum materials, just need a new bottle of gas and some welding rod .

We could cut all the pieces 'oversized', and fuse it all together, but that's no way to teach you how to use this TIG machine .

This is a 'Mercury Marine, Nando' and I wanted to cover all the 'mess of shit' on the end of it .

Really need to make a pulley for it too . (more delays)

'Lemmy' know ........

 

[Gelcoater]

I dig threads like this.:thumbsup

Guys who do work like this, all hand made stuff, becoming a rare bird these days.
Today's boats are plug and play wiring, EPA managed yada yada, etc, and fairly generic looking, even if it's a Mercury 600sc or 700, same engine, same mounts, same hardware, same everything.

This old school stuff is on a different level.

 

[lenmann]

Beautiful work. You sir, are a crafty bastard. (no offense implied or intended) Being a addicted tinkerer myself I have great appreciation for the breadth of skills being applied here.

Thanks for taking along on this ride.

 

[AzGeo]

he's waited way too long, and I have a 'pantload' of other projects to get going .

Tried to keep moving forward, no matter what has happened, but it won't be long now .

Thanks for looking in, appreciate any and all comments, we all can learn just by talking over the pix and exploring any new ideas .

 

[Carlson-jet]

Looking good..

Is there a functional purpose for the starter cover or is this aesthetics?

 

[AzGeo]

to hold the tubing with wiring in it, and a bilge pump hose that will be behind the main box . Want to make a second 'sink trap' for the bilge hose, the other is at the transom .

Since all of it will be black paint or powder coat, the cover is to protect the coil,relays, breakers, and cover all the wiring . It just happens to be above the starter, and should keep water out of it too .

This motor will run dry headers, but "smoothing and hiding everything" is what we wanted here .

There will be no wires showing anywhere, and that has become a real challenge . Temp sender on intake will be the most difficult .

Each step is another new challenge here ..............

 

[Heylam]

George, you are a true "craftsman". Not many left around.

 

[SBMech]

I can't wait to see it finished, incredible work George!

 

[warpt71]

I'll show you how to make your own, to fit your needs .

I have aluminum materials, just need a new bottle of gas and some welding rod .

We could cut all the pieces 'oversized', and fuse it all together, but that's no way to teach you how to use this TIG machine .

This is a 'Mercury Marine, Nando' and I wanted to cover all the 'mess of shit' on the end of it .

Really need to make a pulley for it too . (more delays)

'Lemmy' know ........

I should be free Friday/Saturday the 6/7th and then again on the 13/14th. I may have some house projects but nothing out of town that I know of at this time

 

[AzGeo]

the argon is on E I'll get it filled this week, and then bring your alternator so we can fit the part you make to it .

I know you and Megan are busy now (party animals that you are), so it's all on your calendar I live here and this Hondo ain't done yet . You know where I will be ........

Look over at the post on a guy who wants info on Lost Lake .

 

[Backlash]

George it's coming along nicely! It's nice to see you not rushing this project. It would show in the end.

When this is finished up, it will be stunning. Both the owner and yourself will be proud of the job you've done.

Thanks for sharing this journey with us.

Henry

 

[AzGeo]

Ryan, here are pix of the alternator and it's cover, so you can see what it actually does here .

This is the last piece of tubing for the water (bilge pump), and finally a few fuel lines .

I asked 'Rube Goldberg' how to bend this tube into one trap at the transom and a second trap at the motor plate . He said; "do it like this", and so I did ......

 

[dave29]

George...I used to buy parts for my 1975 Hondo from you when you were in the valley. Always a great experience and a great shop. Glad to see you're still doing what you love!!!!

 

[AzGeo]

Quite a bit different doing this as a 'hobby' now, after doing it as a 'business' for so many years .

I am thankful for all our 'old time - long term' customers (like yourself) for keeping us in business, learning, teaching, employing, and selling the best parts and services, at the right prices .

Also happy to have helped so many racers into the winner's circle, over the decades .

Got a few more photos to post up here of this boat .

It's going out to have the gel, lettering, paint finished, then it will be back for final assembly, and water test .

Try to get the photos up tonight .

 

[BHC Vic]

Thanks for asking, and yes I am . Not only with the motor plate, oil gauge, MSD, transom plate, problems, but also a 'financial problem I have been tracking' . (about 2 years)

I have been tracking 'US bank owned derivatives', and frankly the USA is in the middle of a real mess .

I fear the US dollar will be in real trouble, very soon .

Do you know that China, Russia, and a few middle east Arab countries have joined together supporting a new 'China based electronic payment system' ? They all have 'equalized their monetary values', and they all have sworn to be on the Gold standard .

IF this new system is not using US Dollars, the whole program will undermine our US Dollar, around the world and right into your wallet .

It has been reported that OPEC has done deals on this new 'banking program' and the deals were NOT done in US Dollars .

Trading oil and oil sales have been done in US Dollars for a long time, and it is the ONLY reason US Dollars have any world wide value . IF companies and countries trade on this new program and NOT USE US Dollars, our dollar will fall to it's real value which is about 20 cents .

Look this shit up for yourselves .....

I'll be back in the machine shop, tomorrow, as I have been for the past few weeks .

I'll post pix when I have something you can see .

Thanks for asking, I'm kind of in 'slow motion' right now .........

I never read this post but I just had a long talk w someone at about this the other day.

 

[AzGeo]

Well, these are a few pix of the water, electrical lines and fuel pump cover with it's 1/2" lines .

Made two more crossmembers to hold the SS lines. Trying to isolate propshaft vibrations from all the rigging, inside the boat . Battery box will go on the front strut brace piece, could not help but do it that way . (space restrictions)

Fuel pump cover will fit the Holley and a few larger pumps, so the owner is not limited in the future .
Got a 'bucket' of fasteners, adeles, and grommets, from Alan's Fasteners to hold all the pieces I will now 'decorate with mill work', along with 'fitting and finishing' all the brackets, plates, rails and pieces .

The piece I'm holding up is the 'fuel selector valve and filter', which sits under the transom deck (out of sight but easily controlled) and will support the first water trap for the bilge pump line .

Fuel lines and fuel ground wires will be held up with brackets along the transom braces .

Started working on 'final finish' of the many parts that have been 'rough cut', and now need to be cleaned up for powder coating .

 

[SBMech]

Fantastic work George!

I am always impressed by your level of detail and follow through, you have a plan for everything.

Do you need an Apprentice?

 

[AzGeo]

I'm still learning this new/different layout - fabrication deal myself .

Maybe you can teach me !

After the past few hundreds of Flatbottoms, (V-bottoms and cruisers) the next few hundred or so, should be a lot more easily done . Well, at least more quickly done .

The owner of this boat has been very patient, and I think that will pay off in the end .

Trying to figure out how to 'hide' all the wiring, and give every component a 'custom touch', has been a real challenge .

Then tying everything down, not allowing anything to vibrate loose, was another whole deal too .

I'll keep at this as long as I can, and post pix as progress requires . Thank you all .....

 

[AzGeo]

So I finally got some parts back from powder coating, and a hull with lettering .

Couldn't start the install without "sanding and buffing" the entire inside of the hull . It was too dull and rough (IMO) to put back together .

While I can, I'll get under the deck and install the Tach wiring, and steering pulleys, then go onto the shaft log and plates (3) .

Next onto the transom hardware and the rudder box install .

And so this story resumes ...........

 

[lenmann]

Its great to see this starting back up again. I learn a ton following your builds.

Thanks for bringing me along on the journey!

 

[jcbauer]

Can't wait to see it all finished George. Your work is inspiring.

 

[AzGeo]

Thanks John, it's been an adventure, so far .

Well, stopped and took a couple of photos today . Reassembling the whole boat now .

Parts went out to powder coat , and came back "semi gloss black" .

 

[AzGeo]

Three steps forward, one and a half back .

Cut a key way in the new rudder, assembled all the spacers and clamps so the key and quadrant will not fall out even if the clamp bolt breaks .

Got the steering in and adjusted, fuel valve, water trap and hoses to tanks .

Bent up a remote grease fitting for the rudder stuffing box .

Installed the wiring tube (with rubber insulator) and switch box mount .

 

[AzGeo]

Have no idea how the first photo got published three times ?

Got to go back and get a photo of the rudder with all the cables and pulleys installed .

 

[Motoxxxloak]

This is a good build thread - as others have stated, Thanks for taking along for the journey.

Do you use a powder coater in havasu?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AzGeo]

Thanks for looking .

NO, I didn't have the powder coating done, the boat's owner had it done in North San Diego area .

It's all "satin black", and brushed aluminum with satin clear .

That grease fitting that's "floating in space", will have an aluminum bracket holding it .

 

[AzGeo]

[/ATTACH]

Still haven't taken a photo of the steering installed .

But put the throttle (with adjustable stops) together, got it installed .

Passenger foot rest and fire extinguisher mount, in and tight .

Ran the forward wiring thru the tube to the terminal strip .

Got the Up/DOWN in, and "loc-tited" a bunch of nylocs and bolts, that were in for "length tests" .

Next will be the two gauge floating pod, and some more wiring .

Saturday isn't that far away now .

 

[AzGeo]

More parts, more wiring, more backaches .

Two gauge floating pod is in, ss tubes secured, and top bolts of foot pedals done .

 

[lenmann]

So, will we see you and the Hondo at the Needles show on Saturday?

 

[AzGeo]

That's the original plan .

I don't know how much will be done by then .

Don't have a drive shaft, a complete drive line cover, nor the seats .

Lots of little details for the motor, before install .

Have not bent up fuel lines from the filter to the pump, from the pump to a regulator, and then to the carbs .

Never planned to run it there, just get it out and take a day off .

We will see what happens, thanks for looking ...........

 

[lenmann]

It would be great to see it in person and meet you as well.

I will be down in Quartzite with a crew out SxS'ing for most of March. We are headed up for the show on Saturday.

 

[AzGeo]

I'm still trying to be there on Saturday .

With the heater on in the garage all day, I worked on more of the wiring, and the switch panel .

This started out with an oil pressure gauge here, and then progressed to this becoming a volt meter, and the oil and temp gauges going into another "floating pod", between the tach and the switch panel.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Here’s a few pictures from George, hopefully the next pictures will be on the water.

 

[spectra3279]

View attachment 622458 View attachment 622459 View attachment 622460 View attachment 622461 I'm still trying to be there on Saturday .

With the heater on in the garage all day, I worked on more of the wiring, and the switch panel .

This started out with an oil pressure gauge here, and then progressed to this becoming a volt meter, and the oil and temp gauges going into another "floating pod", between the tach and the switch panel.

Just cut the red wire. Or maybe the blue one.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[DRYHEAT]

For anybody interested George did finish this Hondo, unfortunately we were still testing the weekend of the Billy B deal at Pirates Cove.
I guess I can’t post video without having a hosting site and since I don’t here’s a few still shots from the first test day I think this was back in late June early July I don’t remember sorry it took so long to post these, I had kind of forgotten about it.

For anyone concerned George isn’t wearing a lifeline, he was just doing short bursts to check the initial set up and he was wearing a lanyard.
Sorry about the crappy pictures with my phone.

 

[sintax]

love it!

Thanks for the update. I miss seeing his posts, he always had great info.

 

[Boat211]

Some great ideas that with great craftsmanship were able to become reality. Looks great

 

[Deja_Vu]

Come back George and hang out... put the irritating folks on ignore...

 

[Backlash]

George where you at?

Lots of us miss you, so when you get a chance, check in and say hello! Hope all is well my friend!

Henry