The Mandella Thread

[Racey]

Update 04-28-2008:
It put the boat on the major back burner around this time last year, but i'm actually getting ready to some more work on it, carson has all the parts for the bottom end of the motor now, and i'm sending him the gear drive for cam and fuel injection to get polished and installed. Building a trailer is next on my list and i'll be posting pictures of that progress along the way.

Copied from HB since it finally came back up.

I'm putting this up cause i know a few of you old school v-drive guys will find it pretty cool. My dad built this boat working for Louis Brummett, it was built to be a marathon boat with 5 fuel tanks ~180 gallons of fuel at full capacity, it was just out of the mold when Louis had his accident in '68-'69, my dad quit racing after that and never completed the boat, even though he made most of the hardware for it, it's been sitting inside collecting dust ever since. I finally convinced him it was time to put it together so hopefully we have it together by summer. We have a 482 KB n/a Hemi with Bosch Sequential Mechanical injection, and Hilborn stacks, dry sump, 7900 rpm. 10dg Casale, Gear Steering (no cables!), I'm pretty excited about it, i will be posting updates as we make progress.

So Far here is what has originally been done to the boat:

Strut is Mounted
Prop shaft Hole is drilled
Mock-up V-drive has been fitted and all hardware for that is made
Cavitation Plates are mounted but got a little warped being polished on the boat so we have to fix that.

 

[Racey]

More....

 

[Racey]

Here's a little update for you guys on the mandella project, it's getting a little further every day, trying to get as much done as i can while i have free time at the shop.

Finished building the upright support that will help hold the steering gear, it also doubles as a channel to hide any wires and hoses that will be run up to the dash for gauges etc. Also machined all 6 fill necks for the Monza gas caps out of aluminum tubing, single tool thread cut on the lathe. Fabricated the shaft log base out of stainless, just got it back from the polisher. Here are the pics.


Rough cut of the main and center peice, the end cap is milled out to allow an extra 3/8" of room inside the channel. Since i already had to make the fixture on the rotary table to cut the channel i decided to ball endmill the part for looks.

 

[Racey]

Here are the fill necks, I machined one complete first to make sure everything was tip top, the aluminum tubing's inside and out wasnt concentric so on the next 5 i chucked from the inside so they would be perfect. you can see the bore on the first one i had to make so i could finish cutting the part down without chucking the threads.

Did the next 5 production style. Single tooled the threads

 

[HottRoddeR]

You mean it's not done yet!? Geez. You're slower than Myers:beer

 

[BobbyB]

this is a bitchen thread! I dont recall this on HB, but I am glad you recreated it here, thanks! This has such a cool story behind it as well.:thumbsup keep it coming!

 

[Howardflat]

The Howard is next!

 

[RiverDave]

This thread and ones like it is what this website is all about!!

GREAT THREAD RACEY!!

RD

 

[stokerwhore]

Racey's got all kinda of bitchen stiff over here:thumbsup

 

[Deleted Account]

Get anything else done yet?

 

[Deleted Account]

Shane, is this thing turned on? :thumbsup

 

[hawkes24]

no shane takes his sweet ass time with everything

 

[River Lynchmob]

Thats a family tradition...come on there Stenton get crackin on some shit your thread may be the weakest on here

 

[RyanPartridge]

This boat is gonna rule.

 

[DtB]

Any pictures of the motor ? I remember seeing it but can't remember exactly what it was

 

[Racey]

The motor is all in pieces, we originally were going to put an injected Hemi in it, but the motor wouldn't fit with the oil pump hanging out the side of the block, it would require notching the stringer and it just wouldn't work out.

We are putting a 500 inch Bosch injected Chevrolet in it now. And actually i'll have some picture updates soon, we just finished all the steering and rudder, and it's all out for chrome right now.

 

[Howardflat]

good ill take the hemi. its for my boat anyhow.

 

[SKIA36]

good ill take the hemi. its for my boat anyhow.

Hey Joel, get that Howard together and then bring a big wad of cash and beg Tanklage for the Hemi. I want a ride.

 

[Racey]

Made a new V-drive plate that is notched for the throttle pedal, and the transom is coming together.

 

[Deleted Account]

I was gonna say pictures or it didn't happen...

 

[msmeads]

I love that boat.

 

[Racey]

Solid gear steering all finshed. No cables in this boat :thumbsup All Chrome Plated 4130 Chro-mo, Stainless Fabroid rod ends.

Left the newspaper on most of the main shaft so that the chrome doesn't get scratched.

 

[Racey]

Turned all the way Left

 

[Racey]

Turned to the Center

 

[Racey]

Turned all the way to the Right

 

[Racey]

Steering Swing at the first set of arms under the Dash, in front of the V-Drive.

 

[Racey]

Throttle Mounts to clear steering pivot shaft.

 

[RiverDave]

Took me a minute to figure out what was going on, but it's pretty bitchen!

Will you have any problems with that rod bending / flexing when it's in compression? I don't need any guides along the stringer that would help "stiffen" it along the way?

RD

 

[Racey]

The bar has a little bit of compression flex, like anything would, but it's 7/8" x 0.190" wall 4130, it's pretty heavy duty, it will have 1 support in the center where it runs through a teflon bearing, but that's mainly to support it from bouncing off the floor more than anything. Cav plate actuation rods for a foot over-ride are only 1/2" solid bar stock, so that makes the steering bar roughly twice as heavy, and strong, per inch compared to a cav plate rod.

 

[BadBlown572]

Very nice setup and hardware! :bowdown:

 

[RiverDave]

The bar has a little bit of compression flex, like anything would, but it's 7/8" x 0.190" wall 4130, it's pretty heavy duty, it will have 1 support in the center where it runs through a teflon bearing, but that's mainly to support it from bouncing off the floor more than anything. Cav plate actuation rods for a foot over-ride are only 1/2" solid bar stock, so that makes the steering bar roughly twice as heavy, and strong, per inch compared to a cav plate rod.

Tension vs Compression though..

Cav plate rods are under tension right?

RD

 

[Racey]

Tension vs Compression though..

Cav plate rods are under tension right?

RD

i guess they are in most cases, (all cases of a foot pedal) some run the bar on the top with an electric motor.

Something else will break before compression on that bar becomes enough to bend it into a malfunction...

 

[.boatpoor]

Is it done yet, or is it back in mothballs?

 

[msmeads]

Racey, what is the latest in this?

I need pictures.:grumble:

 

[Racey]

Back in mothballs for the time being.... nothing new or major to update. Did send the steering gear back to schroder to have him reverse the direction so that the steering linkage would be better suited. other than that not much.

 

[cakemoto]

Back in mothballs for the time being.... nothing new or major to update. Did send the steering gear back to schroder to have him reverse the direction so that the steering linkage would be better suited. other than that not much.

Gary shroder is the man,he is best friends with my old boss.he has some badass race cars.I was there when the old Alcohal indy car was first fired up!I buy all my metal pollish from Gary too.

 

[77'Mandella]

Any updates on your project? Tried to send you a PM to let you know who I was, but can't because I need to make 10 posts first, this is #3. Just bought an 18ft SS with plans to restore it. As you know I have a 21ft.

Thanks,
Jeb Bennett

 

[Roaddogg 4040]

Hey Jeb,,,,,,,, No you can't have Racey's Mandella!!!! I'm looking forward to seeing this boat finished. Seems like Racey might have the same problem that I have I can't get mine finished either...:grumble: This Mandella will be outstanding when it is done... I really like the steering and the nice machine work...

Steve

 

[77'Mandella]

Ha very funny Steve! I don't see these guys ever parting with their 18ft'er.....and that's a good thing....these boats should stay in our families for as long as they float. Yep, that steering is a trick setup :bowdown: it would be nice to rig my 18ft like that.....someday maybe.
One sure way to slow down a project is to start puting together an engine..... at least that's my excuse. Still projected to get mine on the water in the spring.....we'll see. My money says your Rayson floats before mine and Racey's Mandellas.

Hey Jeb,,,,,,,, No you can't have Racey's Mandella!!!! I'm looking forward to seeing this boat finished. Seems like Racey might have the same problem that I have I can't get mine finished either...:grumble: This Mandella will be outstanding when it is done... I really like the steering and the nice machine work...

Steve

 

[Roaddogg 4040]

I wouldn't take any money on it Jeb... I haven't touched it in over a week. The moving van just left our house in Havasu after dropping 20,000 lbs of crap here. I don't think that we will ever be able to put this much stuff away. It will take weeks at least. The good thing was that we got the house in Michigan sold!!!!!! It's a good thing that I have the Schiada to use while I am working on the Rayson:champagne:

Steve

 

[77'Mandella]

Congrats on selling the house Steve and good luck with 10tons of stuff Don't kill yourself just hire some strong backs......not worth it. Thanks for for all your help btw and I'm guessing I'll see you at the Enduro?

I wouldn't take any money on it Jeb... I haven't touched it in over a week. The moving van just left our house in Havasu after dropping 20,000 lbs of crap here. I don't think that we will ever be able to put this much stuff away. It will take weeks at least. The good thing was that we got the house in Michigan sold!!!!!! It's a good thing that I have the Schiada to use while I am working on the Rayson:champagne:

Steve

 

[Roaddogg 4040]

Looks like it's too late to get someone with a good back:grumble: I've been in bed most of the day after moving about 40 boxes. How that it will get better soon... My back is really screaming at me for being such a dope... I will be at the Enduro, see ya there...

Steve

 

[65Mandella]

Seeing as this is a Mandella thread, I'm a new member and just picked up this 65 short deck in NorCal. Going to do a resto this winter and hopefully have it in the water by spring!!!

 

[77'Mandella]

Seeing as this is a Mandella thread, I'm a new member and just picked up this 65 short deck in NorCal. Going to do a resto this winter and hopefully have it in the water by spring!!!

Nice boat, welcome. You should start your own thread and put up some more pics. Good luck with the resto

 

[65Mandella]

I just may do that (start my own thread).. I have 2 other boats I am doing for friends (floor and stingers in both and painting one also).. After those are buttoned up, I'll start my own thread. Seems like quite a few Mandella owners here. Nice to see that. I'm sure I will have questions on rigging, motor placement, etc.... And I love the pics!!!

 

[65Mandella]

Well, started tearing out my SK Mandella ( above photo ). Have lots to do and decisions about floor to make. Just got her tore out and am filling holes in stringers for a rail system. Keeping toploader and putting Velvet drive and BBC. Boat is going to be a ski / family boat. JUst figured I'd keep the Mandella Thread going

 

[Rickybobby]

sweet thread, guys still trying to get up to speed on this stuff... thanks

 

[65Mandella]

Yup, I know I am !!! Floor is getting sanded and will gel / Duratec in the next week or two. Hopefully have pics then... Summer is coming fast so it's hustle time!!!!