:eek: that is good stuff. Question; when you say you found a transom assembly, you do or don't mean the entire back of the boat? Do you just mean the mounting bracket that goes on the inside of the hull transom?

drink a beer to the transom being solid. not fun. have a buddy up here with a 81' 255 non liberator with no transom core left. i believe he will drive it till it rips out. hahaha. his is yellow too. did they come in any other color or probably not huh.

The transom assembly generaly speaking is everything associated with the stern drive that mounts directly to the transom...inside and outside. I my case...I am replacing all of that for the starboard drive.:evilb:

Glass included??? See this OMC small block single is gonna be a dog... Especially when the hull is good for 70+ so I'm trying to decide if I just flip the boat or really put the time in. If I do put the time in, I'm looking at not only the inner transom rebuild, but a lot of glass work to go twins. I did call Formula last night to confirm the boat IS a 233LS original even the seating vinyl and motor is original....

I don't need to do any fiberglass work...I'm strictly direct parts replacement at this point.

In you case...and understand I am putting myself in your chair when I say this...suggest that you stay with single power. To convert from stringer drive OMC to Merc you will do some glass work but not a tremendous amount. If you can get that 454/Bravo combination for $1500, spend another $500~$1000 rigging it in your boat, you will have an instant 60~65 MPH boat with that power alone with the potential for much more.:evilb:

I don't have a clue about what you have invested in the 233 but I'm guessing you bought it "right". Putting it all in perspective, if you end up with $5K~$6K total invested in the 233LS to have a few years fun...you're WAY ahead of the curve!! Think about it...you'll be boating this season and the next 2 or 3 at least, running next to guys that have 15~20 times as much money tied up to get the same enjoyment...it's a no brainer in my book.

If your boat is solid...and meets your needs...the numbers work.

Just my thoughts...

Wise counsel sir! I like it. Title figured out?

I thought you would think so...and yes....getting close.

OK...test ran the starboard motor on the floor and discovered a big vacuum leak under the Q-Jet. Seems the PO or one of his Monkeys had removed the carb for some reason and didn't replace the torn manifold gasket!! They also took a pair of pliers to the fuel line inlet at the carb and effed that up...I replaced the gasket but need to still replace the inlet. A$$holes...anyway...oil was milky so we changed it and the plugs, set the timing and it started right up. Ran it a while to see if there were any manifold/riser issues and to watch the oil. After about 20 min. all was ok...I'm encouraged...oil pressure is about 65 psi and temp is about 140.

Going to clean up the bilge, install new gimball bearing, and all of the bellows in the new gimball asembly. In goes the gimball assembly followed by the motor. I have good rams on both drives but may have some pump issues...this will be checked out. Both drives will get water pumps and new oil...maybe launch next weekend.:evilb:

Vacuum leaks suck! Been through it a ton of times on sbc's so glad to hear you figured it out. Hopefully that milky oil is a fluke and your good to go from here on out. Launch in a week would be cool!!! By the way, come to find out, boat owner doesn't know his boat and its a 454/velvet drive/trs (single) combo... Sitting back and thinking before I jump. That tranny means a lot of work moving the motor

OK...that changes things quite a bit...I think I would pass. Put that rig in good operating condition, stash some cash and be in a position to jump on good deals as they come along.

The only thing that draws me, is not the swapping option, but the hull thru pipes, and sleeker profile the boat has. Its a webbcraft and even w/454 it probably isn't worth more than 3500-4K in great shape. But it'll be quicker, I definitely want the trailer, and those pipes.... :drink: still thinkin. If you were in cny I'd gladly help with the Water pumps and oil. Done yet?

Well by all means...go buy that boat immediately...I mean with those effin pipes how can you lose?:evilb:

Seriously...the motor is worth $1500 unless it's locked up and then you've got the trailer. If you don't have some woman chewing your ear off if you buy it...go get it!!

[QUOTE=sprink58;3351001]Well by all means...go buy that boat immediately...I mean with those effin pipes how can you lose?:evilb:

hahahahahahahaha.

Water pumps on??? :drink:

And no woman lol

Hey.....if you have the scratch...go for it.

OK...updating...the new gimbal assembly with new gimbal bearing,u-joint & shift bellows, new Alpha style shift cable that threads in from the outside, water hose and all clamps is/are installed. We are looking for replacement power steering hose that has a "very sad" looking spot in it. We are also replacing all of the bilge side trim hoses while we have access. I decided to replace the coupler with a good used unit that had better looking splines than mine...better safe than sorry.

While the engine was out we changed plugs, belts and set the timing. The engine is back in the boat, bolted in and alligned. We are doing a water pump service on both drives as wellas a fluid change. The starboard side drive was PSI tested to check for any seal issues. I am looking for the replacement Fuel pump to Q-Jet fuel line also because the previous owner effed up the nut at the fuel inlet with a pair of pliers....I can't stand $hit like that.

This project should wrap up soon and I should be on the water in a day or two...stay tuned.:evilb:

Sweet progress sprink! Pics?? :drink:

Hey Sprink, Where did you get your full enclosure for the Lib, I looking for something similar for my 233.

Big Mike,

I bought it with the boat. It was custom fabricated by a canvas shop in Traverse City Michigan.

should check your trim indicators while that whole drive is off, i did those, got a good price per pair online. i need to do that intermediate cable on mine too and tap out the drive to accept the newer style cable, basically it was the only thing that kept me from getting it in the water last year. shoulda replaced them when i had the drives off and did everything else. i've bought alot of parts from tungstenmarine in Louisiana. helps to save as much as you can when you have 2 of everything to buy. they had a sweet deal on the indicators last year.

Good advice for sure and I'm doing that today. We ran into a trim hydraulic leak problem at the base of the transom plate inside. There are O-Rings that have split that let the trim fluid spray out under pressure. These O-rings are tough to find but we found some at a NAPA store.

Hard to believe but I have an electrical ignition switch/coil voltage problem. Might be a bad coil ...sorting it out...have 12 VDC to the coil but no out put at the distrbuter to coil wire. This engine ran fine on the floor but we had to jump around the harness to get it to work. Might be a break in a wire that won't let the right voltage move through the system....back to ignition trouble shooting basics....stay tuned.....getting close.

I'm ready to go...seas are 1~2 and water temps are in the high 70's...damnit all....I've got to work through all these $hitty little pain in the a$$ problems!!! Glad I'm didcovering them now and not 3 miles offshore....got to be patient.:lolhit:

Water temps are high 70's??? :eek::eek: its below freezing here...

erie is almost melted off! soon the boom is gonna be bye bye! hahaha but yea jealous of the 70s water, just got done spending couple days cleaning up snow.

OK...got the 255 home yesterday...been 3 1/2 weeks in surgery but looking good. Took her out for a quick run yesterday...strong as ever. Topped 63 GPS at 5200 RPM+/- running aluminum "junk yard" props :evilb:

Having a few minor hose clamp leaks on starboard side...no biggie, Big work around is with the ignition....starboard engine is eating coils like candy...I get an hour into one and it fries. I have to figure out which coil to use with this Acell Distributor...I'm putting 12V to the + side and I think I need a coil that will handle that ...port side has an Acell Coil so "duh" ...I guess I'll try one of them!!

Just got a pair of '84 242 LS seats from a Formula Boat Forum bud...put them on a new set of pedestals and the are great!!

Blew out a hub and bearing on the front axle on the way home yesterday...scared the bejezus out of me...lost the tire rim and hub!! So it's on jack stands this weekend (GRRRRR!!!) untill I can get parts this next week.

I see the light at the end of the tunnel on all this mechanical business so maybe now I can get into the cockpit and cabin and make this "Bird" more liveable.:drink:

63! Thats great sprink! Nice work! Any idea on the weight difference between the 255 and 233? I have a 79 233 interceptor with twin 300 hp 350's and I have no idea what it will do. Got to finish up my restoration before I get it wet. I'm think there is isnt much difference 100 lbs or so.

They are great boats I had a 1980 255. Twin 350 ran through anything and good use of space. Glad to see more of them atround.
:coolcowboy:

Sprink, good to hear!!! 63 is definitely respectable and with some good ss props who says 65 isn't just around the corner!!! Sorry to hear about the bearing/hub. When I got my formula the guys packed and replaced all 4 axle bearings with me standing there before she made the 3hr trip home. I was still scared to death lol

I think the 255 is about 500 lbs heavier than the 233 with twin small blocks and No. 1 drives. I did some research on this and made an xl spread sheet on the comparison of different Formulas from that era. PM me your e-mail and I'll send the xl spread sheet I put together.

I have been in a 242 LS with 260's at 65 MPH and I had a '86 272 LS w/twin 320 EFI's that would best 70 on the speedo...we didn't have GPS in the 80's. I would guess a 233 with 600 HP tweaked and propped for the job would catch 70 or close. I found it helps to have about a 2' chop at least to see the best top speed numbers on these old hulls...helps reduce the friction/wetted surface area. Remember...step hull/Fastech technology was still15~20 years away when these boats were built.

Hell...a 29' Fastech with twin 300 Mags will do 70 stock out of the factory and they weigh 7500+ lbs!!!

Thanks for the words. Yeah...I've got to get out and find a drum/hub as well as a wheel and tire to get this rig back on the ground. What amazes me is that I can't find the wheel and tire assembly...I mean it's not like I dropped a quarter...this thing is big and visible. I retraced my route 4 times Friday evening and Saturday back to the point I knew it was still intact...but nothing. I guess some one snatched it up.:eek:

if you were in need of some interior pics of a nice boat there is this one on ebay. i know it will help me out alot since my interior is shot and my rear seat looks nothing like that

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Class...ht_1184wt_1210

Very nice and thanks for the link. That boat is my boat's "Sister Ship". They are 234 units apart in the '79 model year. Mine came out of Decatur,IN in March and this one came out of Decatur in August. "SGND" designates boats built in Decatur ...."TRNM" designates boats out of Miami. My boat is 32 years old this month...not too shabby.

I am collecting pics of 255's from different sources...interior details are rare and I'm still looking for details on the rear seat and engine hatch configuration. I have found pics for another one in Illinois for sale..http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/25-Fo...42477085#v4-33. and more at http://www.engravingsvc.com/Formula/formula.htm

This one has the optional pump out head on the starboard side. I want to set mine up this way but need more details.

I'm suprised that big boating states like Michigan, Florida, Cali and Texas don't have a "Classic Boat" registration for boats over 25 years in age like they do cars. My '68 Z/28 Camaro has a tag for life.

One thing is for sure...old Formulas do turn a lot of heads at the ramps on the weekends!!! Quite a crowd gathers when I pull up and drop this 'bird in the water....plenty of "Thumbs Up" out on the ICW also.

I think I almost saw a smile from the chrome 'bird on the side.....

"If You Want To Haul Coal Buy a Barge...But if You Want To Haul Ass...Buy a Formula"

i'm stealing your formula saying. just FYi, hahahahaha. i like that.

sprink, don't mean to highjack but I need some help... Went to fire the boat for the first time this morning, and she wouldn't. Voltmeter reads about 10v out of an interstate marine deep cell. All systems come up (lights, gauges, drive trim works) but not a sound from the motor, an omc 260 chevy small block. Idea's? Fuse? Not enough juice? Some safety I'm missing?

Charge the battery...10v is not enough to rattle the solenoid even.

Got her! She lit off like a brand new boat just as soon as I got the neutral safety switch figured out! Now... Carb rebuild time. Should be a standard rochester carb yea? What was on your sbc's?

Rochester Q-Jet 4 bbl...Merc rebuild kit is about $40...does not include a float. Luckily I didn't need one. I've done dozens of them but mine was the 1st in about 15 years...took about an hour.

Time to rebuild it... Sprink you wouldn't have a part number would you?

There might be a different "this or that" in an OMC kit...better check first.

Clean 255 Liberator "Sister Ship" on E-Bay.
 

I have spoken to the owner of this boat on a few occasions and can tell you...if you ever thought about owning a classic Formula deep v with twin power...you really need to consider this one. With original power and the care that this boat has received over the past 32 years...you will own a piece of history that you will be proud to be seen in.

I told the owner that I would talk it up here as well as in my local area...let's make sure that this old "'bird" ends up with an owner that will truly appreciate what it is....Hell I may end up buying it myself if I can get my finances moving in that direction quickly enough!!!

Take a look...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-...item4aaa5acdc7