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