Get with it sprink! I need inspiration for my own Lib! LOL I got those stainless marine crossovers and t-stat housings... now, how to plumb the thing! this could be interesting.

You dragging that thing up here at the end of august to play with the Jersey Formulas?

I wish I could go. Can't even make it to LOTO for the shootout this year and that's only a couple hours away! :-(

Sprink mentioned he may be in. That would be nice to see this thread alive in person at the Rendezvous here.

Nothing would be better boating wise to wrap up the summer...but...I asked my "Jersey Girl" to marry me and she said yes!!! So...I have other things going on at the present.

Maybe next summer...you never know!!

Congrats Sprink! Good luck on the new chapter in your life. "Do you know what this is going to do to your taxes?" Lol.

Congrats sprink

Hey sprink saw you were thinking of of selling the 255, I am in Miami and could be interested in buying it with or without power. Weddings are expensive.

Somehow missed this. Congrats John.

OK...getting the bug to get this project moving again.

Any suggestions on cabin upholstery/cabinetry guys in SE Florida than can get into a project like this one?

Thanks again.

Hey, good to see you post again! Haven't posted in my thread either. Biggest issue for me this year was figuring out how to winterize motors without pulling them out. Didn't know you could leave them in!

have you run the boat much or still just working on it?

Brian

Seems like every weekend that I want to head out the wind kicks up and the seas are 6 to 8. About all I've been able to do is go for a "Ditch Ride" which is what the Intracoastal is here in Broward County Ft. Lauderdale area LOL.

I found a nice ware house to keep the 255 in and out of the weather. It's 1750 sq. Ft. And has air conditioning! ! Access is a bit tight but I have unlimited access to a fork lift so that makes moving the boat around fairly easy...and it's 10 minutes from home 15 minutes from the water.

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I'm having spare windshield and windows powder coated in black now and plan to pull the old stuff and re bed all the glass frames to eliminate some leaks I have in the cabin. Now that I have 95% of my mechanical issues resolved I'm moving forward with creature comforts now.

The boat is already overly powered so I don't need to add any thing in that department. ..only things that help me control the boat and make it more comfortable.

It's been a tough year and good at the same time. I'm getting married in 4 weeks and am looking forward to that. She's a boater so we're going to enjoy this project together.

Stay tuned.

I rember you repowering your liberator a while back I was just checking to see if you were still happy with it anything you would do differently? I have been looking at possibly a 383 stroker set up with bravo's

I am very happy with the way it turned out. Dollar for Dollar and bang for the buck you just can't beat the torque and power that the Vortec head SBC's provide.

The bravo drives are definitely worth the effort and as years go by with more and more Bravos available as take offs they just make sense for high performance use in a relatively heavy high output package.

If I were doing it again today I would take a long look at the GM LS Small Block engines as an alternative. As a light weight naturally aspirated or blower motor they are tough to beat.

I may pm you later on when I start I think it will be my next winter project

I was thinking about this and talked to a few locals here. You strap a pair of 600 HP blown LS motors in a 272 and your looking at mid to high 90's possibly low triple digits on the right day. But...then again...the "Pucker Factor":evilb:

That would be a very interesting ride!!! It's only money!! Lol

So I ran into a bit of a steering system snag. Here is the link to my thread over on the Drive Forum.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/d...ring-rams.html

Old Boats....oh well :cool-smiley-011:

OK...so there comes a time in life when it's time to move on. I have sold my Formula 255 Liberator to Dustin C. of Wisconsin. Dustin had followed this post for a while and found out I may be selling "Color Me Gone". So we negotiated over the phone and via email and Justin and his wife picked up the 255 here in Ft. Lauderdale this AM. They are headed back to Wisconsin with my sweet 255 in tow. The torch has been passed and I am excited to see what Dustin has in store for this old girl.

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Justin is going to start his own account on this forum to continue the journey with The 1979 255 Formula Liberator. I am looking forward to it !!

So after 5 years and Thousands of views this Chapter comes to a close. I have learned a lot in building/restoring this boat and I got a bunch of good times out of this old girl.She's been across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas a few times...the Keys and all over the Coastal waters of Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties.

Hopefully the information that I have shared has and will help some folks putting an old Formula together with updated power and drives.

It's been fun and I will check back from time to time to see what Justin is doing to my old 79 255 Liberator.

John Farabee aka sprink58

So what's next?

Wow Sprink i can't believe its gone you put a lot of time and effort into your boat and it shows, congrats on your new adventure.

Not sure. Got my eye on a sweet Corvette C5 Convertible ...but we will see!!

A car!?!?!?!?!? Come on now you need another formula.

It was lovely meeting you John. Took Dustin and I 3 days to get her home safe. It's been raining nearly everyday since we got back so she still hasn't been on the water! Looking forward to finishing her!

I am so glad someone who cares got my 255....that sweet boat deserves some "young blood" to finish what I started...looking forward to your progress.

I have been of this site for quite awhile, just tried the Formula 272 behind my newer Suburban for local towing. Decided to check in and clear out PM's, did a search and found this. Wow, sorry to see it move as I hoped to see more running information about the setup. But glad you found a good home for it and it is not being parted either. Hope the new family in Wisconsin reports back on use and fun.

Best wishes John.

Brian

Thought I'd update about a year later. I've removed all the old carpet from the inside and the cockpit floor... and well that's about as far as we have gotten. Feeling extremely guilty not getting anywhere with her and thinking she needs a home that going to give her all the love she needs.

Let me know what you do... You never know LOL:bananalove:

This is what has kept me busy for over a year...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a34e90cff9.jpg
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I was getting a bit nostalgic and wondered if anyone had seen or heard anything about my old '79 255 Formula Liberator? Had a lot of fun putting her back together.https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1fb1fd7573.jpg
My brother still has his old '83 223 single I/O...needs a transom by now since its been outside for a few years. I don't know if it would be worth taking on...? Hang a pair of Merc 250's on a bracket?

Just an addition to say that this thread is probably one of the best resources you will find on restoring and re-powering one of these boats(especially since Photo Bucket put all the Pics back Up !!).Alpha to Bravo swap was challenging but I learned a lot doing it...and had fun. "Color Me Gone" helped me thru some major changes in my life in a positive way...and for that I am grateful. I am also grateful for all the support and encouragement I got from the members of this forum.

We moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Ocala Last Year and the Muscle Car Scene is huge up here.We are active members of the Marion County Corvette Club. I am running into a few of my old South Florida Boat buds up here. I have a consulting job in the Lower Keys...gets me down there twice a month.truthfully...makes me want to do another project...who knows? Stay tuned..."Flat Glass Formulas Forever" !!

We love this beautiful boat and the story behind her. We've gotten as far as removing all the old carpet and the headliner but then life got in the way. I'd sell her back to you in a heart beat if you ever want to her back

ooh chit! Looks like she might be coming back south:drool1:

Dustin finally towed her the hour from our marina where she's been living since bringing her to Wisconsin to our new home since we have a lawn to put her on (sorry neighbors). One engine is running great the other seems to have an issue with the fuel pump.

Probably because it's been sitting a while. Tell Justin to tap gently on the top and side of the fuel pump a few times with the switch in the on position. That will probably free it up. It may take 2 or 3 repetitions to get it to break loose but it should work.

Also...I paid the "Fee" to Photobucket that opens up all the archival pics for this restoration.

UPDATE: I paid the "Photobucket Fee" that opens up all the Pics of this restoration. I hope this provides some inf to you guys working on these old Formulas. There is some good detailed information...especially upgrading from Alpha/Pre Alpha to Bravo I.
Enjoy!!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...21fb348c38.jpg
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WeeBitFluffy curious how this one's doing these days. Love this 255. Absolute stunner of a project.

It's sitting in my backyard covered in snow. We havent had the time to work on. 😭 She deserves love and attention again.