My 242 is back from the surgeon!
 

Hoping to get a build journal together with pics, but I'm happy to announce that my 242 is now comfortably resting at home post its transom and stringer rebuild. I have anew transom, hull stringers to the rear bulkhead, battery/anchor floors, new engine stringers, and a fresh coat of gray bilge paint. Once I've had a chance to get her cleaned up, I'll take some pictures.

Next steps:

1. Clean!!
2. Complete the transom assembly and exhaust cutouts (left solid because she was going to sit over the winter more than likely).
3. Re-rig the electricals and pumps.
4. Reinstall freshened Bravo transom assembly.
5. Decide and execute on 496 or 540 plans, build, install.
6. Upgrade sound system and electronics.

More to come... just happy to have the old girl home!

Oh this will be great love to see how it turns out, just be carful of that well I might as well do it now list. With a 540 she will move right along.

Nice. Did the re-builder have any pics of the restoration?

Yes. That's what I'm waiting on. He's in the middle of settling some personal family issues, and he'll get them to me when he's able.

I know all to well the pitfalls! I've got friends to keep me on track so we shall see.

I'm really excited to get to work!

Will be a bitcoin boat next year, no matter what you have for power! Can't wait!

Wayne... Bitcoin? LOL

*****in' I think is what you were after!

Gave her a nice bath this evening before heading out for cocktails. I am beyond happy to get this baby going again. Divorce present for me! Woohoo!!

Plans are changing a little....

I have a perfectly good 454 with 400 hours, new RHS iron top-end about 30 hours ago. The inside of the engine looks brand new! I'm thinking that this is just screaming to be turned into a 525sc clone. The plan:

- check bearing condition first (I have a new 460 short-block available cheap if needed).
- update heads with Inconel valves, and Isky springs.
- cam and valvetrain update (step or two above 525sc).
- Weiand or B&M 17x supercharger with 1000 CFM+ carb, 5lbs boost max.

Thoughts are that I can get a good 550 HP out of this for half the cost of doing a 540 with less wear and tear on the rest of the boat. And the blower will be just plain cool. I've followed and researched this topic all over OSO, and I can't beat the logic on this path.

What do you guys think?

Tom , I just put 525sc in my 88 242 in the spring . I still need to prop it right , not sure what it needs for 550hp . I may try a 22 p bravo 1 4 blade tomorrow see what it does !
I gotta tell ya this thing sure makes a lot of noise !! [ATTACH=CONFIG]531611[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]531612[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]531613[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]531614[/ATTACH]

How well does she fit under the hatch? Any engine/bilge pics? Video of the boat running?

I thought I recognized that engine (and the paint on the garage).... I saw your video on YouTube. Give it some gas! Lol. ;)

Yup lol !
Motor fits just fine in the hatch with the blower and arrestor , although it would not fit in with the accessories on I also had to take the crank pulley off . When lifting it in . All said and done i have about an inch and a half clearance from the front of the bottom belt pulley to the front of the engine bay . I will try to post some vids , let me know how it goes .

I hear ya on the clearance issue. I had to turn the 454 Mag 90 degrees to get her out with the crank pulley still attached.

Videos please!

I know you're prop testing and all, but a 22 Bravo seems a little backward sliding. I was running a 23P Mirage with the Mag, and seeing mid to upper 50's without any kind of tune and crap/old fuel. I would guess a jump to a 25P would be the direction.

How does she run? What's timing at?

Yes I know on the prop just can't get my hands on one soon enough, tomorrow will be the last time I take it out going to be 70's then Saturday 40 with low in the 30's . Already winterized other boat .
The motor runs great starts up everytime really no issues , wish I did have a few props to try before the winter , but I'm still gonna go wake up half the town early in the morning tomorrow with a few wide open rips right prop or not ! I will make a few videos for ya !

Did you make it out, river is looking high.

No didn't went to fix leaking power steering line ended up taking 4 hours , gonna try on Sunday even though its gonna be 45 degrees !

Hey Matjluk, I know the weather hasn't been too great to get out for video and such, but would you mind getting some bilge pics for me? I'm curious to see how everything fits. I also misplaced the pics I took previous to all the work done on the boat, and pics from another LS would really help!

Thanks,
Tom

Sure , I will do that this weekend anything specific ?

Anything is good really. Wiring etc.

I just bought a B&M 250 with carbs for mine. This is going to get interesting!

Oooooo that is nice , that could be a lot of power if ya want ! I think the biggest pain in is wiring it up other than that its easy . I put a 10 pin harness to the dash in mine cause the motor came with a 10 pin , really wish I stayed with the 9 pin in the boat and changed the motor harness , still can't get any of my gauges to work and gonna have to spend a bunch of time figuring out why .

I'm making no changes to the harness itself. I will be adding a oil temp and boost gauges to the helm. I believe wiring for oil temp is already there. If not, I'll add to the harness separately. I don't want to mess with Formula's wiring. Boost will be done via a line to the helm.

Here are some pics of my engine bay Tom . [ATTACH=CONFIG]532284[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]532285[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]532286[/ATTACH]

Tom we still want to see some pics !!! Any idea on hp you will have with that blower ?

Not much to look at right now. I left for the Domincan Republic last week and came back sick. Today would have been a great day to get pics of the work done to the structure, but I have barely the strength to get out of bed let alone climb up into the boat. Maybe this weekend perhaps.

As for the 454 and the blower, good question! I'm thinking right around 600 HP, and that's based on a lot of what I'm reading here on OSO. Will depend on some budget stuff too. I'm definitely changing the cam to a good blower grind. I'll probably have Bob Madura cook something up for me on that front. We'll see.

More to come.

Here are some pics of the glasswork inside of the boat. Everything in the bilge with exception of the gunwale mounting boards has been replaced.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pstxfq3d3a.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psciahbukc.jpg


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http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pswlombz41.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pstogs3fis.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psldckoxiz.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pshdleslk4.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pst6565tlr.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psxgquay6b.jpg


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I plan on knocking down some of the high pin spots that are evident in the pics. The pics bring them more to light than what you see in the boat. I will then repaint everything in white.

The tank and associated pieces forward of the work area are VERY dirty. Lots of dust that in turn has trapped some moisture creating mold. I'm going to clean it all up as well as replace the missing foam between the tank and the new bulkhead.

I was really lucky in terms of water/rot damage. Everything stopped right at the bulkhead. Only treatment of the end pieces of wood grid underneathe was needed. It was sistered then glassed. Hoping to have a build diary from my friend who did the work. I'll post pics from the diary when I get them.

Lastly, the holes for the drive and the exhaust have not been cut. This is on purpose because I knew she'd be sitting through the winter (more than likely).

Feedback welcomed!

Tom, just wonder if you ever considered raising the x demention, I know a lot of people try doing it. It would be like using a -1 bravo. The 242 has a low x demention, just asking it would be a more work.

Thought about that, and now would be the time to do it. I Would have to glass-in the holes in the rear but that's not that big of an issue. Might mean not getting my Silent Thunder back on.

Anyone down this with a 242?

Just keeping the thread at the top. So far I have gathered the following:

B&M blower and carbs
New Comp roller lifters
New Crower roller rockers

Looking for a 525 EFI cam!!

Heads are coming off this weekend so I can start going through them.

The weather has been so cold. Hasn't been any fun being out to do anything with the boat. Fortunately, the garage is warm!

Post pics of the boat outsides if ya can !!
Just like seeing other 242's !!!!

Good luck, looks great. I have heard that unless the transom is the exact same thickness as the old one, you might have to move the front mounts. Hopefully not.

We shall see. Hopefully, we do not run into any issues.