27 Fountain Project
 

Bilge area repainted with Interlux Bilgekote (inspired by Raypanic)

more bilge:

cutout on rear seat bulkhead for Whipple drive pulley:

transom with new Teague switchable muffler tips:

dash:

dash again:

heads reworked with Manley Severe Duty intakes and Inconel exh. valves:

new rockers:

My Fountain Skunkworks (named after Lockheed Facility that built SR-71, Stealth, etc.):

beak's eye view:

engine assembly:

more:

again:

nearly finished:

almost:

to date:

Beautiful!

Ron

Ron,

Thanks, the pics don't do it justice. The Black motor looks absolutely sinister. I've got it at my business and everone who sees it just stares in awe. The CMI's are the full polish elbow tops and I don't even like to touch them with oily hands! I'll be installing diamond plate in the engine compartment next. I've decided on red powder coat on the diamond plate. I'll post pics as progress furthers.

Thanks,

Mark S.

WOW, looks great!
I thought about redoing my bilge when the motor was out, but looked like a huge job! What does Fountain use? Mine looked like a real heavy paint that would actually wrinkle up when working on the motor. Look like chit.
Also, do you have to build a box in the rear seat cushion for the blower pulley? I only had 1/2" routed out of my bulkhead for the blower pulley. Not enough to go all the way thru. Different blower setup I guess.
Nice job.

US1,

Thanks for your compliments. The finish Fountain uses is really poor. It's got a chalky texture and comes off on a rag with even Simple Green. It's not a fun job painting the bilge but if you have the engine out I'd say go for it. About a year ago you contacted me regarding the blower clearance. The Whipple requires quite a bit more clearance than your set up. I put the project on hold because of that reason. The top of the rear seat has to be angled forward as well or I'd have to cut into it also. I'm fabricating a piece out of polyethylene (UHMW-same stuff used for cutting boards) to cover the opening between the seat back and bulkhead. When the engine hatch is closed, it won't even be noticable.

Mark

Nice job Mark, bet you can't wait t o throw the sticks forward. Post your results. What prop are you running?

Mate,

Going to try a 28 Hydro QIV. I've got a new Teague Platinum XR so I need the bigger spline hub.

Thanks,

Mark

Looks really good Mark, what year is the boat??

Looks great, Nice pictures! You will be real happy with the whipple mine worked flawlessly last summer. It's good you did the heads and valvetrain.

Did you remove the tips?? Mine are mounted with 3M 5200 tough stuff, How did yours come out. easy / hard?? I still neeed to remove mine.

Ray,

The tips were not difficult to remove. I was disapointed with the factory caulking- it was not too good. When I pulled the engine, I had to remove the Corsa silent choice system and that loostened the tips quite a bit. The Teague switchables require a 4 1/2" cutout so I had to enlarge the holes. Teague suggested mounting a 4" hole saw inside the 4 1/2" to pilot inside the old cutouts. This would have worked but the holes were closer to
4 1/8" so I machined an aluminum arbor to a close fit. I hole sawed from both sides and the holes came out pefect without chipping the gel coat on the transom. I can't even imagine doing this job with the engine in the boat.

Thanks,

Mark

Twinn,

The 27' is a 99 model. The 42' is a 98 that was rode hard and put away wet. It had 4" of moldy, stinky, water in the U shaped area in the cabin. That's next years project as I'm way over budget on the 27'.

Mark

I stopped by and saw Marks boat today. Sweet boat ,very clean, and all first class workmanship on the motor and bilge!!! Good luck with your project, looks great!

CHAD

Thanks Chad,


My real goal with this project is getting my son Scott started in a small business. What I have in mind is performance boat detailing, installation of bezels, diamond plate, maintainance, etc.
We have the space available and it's a great experience for future business endeavors. Last weekend Scott and I installed the engine and mounts for the diamond plate. I'll post pics soon.

Best Regards,

Mark Steidinger

FNT MAN,
Sorry dude, your 1st post has to be what boat and power plant you run. Rules is rules! ;)
Seen you lurking for a while, welcome aboard.

:) :) :D

Ask FTN MAN what he's got planned for his honeymoon:) :) :)

Ahhhhh....Three weeks in Az!!!! Taking the fountain to lake Havasu for a week, then to Lake Mead and if we have time Lake Texoma on the way home. Alittle early summer for me!!!!!Cannot wait.

Breath later

Where do you get the bilge paint. I'm thinking about painting mine while I have the engine out. thanks JimV

JimV,

The bilge paint is Interlux Bilgekote (white) BoatUS usually has it.

West Marine only has the grey. You should do 2 coats.

Thanks,

Mark S.

Battery adapter machined from 6061 alum stock.

This will allow the optima holder to fit into the std. battery holder without drilling more holes into the bottom of the bilge. The cutout was milled out for drainage.

Engine installation day. My workshop is in a vacant area of our building addition so I welded up an adapter to mount the 1 ton hoist to the forklift.

Another view:

Engine installed showing cutout in rear seat bulkhead for supercharger pulleys.

Top view of engine installed.

Cutout with belt installed.