Cafe Racer project update
 

-Autometer gauges have arrived
-Gaffrig polished trim rings have arrived
-Momo platinum wheel from Marine Machine has arrived
-Rex Marine polished hub has arrived(with the wrong mounting hardware)
-Team Marine has dash, gauge and trim switch panels to be powdercoated
-My Mercury controls are with the Suffolk County District Attorney's office---apparently a disgruntled emplyee of my local powdercoater twisted the handles into pretzels. The owner has bought 2 new handles and cannot get the bases back.
-New style grab handes are on there way from Tres Martin
-Nav station and door are at Kryptonite to be re-gelcoated...boat to be delivered at a later date.
-CMI exhaust arrived months ago
-New Weiand Team G tall deck manifolds arrived months ago
-New Holley Dominator 1050s arrived months ago
-New MSD box back from MSD---for the 3rd time--they tell me it is OK.
-Motors are still out of the boat...waiting on the engine builder to complete.

Here's pics of the cockpit...

pic 2
 

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pic 3

pic 4

pic 5

last one for now

Hey Sean...looks like a lot of work still to do :eek: Any idea of a spash date?

Wow Sean, I thought my projects were running a little slow......you have made me feel a little better..........ah.....you will get there!! I had to wait 8 weeks for my panels from Team Marine...they slowed me down a bit.

The hardest part is waiting on other people to do their work on time and if it comes out right the first time is the real test!!

I should be complete in 2 weeks and ready for the water!


Best of luck,
Spence

Sooooo.....

Does this mean we're not going boating next weekend ?? :D ;)

Sorry...my head still hurts from Saturday.

Sean,
That sucks about your throttles! I'm glad I got my dash panels back before that guy did anything to them!

The stupid part of it all was that none of this needed to be done...it started out as a simple gauge replacement and once they were out, you stand back, scratch your head and say..."well, I might as well do this while the dash is apart..." It just snowballs from there... :(

Anyway, It'll be just the way I want it when its done---without it looking like a hack job.

I have no idea when I'll be done, I'm hoping Memorial Day...putting it back together will be easy, its just waiting on everyone else to do their part. And...I've just gotten word from my job that I'll be working 5 weekends this summer... :mad: :mad: Time to look for a new job.

Here's a before picture.

No hangover for me Wes...I was very surprised!

BTW, can I borrow your boat? :D :D :D

Gary, you got lucky dude, the DA is on vacation until the 28th of April...this is starting to turn into a nightmare...

Ya know I'd let you borrow it.....just promise to not take it apart while ya have it !!!!!

So Wes...you ready to sell that thing yet?? :D I hear there's a good deal on an Apache or Cigarette somewhere :p

no turning back now......

I love project boats, ya sure. I'm sure it will be all smiles in the end. The smile comes when you first start it and almost everything works.....at least it starts.......that worth a big SMILE. I'm working towards that day myself. Best, Craig

Sean, are you painting the helm area? Are you doing it?

Looks like a nice winter project for me next year...

Craig...I do enjoy projects...I'm already staring to think about next winter's project...

Cig...My pal Kirk at Kryptonite Powerboats is doing me the favor of re-gelcoating the dash. I don't have the experience or the equipment to do such a thing. I also did not want to go with paint because gelcoat is much more durable and original.

How's your boat? How's the new steering?

Everything is going great. She is almost pre-rigged. Not long now. Craig

Nice having friends like that. I just gelcoated a 14' boat for my son - what a pain in the ass.

Steering's doing good. I'm still waiting on a few "final" parts, but what I have now works. Haven't really stressed it yet (ie ocean). I hope to get out this Sunday - maybe a find a cruiser or two on the river and give it a good launch!

Sean it will be nice once its done. the cafe is one of my favorite cigs.

Sean,
That looked like my Bullet last year at this time. When you said Kirk was re-gelcoating the dash, are you changing from black dash to white?

Sean,
Thanks for showing me parts of my boat I hope I will never have to see.:D:D:D
Good Going what is your target wet date?

Nice project
 

Going through the same ordeal.. Hoping to have it in June sometime ..All I can say is "Get on it"..
Im not doing anything like this again till I have indoor storage and can work on it all winter.. Too much snow and trying to cram it all in in mar' april, may sucks

Sean:
It all looks so familiar!!! Like going back in time...it`s the little(expensive) things that keep us guys happy. Good luck, and cant wait to see you on the water!!!!
TOM

I myself is a glutten for punishment!

cig1988...yup, we're getting rid of that 80's black dash and going to white... Your project looks to be coming along nicely. I saw your Bullet thread and do most of the work myself and wouldn't mind turning this hobby into a biz zomeday too... Where on LI are you? I'd like to check out your projects...

caferacer...my new license plate is in... CAFERACR :) We'll see you on the water...hopefully and of May, beginning of June. I definitely got a late start ong this one :( Did you sell the dually yet? I'm goign to look at one in CT---an '01 4X4 8.1, Ally with 19k miles for $18K...

I'll keep ya'll updated as this progresses

Hey Sean...where in CT?

Steve,

I think it's in Norwalk...I'm waiting to hear back from the guy...

Sean

That's 10 minutes from my house, let me know when you come and we can grab some lunch, beer, or whatever, if you have a few extra minutes. Heck, if the boat's in the water (I keep it in Norwalk)...

Sean,
That sounds like a killer deal on that truck! Is that an extra cab? Good luck, let me know how you make out. My wife saw one the other day I'll try to get info on it. P.S. how was Vegas? we all want details :)

OK folks, I hate to brag, but I joined the "Over 80mph club Sunday". Turned my GPS on and ran against a buddy of mine with an AT and was shocked when I saw 82.0 on the GPS. The best I saw last summer was 76.9. Just to check it I made another pass and locked in a 82.3.

I love cool weather.

Steve,
That's gotta make you feel good, Congrats!!!

Craig

ps- How was the steering at that speed?

congrats Steve...

gimme the specs...I'm workin towards 80 myself...

Craig, the steering worked great!! Felt real steady and tight.

Twin 502s, bottoms are crate except I upgraded to Crane 741 hydraulic roller cams. Heads are GM square ports with Inconel valves, Isky springs, Crane rollers - no porting or polishing. B&M 250 blowers with 3# of boost, twin Teague-prepped 750 carbs on each. CMI exhaust. Bravo 1 drives 1.5 running 30p non-labbed props. Hydromotive nosecones. RPMs were showing 5500. Cool day (70-75), just me in the boat, but almost full of gas.

Steve,
Congrats on the 80 mph club.
Sean,
I'm up on the north shore and boat out of Mt. Sinai. The '89 Cig is at the welders in Center Moriches until the weekend. Sounds like your out out in that area?
Last year when I went through this mess with the '88 I should have thought to do the dash in white. Much cleaner look. I shot everything in black imron with a flatning agent and it came out pretty good. When the white gel coat is shot, is it a flat or shiney look?
Who's doing the interior? Donde did mine last year came out mint. He reconfigured the bolsters with the headrest and the engine hatch was done with the 3 sleek headrest close to the back bench. The boat is still covered up from the winter & I'll take some shots in a few weeks. Hydro hoist is going in this Saturday am.

Sean,
Try Old Coach Motors in Mt Sinai. The had a '2000 black chevy crew cab diesel I think. One of my drivers purchased a nice truck there earlier in the week. If your truckless now and get into a jam, let me know if you need the boat moved.

Steve,

How much HP do you think you are making?

cig1988,

My dad bought a Chirs Craft form Mt Sinai last spring...Do you keep yours at the marina there?

I boat out on the East End...in the Peconics and Greenport/Shelter Island area. We should meet up this year...

Thanks for the offer on the truck...this one in CT looks like it may be "the one" :) The "problem" with moving my boat is that it's on a gooseneck trailer, so I need to buy a dually and put the hitch in the bed...but I've heard they are much easier to manuever then the traditional bumper mount trailer...

I'm not sure about the gelcoat...we'll see when Kirk's done, but my expectation is that it will look original... The upholstery is still original and still perfect...so I'm gonna leave it alone for now...

I'd love to see pics of that 88, so post 'em when ya get 'em!

Sean

Sean, Yes, it's the only slip with a hydro hoist on it. I went past "old coach" today it's definetly a black 2000 crew cab diesel. At time during the summer I may be out by Moriches inlet with the 21' bbc jet boat. Draws about a foot of water and can get to most of them bars at low tide. We'll toss a few during the summer. Let me know how the dash works out.

Sean, never dyno'd, but I've been told this setup is good for 650hp