Newbie 21' scarab build
10-29-2015 | 06:16 AM
#114
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,218
Likes: 573
From: St-Hyacinthe, quebec, canada
update:
ben working on it a lot lately. got to start it up last weekend!!!
I ended up having to pretty much pull the whole interior apart. the wall between the cabin and cock pit was only attached with two screws on the bottom. I think the build quality on these small boats aint as good as the bigger boats.
after I started it I had a few coolant leaks. take a look at the clamps I bought I though they would work better than worm gear clamps but I don't think they do. they leave a small gap right under the bolt of the clamp. im kinda worried this thing isn't gonna be reliable. I think I spent to much time making it look neat rather than function/ longevity.... after starting it the cam sounds a bit more radical than I expected. im worried about water reversion. I need to pull the exhaust off and check. .... please chime in with your opinions on any thing you see that I could improve.
pulling apart the dash. im redoing all the wiring I found some wire nuts so I said f it im starting from scratch lol
throttle consle was all jacked up and rotten so started making a new one
got the garage up few months ago. don't know what id do wit out it now. my dad gave me these cerwin vegas he bought new in 86 I refoamed the subs they rock!
I made this harness for the engine. FYI if any one does this and has the msd box up in the dash yr gonna have to make yr own extension harness not hard just tedious. you can get the plugs and terminals from eficonnection.com. if you do it like that it will leave you with 3 extra spots on the engine side of the harness. tach ( because that wire will come off the 16 pin plug on the msd end of the harness) and yr 5volt supply and map sensor signal cause you really don't need it. so I used one for starter solenoid, and one to excite the altenator. and then one spare. that way you got one nice clean plug for every thing on yr engine.
I had a friend make this water neck so plumbing to the heat exchanger was easier. I cut the old one out and pressed this one in. no leaks so far
little rig to start itn
here I am priming the oil system
ben working on it a lot lately. got to start it up last weekend!!!
I ended up having to pretty much pull the whole interior apart. the wall between the cabin and cock pit was only attached with two screws on the bottom. I think the build quality on these small boats aint as good as the bigger boats. after I started it I had a few coolant leaks. take a look at the clamps I bought I though they would work better than worm gear clamps but I don't think they do. they leave a small gap right under the bolt of the clamp. im kinda worried this thing isn't gonna be reliable. I think I spent to much time making it look neat rather than function/ longevity.... after starting it the cam sounds a bit more radical than I expected. im worried about water reversion. I need to pull the exhaust off and check. .... please chime in with your opinions on any thing you see that I could improve.
pulling apart the dash. im redoing all the wiring I found some wire nuts so I said f it im starting from scratch lol
throttle consle was all jacked up and rotten so started making a new one
got the garage up few months ago. don't know what id do wit out it now. my dad gave me these cerwin vegas he bought new in 86 I refoamed the subs they rock!
I made this harness for the engine. FYI if any one does this and has the msd box up in the dash yr gonna have to make yr own extension harness not hard just tedious. you can get the plugs and terminals from eficonnection.com. if you do it like that it will leave you with 3 extra spots on the engine side of the harness. tach ( because that wire will come off the 16 pin plug on the msd end of the harness) and yr 5volt supply and map sensor signal cause you really don't need it. so I used one for starter solenoid, and one to excite the altenator. and then one spare. that way you got one nice clean plug for every thing on yr engine.
I had a friend make this water neck so plumbing to the heat exchanger was easier. I cut the old one out and pressed this one in. no leaks so far
little rig to start itn
here I am priming the oil system
11-01-2015 | 02:28 PM
#115
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 123
Likes: 2
From: Aylett, Virginia
11-08-2015 | 09:27 PM
#116
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 2
From: Johns Creek, GA
Your speed numbers sound way too low to me. I had an 86 scarab I which has a different deck than the later excels but same hull I believe. It ran low 60's with a 454/330hp, mirage 21p 3 blade and alpha 1.5 drive. I also found an old PowerBoat report on the Excel that tested it at 58-59 mph with the standard 350 mag so I think my non-GPS speeds are reasonable. I ran that boat for 10 years with no drive issues and that was a 454 BBC. I did add a stern jack later on and an alpha ss 1.32 gears and got it to run about 70. Stern jack and standard alpha ran high 60's.
The LS must be lighter and more HP so your boat in my mind is a 70+ mph ride??? Interested to hear what you find when you get it dialed in.
The LS must be lighter and more HP so your boat in my mind is a 70+ mph ride??? Interested to hear what you find when you get it dialed in.
11-10-2015 | 09:13 PM
#117
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 1
From: O'Fallon, Missouri
Your speed numbers sound way too low to me. I had an 86 scarab I which has a different deck than the later excels but same hull I believe. It ran low 60's with a 454/330hp, mirage 21p 3 blade and alpha 1.5 drive. I also found an old PowerBoat report on the Excel that tested it at 58-59 mph with the standard 350 mag so I think my non-GPS speeds are reasonable. I ran that boat for 10 years with no drive issues and that was a 454 BBC. I did add a stern jack later on and an alpha ss 1.32 gears and got it to run about 70. Stern jack and standard alpha ran high 60's.
The LS must be lighter and more HP so your boat in my mind is a 70+ mph ride??? Interested to hear what you find when you get it dialed in.
The LS must be lighter and more HP so your boat in my mind is a 70+ mph ride??? Interested to hear what you find when you get it dialed in.
11-12-2015 | 03:38 PM
#118
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 123
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From: Aylett, Virginia
Yea I never got a chance to try different props. I just hand junk props on it to get me in water. Thanks for the kind words and motivation swiss! Should boat in garage by first of year!
11-14-2016 | 07:24 PM
#119
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Winchester , va
Did you get your boat back together? I built a 402 for mine after the 5.3 started knocking and ran 68 in my 23 checkmate. I cheaped out top end though. Stock heads etc. I started building a new boat. '04 checkmate 300 convincor. Putting twin Procharged 6L motors in it.
11-16-2016 | 06:17 PM
#120
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 123
Likes: 2
From: Aylett, Virginia
Yea it's all together. Well except for the interrior but who needs that. Boat runs great. Bought a SEI drive and it's been holding up great. I bought a 30ft century I been working on. Got any pictures of the new project?
