81 Scarab project from hell
 

Ok guys- I have been lurking around here for a little while now- and I see a few of you are like me- like big performance boats but lack WALLET big enough to just go buy one done. I had a really nice 85 Stinger 312- and had to sell it to help finance my business. Since I have been so responsible and now actually have a JOB- my wife has allowed me one lapse in judgement as I purchased this beat down Scarab. I think it is a 300? and there isn't much left. The only redeeming value is everything is there(engines, trans, drives, most of the cabin) and it is solid. I was told that it ran when I got it-(a huge lie) but I figured for what I paid for it both engines could be blown and I would still make out OK. I thought I would start posting some pics as I progress on my project( If I can figure out how) and get some advice from all you guys along the way. My first problem- how do I resize my pics if they are too big? Thanks

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Lets try this again- :rolleyes:

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

some more-

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

The real ugly part-

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

As you all can see- it is quite a mess- but I am not happy unless I am working on something- So I pulled the left engine to see what I had- and it turns out it was absolute junk!!! The only things I saved were the heads, the oil pan, and the exhaust and cooling system.

If you guys aren't interested in seeing any of this- let me know. I enjoy seeing other people's projects so I thought I would share a little.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

welcome to the board and welcome to my world :D i am in the process of selling my almost completly gone through 260 Stinger for a 38 flat deck Scarab that needs everyting. i have been wanting to move up and this seemed like the way to go. good luck with the project and keep us posted of the progress. looks like you have a good boat to start with.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Good Luck and My Thoughts are with Ya!
I´m in the process of the same too....
Had a lead of a Scarab38 KV MV edition but while it hasn´t finalized found a 39 Squadron that I verified today...
I´m leaning on the Squadron as it´s cheaper but lacks more.
Crazy..maybe..whattthehell lets do it. :evilb:

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Mikey Fin....Were is the MV edition Scarab? I had bought one last spring, paid for it, and a day before the trucker was to pick it up for transport the owner decided he did not want to
" sell it" . It took a month to straighten everything out and get me money back. Even though I could have successfully fought it and won since I had paid for it, and he accepted the payment, but I did'nt want the hastles involved, and god knows what he would have done to it in the meantime.....
I was looking for 4 years for that boat, and found 1. Where did you find this one?

Boat was in Edison, NJ. I was getting screwed but I loved the boat. Wound up buying a much nicer Stinger 390 for 1/2 the money. I don't know, I just love the old 80's Miami Vice boats.....

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Glassdave- thanks, I'll probably bug you about painting- because that is definately on the list( I can't pull off pink anymore!!!) I have got the port engine done from the rebuilder so I will shoot a few photos of it going back together hopefully in a few days.

Mikeyfin- no one ever said we were smart. :D

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Scottie150Welcome to the Scarab community. What was junk in the motor. I think we all would love to see pictures of your project. Helps other people with theirs and creates been there done that or don't do that discussions

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Love seeing boat projects. Looks like yours is pretty nice other than the engines. Best of luck! :) Jim

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Basically the #1 piston was welded to the cylinder- which junked the block. It had so much rust on it I honestly thought the boat had been sunk. The weird thing is everything else is ok in the engine compartment( the transom, stringers, starboard engine). The starboard engine starts and runs fine- however it has a exhaust leak on the side that is impossible to get to, so I have pretty much decided to yank that one too-seems like it would be easier to work on outside. The other thought is to take it and have it media blasted, my friends tell me there is a place in town that does Corvettes so it is ok on fiberglass, and for the cost of labor and sandpaper vs. just starting over it's almost a wash. Anybody got any thoughts on this or have you done it? I am going to try and pull the lower unit off the port drive to send it out to weld- so I will shoot some more photos tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the input!!! :D

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

a few more pics-

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

That will be a great boat when your done! Lots of TLC, and get rid of all the cast iron you can. I had a 79 300, years ago and loved it. Are you gonna keep the arch?

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Welcome to the board. Looks like you have one hell of a project going. I'm sure it will be awesome when complete and you will have the joy of knowing every piece on the boat. GOOD LUCK and keep OSO updated!

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Scottie, I have a 79 300, my son and I have put alot of work into it. we have won our class at lotto 2 years in a row. We have just cut the inner linner out of it and found the bulkheads are gone. another big prodject i really dont want to do but will. Our boat is a TRS boat with huber trans. 540ci. chevys on pump gas and runs 90mph. I get tired of spening so much money on it but its better than boat payments. Its easy to drag around and launch. Youll like it rough water they do a super job. Good luck with it and if i can be of any help send mail. Brian Miller

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Ya gotta love projects. Definately keep us posted on the progress. On the plus side, those drives don't look so bad, mine were a lot worse on our scarab when we bought it. Eventually we blew both and had to get them completely redone, so I would just run them until they blow...you have bigger fish to fry. The interior won't be too bad as long as the wood is not too rotted. If it was me, I would get the boat in good enough shape to run, then worry about major upgrades later. It all depends on how much money you have to play with, but we just did one thing at a time because thats all we could afford. But once you get to the end its a great feeling...and you've been running your boat for a year or two.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Well here is the latest update- I got a quote yesterday for soda blasting the upper deck and the hull $2200 ouch! I can buy a lot of sandpaper for that. I don't consider myself cheap but that seems like an awful lot for what I need done. I also got the exhaust manifolds back and repainted them, and sent the intake manifold and engine mounts out to be stripped. I took some photos but I probably won't get them up until tonight.

AZ Lineman- yes, I think I am going to keep the arch- I think it kind of updates the boat a little bit. I am also thinking about getting rid of the glass and teak and do something different.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

OK- I really have been working on the boat- I swear. I have a ton of new photos that I will try to post in the next few days. Progress has been slower than expected, but we are making headway.

Thanks- Scott :D

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Scottie ,

Welcome to the board! You'll love this place. Lots of helpful info and avenues on saving money. And YES!!! WE all like seeing restoration and projects of boats,,,basically if it floats,,,,we want to see it...man, wait till you see what me and some of the other idiots post on here! :D

Good luck and welcome!!

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Post more pics when you can.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

I like seeing the project pix too, helps remind me that I'm not the only nutcase out there trying to breath life back into old machinery- keep up the good work -Jeff

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Ok- here are some new photos- like I said we have been working on it but nothing goes easy. I am simply amazed at how no one seems to know anything about bigger boats around here, and everyone gives me a "you are insane" look when I am trying to do something. For an example, just fixing the trailer was a act of congress.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

More

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

More- :D :D

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

more- :D

Tomorrow I am finally finishing the port engine. I have been waiting to pull the starboard one so I have something to look at to remember how things go. I am also sending the trailer out to be blasted and painted this week- and if the weather holds we will finish stripping the boat for paint also. I will get more pics tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for the support. :D

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Here are some pics of ours under the knife again. This is the boat that Scarab 30 was talking about. Sad thing is we just finished it 2 1/2 years ago to find rotted bulkheads and bad stringers. Oh well going in a whole new direction won't even be able to tell what kind it is when done.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

here are a few more, I need to get back out there and see if they have it flipped and reblueprinting it

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Straightjacket, do you have any close up pics of your windshield? I have a 79 model and have been wanting to get rid of the huge stock windshield.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Don't really have any of just the windshield. All I did was cut about 10inches off of it and welded the seams did a little body work and painted it to match. Then we had some smoked plexi glass cut to fit in the slots and added the angles. Im not using it on the new configuration if you want it come and get it, Its pretty much one piece tho.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Thanks for the offer, I'm in Dallas though and your way too far away. I think I will try cutting and welding mine like you did. I can't wait to see how your boat turns out.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

I like what you did with the windshield too. It's funny that mxracer50 asked that because I was going to ask that myself. What are you going to do now for the windshield?

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

I don't think we are going to make a new shield to go with the new look. The boat is going to have a three man sit down style bolster seat in the front and rear. So if things are done right we will be able to see over the cowl. Maybe make some clear flip up style wind deflectors. These pics were taken this morning, the old man hasn't even seen them yet. MX check with Mark Worick of Sauncy road . He is a top notch welder fabrictor down thier he might hook you up or know someone who will

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Pics from today.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Wow nice job on the trailer so far looks awsome.

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Thanks custom29scarab! It's coming out pretty good- I got the lights done today, hopefully will have the bunks done and build a new winch tower this week. Both the drives are out for paint- I am going to try to get over to the paint shop and shoot some before photos-

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Straightjacket- do you have any new photos? :evilb:

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

new pics :cool:

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

More-

Re: 81 Scarab project from hell
 

Still more photos.