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Now the funny thing is, the painter could not remember which panel was on the right or left.... so he made them match either way. Butt them up on either side and they are an EXACT match!!

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I had found a REAL DEAL on some Eickert 4-n-1 gauges and it really cleaned up the panel.
Here is a close up of the gauges.

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And as with anything new, how do you label it?? I did not like the idea of stick-on plastic labels, so I had the panel Laser Etched ($70.00)... a bargain. Here it is:

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I also needed some rocker switches for the Tabs & Drives. I did not like the idea of having to make rectangular holes exactly the right size for the Carling switches, so.... I found this from Eddie Marine for $80.00 !! It made it so simple.... cut a square hole, drill & tap for four machine screws & DONE!!

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WOW!! Looks Great.

I love those guages....dont have to look to far to see whats going on!!

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Last winter I had found a "close out" deal on the GPS unit I installed here. $100.00 each, so I bought two (one for the Formula 312). I liked the way the Formula worked out with it mounted in the dash, so I did it with the Sonic also... did not like it on top of the dash.

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Here is my wiring harness... all custom made, by me.

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Each switch has a seperate power lead to come from a designated Circuit Breaker for each device operated. And of course, I had to make it easy to remove if needed, so....

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Heavy wiring is not needed as anything with a heavy load uses relays for power. The switches only operate the relays. Now, this is a lot of wiring, so of course I had to label everthing on both ends.

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Now I have to start thinking about "fixing" that black Kiekauffer indicator label.....????

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Hi Perf 2000....
Thanks a lot. I figured it out. When the file is selected with the browse button, the file type was shown as "all file types" even though the file was a jpeg. I just changed it to .jpeg and it worked. Funny how we can overlook things like that. I appreciate your help.!! Kudo's to you! :drink: :drink:

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My boat wants YOU to redo the wiring! Everytime a mechanic works on it, there are more loose wires flopping around. It is a mess!

When you have finished your awesome project, please document it and write it up. I'l be the first in line to buy your book of "how to rerig your boat!"

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Looks to me like you're doing a great job! Keep up the good work. I like your choices of colors and graphics too.

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:D Thanks Guys!! My wife was sitting here looking at what I did last weekend at the lake. It's a good thing she didn't see the mess I made while doing it in the living room on the coffee table. I knew this was going to take hrs & hrs so I wanted to be comfortable!! I never could have stood up at a workbench for that long!!
This still continues to be fun, but the wife has me back in town for about two weeks of "Honey-Do's" for me ( repainting three rooms, repairs & new carpet before Christmas). I sure hope I get it done.... It's hard to NOT be at the lake for that long. My boat misses me!!
Thanks again Guys. You all make it more rewarding by letting me share this project.
Merry Christmas to everyone!! :drink:

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Sure Looks good George. Can't believe you have made so many changes to it since we brought the problem Child home. Talk to ya later

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Robert, this thing ran so good even with the bad carbs that you may be in danger of me out running your Eliminator.... well, maybe not if you added blowers!! :D It's gonna be a "kick" at LOTO I guarantee! :drink:
We need another OSO HOOTERS Meeting after New Years..... if you can take a night off :( . See ya' soon.
George

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George, your project looks great! Enjoy the satisfaction you gain from working on your own boat... you deserve it!

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WOW, very nice upgrade. That wiring is top notch :)

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:eek: Well, I said I had to do something with the Drives/Tabs indicator panel as it was faded black & looked like sh_ _ !! Here was the old panel...

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Here is the new one... that's really purple plastic w/laser cut lettering detail to reveal the white......

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Well, since I re-did the dash I had to go ahead to replace the stock Sonic fuse block arrangement where you have to remove the bathroom mirror to check the fuses.... I could not find a breaker panel I liked so I made one ( why would I do that???). Again, this is purple.... notice the slight Sonic "wave" incorporated in the panel...... I wonder about that other thing.... "MY Perogative".... how's that for a boat name?? It's ALL been my perogative!!

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Look's great!

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The finished panel front & back

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Nice work...What did the painter charge for the dash if ya dont mind me asking? Wht brand paint did he use and did he clear coat it too?
mike

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I don't mind you asking.... he charged me $200.00 for both panels. Considering the time involved, the craftmanship & the cost of materials I think that was a decent price. The laser etching cost me another $60.00. The custom breaker panel & the trim panels (I got two of each- even the holes were laser cut) for $100.00 The breakers I bought of Ebay (in a new unused panel) for $23.00. So total cost for everything was $383.00....about what a "plain jane" breaker panel from WEST or Boatus would cost. I don/t really know what brand of paint he used but it is clear coated. You can hardly feel the overlays in the paint. This guy is GOOD!

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Gosh, golly, Hot Damn, I don't believe it but after 18 months I got a call today.... !!


I get to pick up the Sonic from the paint shop Wednesday!!
Just in time to try to get it together for LOTO for the Shootout (if possible)!! This has really been stressful, but we are on the last leg now...... I never even got to start it again after putting on the Chuck Noone modified Dominators.
I can't wait!!
More pictures coming soon, I promise.

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you are too patient. can't wait to see it. why don't you get it together and come to the Grand Slam poker run July 23rd.

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Paul, You wouldn't believe it but.... on the way back to the lake I blew TWO tires!! Same side. These were not worn tires either. Nearly new tread on them. At the same time, a mobile home transport going the opposite way blew FIVE tires and ended up in the ditch!! Guess I'm just lucky.
No damage to the boat thank God. It's now in the garage just waiting for my return from an Arkansas family reunion over the 4th of July. Then to LOTO to pickup the Formula....... no big boats for 11 months and now I have two again!!
I can't wait to get the Sonic re-assembled, but it might take a couple of weeks yet. I'll know soon how long.
George :D

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Finally!!! I got 6 days to work on the Sonic uninterrupted mostly. Result? Check it out!!


The Launch Fill-up $285.00!!

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Home at Last!! Sweet ride! I still have to finish the cuddy, but everthing is working fine now..... except I need to change the drive ratio to 1.5 from 1.36. Guess I'll do that Sunday with luck, I have spare drives so it should be not a big problem. Engines sounded great... Rock & Roll!!

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Congrats! I am still waiting for your book, "how to rerig boats" with particular attention to rewiring the Sonic. <gg>

Thanks for sharing the photos of your excellent work on that boat!

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I really think that no one believed I would ever finish this project. The biggest hang up was the paint shop (isn't it always?) Thanks a lot for the "praise". Frankly, I was amazed that after all that rewiring everything worked. How many connections is that when you do a complete rewire, add breakers for everything & put plugs in on the dash to make it removable? Several hundred I would guess.. the first time!! No faults, except for a defective engine sensor. You may have to wait for the book.... the wife sez I can now start on her projects!! Guess who gets priority??? " If she ain't happy, nobodies happy!!"

We took it out today and ran it for maybe two hours and it was flawless in performance. Good ride too, even though the water was pretty rough. I am a very happyt "camper"!!

Thanks again-George..... Does this mean I have to change my screen name??

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I know you're glad it finally got "wet"! It's a fine looking boat, good or better than new.
Hope your wife lets you take some time off from "her" projects to let you run it!!!

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blown formula, I've been wondering lately where you've been, glad you're on the water finally! I'll be the first to ask, what kind of speed numbers (if your switching gear ratios you must be moving)? Steve

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Hi there Kathycool. I definetly remember my non-stop trip to see you. It has been awhile, don't I know. I know you thought this was a figment of my imagination, but it is real!! You were an important part of the engine parts for sure.....
I changed gear ratios due to the fact I could not get above 3400 RPM with the 1.36 gears. I have now changed the gear sets and will install the drives wed night.... unfortunately, other things call. I am unable to quote any numbers yet as I "forgot" to install my GPS antennae!! However, it "felt" like about 50 or so @ 3000. The GPS is working now.......
now just a few more hours work & I will hit the water again!
Wish me luck!!

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Very Cool! :evilb:

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Any updates? What was your speed?

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Yes.... the terrible update.
All summer it seemed the engines just did not make the power they should. So, I pulled one engine to go to the dyno.... they said the carbs are too big for the cu. inch- (468). So, I bought new intakes, new carbs (950 cfm) & proceeded to pull the intakes to replace them. What I found was disheartening at best. Three valve guides had fallen out of the head. So, I pulled the heads & found the engine has been leaking water into the cylinders.???? So I went to engine #two, pulled the intake & guess what? The same deal again with the guides. So, now I send the heads into Boyd's Machine in OKC (the dyno place) to get the guides fixed. They tell me the previous shop had bored the guides into the water jackets & the water was from leaking around the guides. Magnifluxed & tested the heads again and found minor cracks. So now I am replacing heads with Brodix aluminum heads. A complete tear down showed the cranks, rods & pins had also been screwed up @ the previous shop..... so now everything has been fixed & ready for reassembly. The heads came in last friday.... Then the ice storm hit Oklahoma & no water or electricity since last friday evening..... gee- life is fun!! So now we wait for lights to be able to work. When we do the next dyno runs I will post then here. The last run did show 586hp@5600rpm. Not bad, but not where it should be. Look for another update in two to three weeks.....can't wait!!

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That sucks, good luck with round 2.

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Yeh, thanks. It is suprising that a supposedly "reputable shop"- aka Bob's Machine in Hulbert, Oklahoma (they have built hundreds of race motors, recommended by many racers.... from where I stand, they are no longer reputable. We had a total of 6 motors machined there & 4 of the 6 have died horrible deaths shortly after starting..... of course- no warranties on "Hot Rod" engines!!
$8k in parts & machine work, all the machine work is now duplicated...everything done again!! Only reused the cranks (after polishing), rods (after resizing them again- 3 were not in specs), refitted the pins (one was installed crooked & had to be oversized), cleaned the pistons & machined .050 additional valve clearance, new rings & bearings, reused the cams, lifter & rockers. Replaced all valves, springs & keepers (Inconel valves), using the new MLS head gaskets. All in all... another $7500 in parts & machine work..... oh yeh, and this AFTER I ordered my new McLeod bolsters!!! Another $5500!!
Man o'man... an expensive winter!! But next summer, it should be a rocket compared to a stocker.!!