newbie

[seastrake]

Hi, I'm new to the Chris Craft family. My boat is a 1967 33ft. Cavalier Seastrake with 327f corvette engines. Me and my son are working on it. New shore power, canvas, varnished toerails , swim platform, etc. I will be asking alot of questions, thanks jim

[seastrake]

Where is the best place to buy hoses,belts, ign.parts, tune-up parts. Should I convert my distributor to elec. Ign. or get new distributor? Boat runs well, starts up easy, it has fairly new edelbrock carbs, elec fuel pumps

[seastrake]

I live on the west coast, ( San Fran. Area) boat is in San Diego

[ClassOf56]

First, welcome aboard! Please post pictures, we love pictures.

If it is running well, I wouldn't touch anything!

[68 cavalier]

Hi Jim, Welcome aboard captain. Classof56 is right if it's running good have fun. 327 vet engine's Man o man. just thought id drop a line. I have a 1968 283 in my boat I've owned since 1977. I've been trying to restore it for a while. Some suggestion's and consideration's. My 68 take's 94 octane leaded regular gas as I suspect your 327's do. The lead in the gas was to lubricate the valve seat's in the head's. Year's latter when compression and octane rating's dropped the factory's made the valve seat's hardened so lead wasn't needed, less pollution. The ethanol in today's gas has a tendency to corrode and break down old school seals ETC You have newer carb's fuel pumps that could be compatible with ethanol. I would check with the previous owner if they had all head's rebuilt, a valve job, hardened seat's new spring's ethanol compatible valve seal's. Just a consideration. Good news some marinas sell non ethanol gas now, heard the octane is 92. The only thing electronic ign/ distributor will change is a little more consistent spark plug firing above 3100 rpm's. your boat is a cruiser, not a ski boat. Love the idea you and your son are working together,, mike

[ballardMike]

Hi Jim! I would highly recommend the electronic ignition conversion! We have 350s in our '66 Futura (reengined sometime in the late 80s - early 90s) - sounds awesome. Problem i had was at low revs shifting into reverse the lugging would often kill port engine.

After rebuilding carbs ($45 per for kit) i then did the distributors ($65 per kit) and got timing done by a pro the thing purrs like angry kittens! PLUS the fuel savings is fairly noticable.

Check out http://www.hot-spark.com/ if you like.

[seastrake]

Heading down to the boat in one week. Projects include more varnishing, topside paint and replacing belts and some more hoses. Going to keep the original ignition for now, replace ign. parts, cap, wires and plugs. Adjust the carbs and timing . Mike, I always put a fuel additive when gassing up. Hope to take it out. Thanks guys for your input.

[seastrake]

Having trouble with my trans. It stuck in forward. What should I try to get it in neutral.

[jfrprops]

that is the Paragon HF7 hydraulic type unit and being "stuck" in forward sounds weird.

What do you mean exactly?

Is the shift lever not able to move + stuck? If so that is in the top or bottom end of the shifter or cable....not likely.

Will the lever move but the thing is still in forward gear? If so maybe it has come loose at one end of the cable? also not too likely....one thing to check there is that the cable is ATTACHED/FIXED to the unit...at the trans...because if it is not the cable just slides back and forth without MOVING the shift arm on the trans control box (the unit on top of the trans with the paragon name plate on it).

When looking at the top of the trans....is the shifting arm...short one....moving? if not maybe the mounding bolt is loose allowing the arm to come up off of the hex nut that connects things???

If all that stuff IS moving when you are shifting then you go to looking at the hydraulic controls themselves...
full of fluid?
good pressure?
are you sure that the O ring at the shifter arm on the trans is not leaking fluid?
It is remotely possible that you have blown the O ring on the piston that does the actual hydraulic shifting inside that control box....that would prevent anything from happening.....

"Stuck" in forward is hard to picture....more details or phone me after you have investigated..... 804-598-3134

John in Va.

[seastrake]

Thanks john for the fast response. The shift lever moves in the forward,neutral and reverse positions, but stays in forward gear. I'll investagate further, thanks for the tips. Of course this happened on the last day at the boat. Will be back to the boat in a month, it's 500 miles away.

[seastrake]

20160 107_083732.jpg

[seastrake]

Front view

[seastrake]

[seastrake]

[seastrake]

royal cork yacht club

[seastrake]

helm

[seastrake]

hope to get boat painted in april, previous owner left blue tape on the deck. That stuff is tough to get off

[seastrake]

Color scheme blue stripe at rub rail, red boot stripe and black bottom?

[jfrprops]

Good project...keep us informed....

John in Va.

[cc-woodboats]

when you get back to the boat,without starting the engine see if you can turn the prop shaft by hand or with a pipe wrench.
it should turn fairly easily.if not I suspect you may have a burned forward clutch. when they burn up the plates will warp and lock up the output shaft so its always in forward.
if the prop shaft turns freely then it is a hydraulic problem.

[seastrake]

Thanks John and CC, I'll be heading back to the boat after super bowl sunday, will keep you posted on my progress

[seastrake]

I'm going to drain trans. fluid, refill it. Is there a drain
plug or is it easier to pump out. How many quarts does the HF7 take.

[jfrprops]

I doubt draining will help. Yes there is a drain plug, you can feel it, directly under the unit...but there is not enough clearance to get much of a drain pan under there......you fill it until it is at the upper end of the two marks on the dip stick.
Use type F AFT.

John in Va

[seastrake]

Thanks John, how is the scout doing?
Nice looking boat.

[jfrprops]

Doing great....I just installed a great horn I got of ebay...period perfect and super shape...real steal .....

Don't know what the fellow that bought my seastrake is doing with her? Hoping for the best.....

carry on.

John in Va.

[seastrake]

Finally got the front deck and gunnel primed, has been a wet winter in San Diego. Thank God

[seastrake]

Gunnel

[seastrake]

Bow deck

[bflaherty]

I know its been awhile since you asked about changing to electronic ignition, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents (I have a 1969 Cavalier Ski Boat with the 327Q Corvette motor) I changed our ignition over to a Pertronix system (replaces the condenser and points) as soon as we got the boat home. Now it ran just fine, started on first 10 second turn of the key, idled great, performed very well... However, I am a huge fan of the Pertronix systems cause they, almost, never need adjusting! Unlike traditional points which should really be checked and adjusted at least every year, if not more depending on hours accumulated over the year. The kits are very reasonably priced, and super easy to install. Best part is that you do not have to buy new distributor!! You may need to upgrade the coil, but unlikely with the era of your boat.

Love the project! Always nice to see another cruiser saved. I too am working on our restoration with my son, however he is only 3-1/2 so it's not like he's really working as much as simply having fun while learning about boats and tools.

[seastrake]

Thanks bflaharty, been working on the wood and paint. Will tune-up next time I'm down there. Will definitely get a Pertronix ign. kit. Then will take her to have the bottom painted.