"Speedboat"

[chrisandyoli]

June 7,2008..Clearlake,Ca...Brent!...you are the man!...you listened to my true to life stories and difficulties in desiring to at least see or possibly have this Speedboat!..and I thankyou and am privilaged and honored for the opportunity sir and we continue to share the excitement of her..no doubt!...for real...here on AzDon's V-driveboat.com...thankyou and for sure we turn it over to the members..my difficulty was at 10:00 break 6/5/08...it was driving me crazy...I had to make that call!...she is gorgeous!...for three weeks she was worth all the anxiety..and the budget crunching!..here she is again world..a steel hulled flatbottom v-drive with a shiny gearbox..solid cold rolled rod mechanical steering..GM motor(1957 date inside the covers)...attached wood deck...so we haven't really dug into any particulars yet regarding builder and size of engine...i will make a new cavitation plate...she is just old old old..ready to be vacumed out and cleaned up tomorrow..whew!

[chrisandyoli]

..really excited to bring her here to V-driveboat.com..thankyou..thankyou Brent. I hope to read about the era she came from..chris over and out

[canam10]

..really excited to bring her here to V-driveboat.com..thankyou..thankyou Brent. I hope to read about the era she came from..chris over and out

Can't say that I have ever seen a boat quite like this one. I have seen a couple other steel hull runabouts that were built by the Mullens Boat company. It maybe a place to start. I think if it were mine I'd change the deck on it to more resemble that of an old F service runabout. A very popular class before the California "Ski Boats" took over all APBA runabout classes. Sleeper is a 1931 Chris Craft that was one of the best in it's day driven by Bill Burgess and is curently owned by Bill and can be seen still running at many of the vintage events on the East coast. 1st picture is as it was raced 427 Ford powered. 2nd picture is as it looks today modified Ford 351 on nitrous

[chrisandyoli]

..F service run-about...that is so cool..I will start looking for an image of the deck!...what a great picture you attached!..I really have to show you some more pictures tomorrow after I suck the debri out...we have much to discover but overall very good shape!..Brent had a good question about the block...which will require a picture to help me describe this..what seems to be..the bellhousing cast into the block...i thought that after it a manual transmision would follow in an automobile application..thanks canam10...I am well tonight..naturally!

[chrisandyoli]

beautifull pictures sir...yeah! thankyou thankyou thankyou

[canam10]

beautifull pictures sir...yeah! thankyou thankyou thankyou

There are more pictures of Sleeper and the restoration at http://www.vintagehydroplanes.com/sleeper.html

[chrisandyoli]

"In 1959 we added to the chine on both sides from the trip back to increase the hull width at the transom. Knee braces were added to all the stringers and original braces. A cavitation plate was built for more running surface and stability along with fins for tracking."...today Brent asked me what the fins were for...and we talked about the chines which has many small holes drilled which i think probably held wood trim...so we are getting after her with a new cavitation plate, trim and looking at the top as well..thankyou canam10...exciting

[canam10]

[..what seems to be..the bellhousing cast into the block...i thought that after it a manual transmision would follow in an automobile application..thanks canam10...I am well tonight..naturally![/QUOTE]

Chris,
It sounds like you have a transmission spacer that covers the flywheel. It was used on many of the early Chevy V-8's. Many of us still use them to build our rear engine mounts in the race boats SS/CanAm etc. They are also used in many of the v-drive pleasure boats running off the flywheel end. A 71 or 72C velvet drive transmission is attached to it.

[Mr72Sanger1710]

Cool Looking Boat Chris, Your really making me want to come down in a couple weeks as Im sure you will have her at the show Good Luck with your search!!
Rob

[Moneypit]

What is that engine? A Pontiac or Cad or ??.....It aint a Chevy.........MP

[AquaCraft]

"...which will require a picture to help me describe this..what seems to be..the bellhousing cast into the block..."

Hey Chris,

You might have a mid-1950's Oldsmobile Rocket engine there of about 324 cubic inches. The 324 Olds motors were popular to hot-rod "back in the day"; I had one in a T-bucket myself. Here are some pictures of an alleged 1956 324 Olds for you to compare to your engine.

AquaCraft

[chrisandyoli]

hi everyone...i have been really really sick for the past two weeks...thankyou for letting me share this little dream with you...it was and still is very important to yoli and i and we appreciate all the wonderfull interest for sure..getting back up i just had to let you know i am recovering and didn't fall off the face of the earth entirely..your friend,chris clearlake,ca over and out

[FC-Pilot]

Take your time getting better Chris. The boats will be there when you are well enough. Take care.

Paul

[Terrible toy]

Cool pics all around. Thanks.

[RiverRacer]

hi everyone...i have been really really sick for the past two weeks...thankyou for letting me share this little dream with you...it was and still is very important to yoli and i and we appreciate all the wonderfull interest for sure..getting back up i just had to let you know i am recovering and didn't fall off the face of the earth entirely..your friend,chris clearlake,ca over and out

Sorry to hear that and glad you're recovering, just take it easy for a spell the boats will be there when you can get to them!..:cool:

[RiverRacer]

"...which will require a picture to help me describe this..what seems to be..the bellhousing cast into the block..."

Hey Chris,

You might have a mid-1950's Oldsmobile Rocket engine there of about 324 cubic inches. The 324 Olds motors were popular to hot-rod "back in the day"; I had one in a T-bucket myself. Here are some pictures of an alleged 1956 324 Olds for you to compare to your engine.

AquaCraft

Yes indeed that is a 324, damn that brings back memories, and if I recall right that motor was increased to 371, I had one in a 58 Olds 98 man that was one comfortable ride!...