Hey all you v-drive lovers!!

[newbenz2]

Hi everyone,
New to the site... Wanted to make the first post great. Anyways I have a 1964 Barron v-drive. I am in the process of restoring it. I don't know to much of the past history on this hull so If anyone knows anything that would be awesome! My father purchased the boat when we lived in Bakersfield California. When we got it it had a stock 454 with 781 casting heads on it. It was a bone stock big block. We used that for a few years and finally spun a main bearing and had to idle home for 6 miles.. Never heard a big block make so many cool noises. Well then the motor went my dad lost a little interest in it because he has a 42ft carver cruiser. We bought lots of parts for it over the years. My dad got rid of the carver and then bought a 46ft Cougar us1 offshore boat with three 1000hp supercharged 572's. Then all interest left the boat. I always wanted my own v-drive and was searching for the perfect one for a while. My mom and dad approached me and said If I wanted to have my dads Barron I could have it for free... As long as my dad could drive it once and a while when it was finished.. Anyways I plan on putting a 454 in it for the time being but I am in the process of building a 632 blower motor for it. Here are some pics... Hope everyone likes them... Also If anyone can tell what kind of use this is set up for please let me know (drag, circle,ect.)




http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture023-1.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture024.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture021-1.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture022-1.jpg

[newbenz2]

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture036.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture032.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture030.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture028-1.jpg

[newbenz2]

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture026.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture033.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture035.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture039.jpg

[newbenz2]

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture042.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture043.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture045.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture047.jpg

[poncho]

I see you found your way,right on.Let me tell ya something now cause your gonna hear it more than once the guys here have very sound advice and sometimes you might not like it i have spent the last year on this site getting my head screwed on right.
First and foremost the advice here will always be safety first and speed second and that counters the whole idea of having a fast boat and tearing the water apart.
Once you spend enough time on these boards you will hear some stories that will make it all crystal clear.
With that being said it looks like you have the foundation for a very nice lake ride and the parts and hardware to put it together.
What you learn here if you choose to listen will get you a fast,safe and reliable boat which is what makes the weekends great.
I have an old flat like you and judging by your pics its a better hull than i ended up with.
If it wasn't for this site i would have never found some of the issues with my boat and how to correct them.
I look forward to following your build and first ride those are fun to read.
Welcome

[FC-Pilot]

That thing looks like a really fun project. We have a Hallett (Barron built the hulls for Hallett) just like that hull but without the mid-deck piece. To be completely honest I am not sure how the boat would handle with a 632 in it without some SERIOUS work done to the boat. We are having to re-rig the boat just to deal with the 550+ HP that we are going to put in it. Your v-drive is much further back than ours was which means the strut/prop shaft angle is much steeper and would lead to ill handling at higher speeds. Ours was similar to yours and it would want to bounce at higher speeds (and that was with a basic bbc) We are getting ready to make some major changes to the boat equipment to improve the handling at higher speeds and better prepared to deal with the increase in HP.

Paul

[poncho]

A guy named Art is gonna come along and try to buy your scoop dont sell it

[canam10]

You've already recieved your first lesson !! Boat looks like it would be a great "River" boat with a stock big block but if your looking to put the HP your talking about you'd better plan on trashing all the hardware in the boat and starting all over including a new gearbox with whirl-a-way.

[flatbroke]

Looks like a fun project. The hull appears to be in good shape. The worst part of a boat project is getting the glass and wood ready. But I think before I got to far into that 632 blower motor I would spend some time driving it with a 400 HP big block.
It appears that you read a little before making your first post. You included plenty of pics right off. No prodding needed. Have fun with it but as others here will preach, BE SAFE. Nothing will ruin a weekend as much as a boat coming unwound and somebody getting hurt. If the boat isn't built to go a hundred, don't do it.

[newbenz2]

Thanks everyone.. I think the 632 will be going in something else... I plan on around 1400hp out of that.... As for the big block 454 thats going in it for now its mild. It has The aluminum head I showed you pics of a pretty high lift and duration cam tunnel ram with twin 750's that are modded. It is a stock ls6 lower end with ls7 rods..... I plan on a good 500hp engine with that.. The boat was complete when we got it but we fried the motor. I have all the mounts and that but they are all getting polished..
Thanks
Kevin
P.S. not bad for a 20 year old kid huh? BTW I have been in the powersport sence I was a weeee little boy... lol I know a thing or two about motors and drag cars but this whole flatbottom thing is new. I Have been talking with Milke Cline alot and he has helped alot..

[RiverRacer]

Thanks everyone.. I think the 632 will be going in something else... I plan on around 1400hp out of that.... As for the big block 454 thats going in it for now its mild. It has The aluminum head I showed you pics of a pretty high lift and duration cam tunnel ram with twin 750's that are modded. It is a stock ls6 lower end with ls7 rods..... I plan on a good 500hp engine with that.. The boat was complete when we got it but we fried the motor. I have all the mounts and that but they are all getting polished..
Thanks
Kevin
P.S. not bad for a 20 year old kid huh? BTW I have been in the powersport sence I was a weeee little boy... lol I know a thing or two about motors and drag cars but this whole flatbottom thing is new. I Have been talking with Milke Cline alot and he has helped alot..

Well, I replied to this on another board but I'll do it again!. That is a "SKI BOAT" the way it is that's how it was built, it's a carbon copy of a buddy's boat if not the same one, all the hardware is ski boat stuff, the setup is ski boat stuff, my budy's boat had a stock 390 Ford in it and went about 65mph and it was one hell of a scary ride!. Don't even think about 500hp in that thing the way it is, put a stocker in there and just play with it, the thing is a "SKI BOAT" not a hot rod!...

Only 20 years old huh, I remember that time with my first boat, my advice is you better slow down a bit and start at the bottom and go easy, you have one hell of a lot to learn in boats and cars or whatever, you weren't born with all the knowledge and it don't come over night, so take the oppertunity to learn the easy way, I didn't have the easy way back then!....

[shooter2]

Here is a little story for you about me. I went on my head my second weekend racing my boat because I knew what I was doing. Took me a while to get my confidence back as I found out quickly that I had no idea what I was doing. I to had been around these boats since I was young. Seat time is what makes you learn. Build a motor that will run every weekend with no hassles, make sure the boat is safe, and that you wear your safety equipment. Read that as no ski vests, get the right sh.t. Go out and beat the hell out of that boat, have some fun and learn everything about it from your safe mistakes. Go slow and you will learn alot more alot quicker. Been there, done it, and not afraid to admit it.

Brian

[RiverRacer]

Here is a little story for you about me. I went on my head my second weekend racing my boat because I knew what I was doing. Took me a while to get my confidence back as I found out quickly that I had no idea what I was doing. I to had been around these boats since I was young.

Guess we all went through a time when we knew it all, and found out we didn't know $hit, and still learning today!...:D

[gfinishline]

Did he tell you to LOWER THE SHAFT ANGLE? If he didn't, I'm telling you now!

[RiverRacer]

Did he tell you to LOWER THE SHAFT ANGLE? If he didn't, I'm telling you now!

Heck, it needs a lot more than that,LOL..:D

[gfinishline]

That's where I would start. Then rebalance the entire boat.

[RiverRacer]

That's where I would start. Then rebalance the entire boat.

Yep, and after all these years I bet the bottom is out of whack too!..

[FC-Pilot]

That's where I would start. Then re-balance the entire boat.

O.K. George, you have referred to "balancing" the boat before and I am just wondering what exactly do you look for in the way of balance points in reference to the prop location? (Maybe I should ask this question when we have time to sit down and I can take serious notes). My reason for asking is I plan on redoing our old Hallett and would like to do it "Right" but finding a Hallett setup well to copy is worse than finding a needle in a hay stack.

Paul

[poncho]

Thanks everyone.. I think the 632 will be going in something else... I plan on around 1400hp out of that.... As for the big block 454 thats going in it for now its mild. It has The aluminum head I showed you pics of a pretty high lift and duration cam tunnel ram with twin 750's that are modded. It is a stock ls6 lower end with ls7 rods..... I plan on a good 500hp engine with that.. The boat was complete when we got it but we fried the motor. I have all the mounts and that but they are all getting polished..
Thanks
Kevin
P.S. not bad for a 20 year old kid huh? BTW I have been in the powersport sence I was a weeee little boy... lol I know a thing or two about motors and drag cars but this whole flatbottom thing is new. I Have been talking with Milke Cline alot and he has helped alot..

Benz i have pretty much the same motor in a similar boat and i can tell you its a case of more motor than boat just keep that in mind and get it together and go have some fun weekends and you will figure out pretty quickly how far you want go with it our boats have their limits,be safe and get the damn thing together so Dad can go out and mash the smile pedal:D

[poncho]

Benz it also sounds like your Dad has expierence with boats and power thats cool just might rekindle his interest and you guys will have something to play with together,neat

[RiverRacer]

finding a Hallett setup well to copy is worse than finding a needle in a hay stack.

It is???, there's one in Tucson all redone from the bottom up, it ran the Enduro last year and handled very well!..

[newbenz2]

Thanks everyone,
I know I do not know everything but I I know I know allot more then most 20 year olds. I Help my pops rebuild his 572's in his boat and then help lots of buddies at the track and have my own car project. I plan on putting the 632 in something else. I would love to find a rigged runner for that motor. I was duel enrolled in high school at the local coledge and did all cnc/cad/design work. I'm pretty knowledge able when it comes to that stuff. Also I am a pretty good welder. I work at a tig welding shop now as a machinist. I used to race junior drags when I lived in Bakersfield. When I was in 6th grade my pops and I ran the hell out of the Barron and it was not fast enough back then with a stock 454 truck motor. My dads Cougar will do 118 on a nice choppy day but that is all it has. I also go for rides and have driven cats in the past. I drove a Skater with twin 1300hp sterlings with arneson drives and that was a 170mph boat. The speed thing does not worry me but safety does. Thats why I love getting everyones feedback. Don't get me wrong I know I'm not a know it all or anything like that but I do know I'm more knowledgeable then most people my age. Next year I'm going to be moving to Texas to go to SAM racing. My good friend Joe Mendelis (Head Porter) was going to take me on as an apprentice and teach me the trade but he passed away May 25th due to an aneurysm. So I am going to pursue that career. Anyways Ill post some pics of parts I have built. Most are for my Mercedes DTM car I am building hope you all enjoy!!

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture008-2.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture014-1.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture022.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture019.jpg

[newbenz2]

Self Leveling suspention plug

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/7ac1_1.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/68d2_1.jpg

[newbenz2]

Suspention links I made and welded..
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Copy3ofPicture003.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Copy2ofPicture005.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Copy2ofCopyofPicture083.jpg

Camber Plates im working on..
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture096.jpg

[newbenz2]

Here is a one peice Individual throttle body Intake I designed and made....
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/54995927ry0.png
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/35498798zr3.png
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/29473215em6.png

[poncho]

Everybody likes pics and it sounds like you got skills i`m sure you`ll figure out the boat

[newbenz2]

Prototype out of modeling foam...
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/newbenz2/Picture104.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/newbenz2/Picture102.jpg

Header flange


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/newbenz2/Picture099.jpg

[newbenz2]

Rear suspention links installed
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/newbenz2/Picture082.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/newbenz2/Picture081.jpg

[newbenz2]

That is just a few thing I have made recently... Not bad for a kid though huh? lol
Here is a few of my pops boat
http://www.putfile.com/album/160124



THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!!!!
Kevin


P.S.
If anyone ever needs anything let me know I have access to 2 lasers, waterjet, 2 cnc machines and welders...

[newbenz2]

oh just a clip of it running... and yes its on streetfire... lol
http://px2.sfstatic.com/handlers/GetSizedVideoThumb.ashx?id=21209&w=120 (http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Not-2-but-3-zhul-572-big_21209.htm)Not 2 but 3 zhul 572 supercharged big blocks, 1000 (http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Not-2-but-3-zhul-572-big_21209.htm)

[Roaddogg 4040]

Nice stitching with the Tig...

Steve

[RiverRacer]

Very nice work!..:cool:

[newbenz2]

Thanks everyone!!!!!!! I can wait to get it in the water within th next couple of weeks......
Kevin
P.S. more pics will come when its starts to come togeather!!! Also is there ever get to geathers by me in michigan? If not hope we can get one going!!!

[poncho]

Stumbled on this one looks like there is some pretty nice boats out there and good weekend gatherings


http://www.performanceboats.com/html/forums/showthread.php?t=12374

[newbenz2]

Thanks Pancho!!!


Here are some updated pics... Got some parts back today from a local plolisher. Not the best job but I get get it after all the ruff stuff is buffed out. Also started to match the ports on my tunnel ram and making a sheet metal top for it... And just a few close up on my heads...
Kevin



http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture071.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture070.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture068.jpg

[newbenz2]

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture051.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture052.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture054.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/finewhineperf/Picture061.jpg


Enjoy everyone...

[poncho]

Keep up the good work

[hm66Howard]

How come my wife won't let me work on stuff on the carpet? :eek::D

[dry]

Welcome to the site, I am sure you will have a nice rig when completed.......