FINALLY found an 84' 255 AJ to buy!

[MMcCawley]

Nice work so far.
While that engine is out and after cleaning up the bilge, get yourself a quart of bilge paint. It will look like new again and also seal everything up. The grey at west marine is a pretty close match to the original.

Is it specifically called bilge paint? What is the difference between it and regular paint (other than I'm sure the price)? It does appear to have a thick, almost rubbery feel to it.

 

[Big Island Lifer]

The bilge paint is tougher and designed to resist stains form Oil etc.

It is some potent stuff. I painted my bildge and storage areas last year and it makes them much easier to clean keep track of. It also seals up nicely and nicks.

 

[BLmicro]

I've used the West Marine bilge pain before but only because the color match was so close. If I had to do it over Id use Imron or similar. I wasn't impressed with its ability to resist stains.

-BL

 

[270win]

In addition to the paint, any mechanical items that I should replace while the engine is out? I'm thinking about a new coupler, having the alt. rebuilt, the starter will be ready tomorrow. Probably going to go through the Q-jet and at least replace all tune up parts, belts, hoses, bellows, drive hoses... In a perfect world, I'd like to have as few issues as possible.

 

[BLmicro]

I wouldn't mess with the carb untill you have a reason. It could be just fine and you may actually mess it up trying to do a rebuild on it. Unless you know them very well.

How bout the raw water pump in the lower unit?

-BL

 

[270win]

I wouldn't mess with the carb untill you have a reason. It could be just fine and you may actually mess it up trying to do a rebuild on it. Unless you know them very well.

How bout the raw water pump in the lower unit?

-BL

The impeller is new.

I'm fully confident in working on the QJ. I had a "sleeper" 68 GTO two years ago, we made 500hp/560ft.lbs. iron heads, iron intake and iron manifolds with a Qjet. That was one nasty street rod.

Anyway, the carb had a mild bog off idle so I'll at least open it up and check it out.

 

[kbsunlovers]

I'd definitely look into replacing or at least very closely inspecting anything you can only get to with the engine out (coupler most importantly). May want to also consider adding an oil drain system, either reverso type or one of those drain tubes that replaces the pan plug.

 

[270win]

I've already got an oil drain tube on the pan. And it's also got a remote filter so oil changes are a breeze.

 

[BLmicro]

Yes the Q-jet is the best carb out there. Very misunderstood though. Closest a carb will ever get to EFI. I always ran the ones from the late 70s/early 80s that had the extra externally adjustable low speed circuit that was accessible from the top. It made the bowl bigger also because they used a solenoid in later years in that spot in the bowl. The only draw back with the Q-jet was its small bowl. You really had to keep the fuel cool if you ran the secondaries for any length of time.

The themo-quad was always the king of hot fuel delivery. That's all the state boys needed was a carb that could idle for hrs on end in a police cruiser and the goto WOT without complaint. No way a QJ could do that. But the TQ primaries could never compare to the QJ, it was junk.

-BL

 

[270win]

Yes the Q-jet is the best carb out there. Very misunderstood though. Closest a carb will ever get to EFI. I always ran the ones from the late 70s/early 80s that had the extra externally adjustable low speed circuit that was accessible from the top. It made the bowl bigger also because they used a solenoid in later years in that spot in the bowl. The only draw back with the Q-jet was its small bowl. You really had to keep the fuel cool if you ran the secondaries for any length of time.

The themo-quad was always the king of hot fuel delivery. That's all the state boys needed was a carb that could idle for hrs on end in a police cruiser and the goto WOT without complaint. No way a QJ could do that. But the TQ primaries could never compare to the QJ, it was junk.

-BL

You're correct, and most people know very little to absolutely nothing about the Qjet. If you don't know how to set one up, you're better off leaving it to a mechanic...even then, lots of them don't know squat about them. My GTO would idle for relatively long periods of time, but when it came to throttle response, it was brutal.

Sorry, I've gotta post a short vid of the car. Lets see if this works.

 

[270win]

K, back to the boat. The bottom end of the engine has been balanced and the bearings are in great shape, I checked the oil pump and it's good too, I've tack welded the pickup for the pump to the oil pump to ensure it doesn't fall off. I'll have the gaskets tomorrow so I'll start getting the engine wrapped up. I ran into an issue with the rocker studs, they're threaded and they would not thread all the way in without bottoming out in the head first. I shortened them up in the lathe and they're now seating properly. Hopefully all will go as planned and I'll have the boat back Friday or Saturday. I would really like to have the boat water ready one day next week.

Here's the coupler before being cleaned up.

This is after it was cleaned in the parts washer, it looks like the rubber got awfully hot at some point. Think I should replace it or use it?

 

[KC_Sundancer]

At this point I'd replace it if it were me, much easier to do now while it's apart.
It looks like the spline is worn too. It appears that the metal is curled on the lower side in your cleaned picture.

 

[270win]

At this point I'd replace it if it were me, much easier to do now while it's apart.
It looks like the spline is worn too. It appears that the metal is curled on the lower side in your cleaned picture.

It looks like that in person too. I'll grab a new one. It'll be one less question in my mind. Should I also replace the shaft at the same time? That old shaft would almost have to have some wear on it for the coupler to be worn.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Any wear on the shaft, if present, should be visible along the length of the spline.
The only other moving item left between the engine and the outdrive itself is the gimbal bearing which may be worn out. :huh:
With all new components everything will run smooth and you can rest assured not to have problems down there. :thumbsup:

The important thing is to be sure the engine is aligned properly as that is what usually causes damage to the coupler.

When replacing the coupler you may want to look into the newer triangular type. I upgraded to the new style on the 88 pachanga we had.

 

[270win]

Will that coupler work with the two piece rear main engine?

I'm planning to check the gimble for any play or wear. Now would be the time to replace it.


I'll be buying an alignment tool and getting it aligned to where it slides in with no resistance.


I've been sealing up the engine this morning, lots more to do....

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Will that coupler work with the two piece rear main engine?

I'm sure you can find one to work, check with your supplier as there are a few different sizes available.
I was pushing a 1988 Pachanga big block 496 through one of these on a bravo and we also used them though a pair of small block V8's on our race boat and can say they perform well.
It bolts directly to the flywheel - below is a picture of one:

I hope this helps.

 

[270win]

I'm sure you can find one to work, check with your supplier as there are a few different sizes available.
I was pushing a 1988 Pachanga big block 496 through one of these on a bravo and we also used them though a pair of small block V8's on our race boat and can say they perform well.
It bolts directly to the flywheel -

Thanks! I'll look into it for sure. That looks like a better setup than the small coupler. And the pix always help!

 

[270win]

I took a few pics of the engine work today. I got the bottom end all buttoned up and coated the pan with some Quicksilver Phantom Black.

By the end of the day, being interrupted by work about 50 times:smt101, I finally got the valves adjusted and the new water pump on. She's starting to look respectable again.

Notice the puddle of oil? I'm an idiot!:grin: I put the cam break in lube on the lobes and the lifters but didn't put the drain plug in the oil pan...So now my shop floor is going to be safely broken in! The main reason I forgot is that I didn't want the extended drain hose in the way while I was working. Yeah, a standard bolt would have done the job...

I started on the Q-jet today, looks pretty good actually, I've got a rebuild kit coming tomorrow so that should be ready to go. I also went a picked up the rebuilt starter, at the same time I dropped off the alternator to be freshened up...at this point, might as well!

Anyway, I should have the engine ready to go back in the boat by the end of the day tomorrow. If all goes as planned!

 

[KC_Sundancer]

looking good! :thumbsup:

 

[270win]

Thanks, slow start today. Glad to be busy but I WANT to go boating!!!