1980 Hydrostream Vamp restoration

[kameix1]

After our trip up north, the kids all decided the boat was not fast enough towing the tube.... so, I got a bigger motor the day after we got home. 1979 merc 115, came with all parts, trim pump, wiring(not needed) and controls. Paid $160 for it as the wiring was shot, and it had been in storage for the past 3 years.

Compression checked out good on all 6, so I started ordering parts to get it running. I put in new main harness, new stator, new trigger, new switch boxes, new coils, new coil->switchbox wires, new starter motor.... Pretty much everything electric on that motor is new. Looking to swap out the old 85hp with the new 115hp this coming sunday after I get the new coils and starter put on.

The 115 is not a huge hp increase over the 85, but going from 4 cylinders to 6 cylinders should boost my towing power coming out of turns.

[aaron78viper]

115 should be just fine

[kameix1]

Got the wiring all replaced, new stator, new trigger, new coils, new starter. Everything is new now... but I get no spark. I have traced it down to the orange wires for the kill circuit, I get short to ground on one of the 3 wires, thats odd since all 3 wires branch off the same single orange wire inside the plug. But its a brand new harness, so I need to call CDI on monday to see what the deal is with it.

[Hippie459MN]

Did you get it figured out?

[kameix1]

Did you get it figured out?

Yep, got it all running. Turns out the brand new stator that I replaced first was faulty. Another new stator and the motor runs great!

[Hippie459MN]

Awesome!

[kameix1]

Little updates as I started getting back into working on the boat now that its warmer out.
Finally got a rear seat so the kids have something other than the gas tank to lean against, started cutting out the trim panels for along side the seats.




Also started making a windshield. These are hard to find, and generally are beat up pretty bad, so I am making my own. First thing was to make the template out of cardboard, now I just need to trace it out on plexi, cut it and then heat and bend it into shape.
Hopefully the windshield comes out halfway decent, im doing a clear one, but if it comes out good I might order some tinted plexi to make another one.

[Hippie459MN]

Awesome! Glad to see ya back at it. Gonna start working on mine again here soon. I dont have much to do so hopefully wont be long. Then we got the kids boat. Gotta get a few things ironed out with that this year so its reliable for him.