Got a 'new' 1986 Invader 17' I/O- The Journey to Refresh

Question... What would cause this leak? It literally just started today.


*Edit*. Appears I don't have an alpha 1 as I have a hook on the top cap... So half the parts I bought probably won't work lol... Oops. I think this means I have an R drive?

 

Annnnddddd it gets deeper. HOPEFULLY This Pre-Alpha drive has been updated, as the cables for the pre alpha drive screwed in from the front (bellows) side and not after like the newer Alpha gens. The catch is those cables are no longer available, and you have to update it by using a 1/4-18 NPSF straight tap and run it in from the front side towards the prop side... Bigger catch, apparently if you mess up, the bell housing is trashed.


So I can still use my purchased shift cable, but may need to hunt down a non-tapered tap and do this update. Unfortunately my Impeller and pump housing kit wont work, because the bases are different. So I need to return that and get the kit that has the appropriate base. Apparently the rest of it is pretty much the same, other than the base.

Next time I buy a boat... it'll be a few years newer LOL.... They made the change in 1986 I guess, and I thought my boat being a 86 it may of made the cut... then I realized that being an 86, it was probably manufactured in 85, using all the older stuff.


lessons learned, more delays.... I want to get this thing in the water by the 25th, I have a special little lady visiting me and would love to take her out....

 

sucks about the R drive instead of MR, but looks like you got a plan

 

With the 4banger I don't think I'll be breaking anything hopefully. Just got in from pulling the drive off.

The u joints show their age, but there is no slop in them. I'll regrease and keep going for the season. The inside of the Bellow is a mess... It sucks because it looks like someone was recently in this outdrive, the bellows exterior look almost new. The shift boot to... The gimble bearing isn't great, but it still rotates smoothly and doesn't hang up... So

Looks like after this season I'm doing a tear down and rebuild.

 

Ah heck, It's already almost all the way torn down... I should just replace everything while I'm there huh?

Greasable or sealed gimble bearing? what do yall prefer

 

I did a boat "recovery" in the mid 90s.

Glastron 18' tri-hull open bow.

Had a great time restoring it, but a better time running it. Sorry no pictures of it.

I used the base of.....once I am elbow deep in a piece of tht boat, rework, restore or rebuild 100%.

Touch it once.

 

Btw, love that you are recovering this boat...

And it is looking great!

 

I definitely want it mechanically sound. I can deal with an imperfect interior for a bit, it's pretty decent for it's age. But the previous owners failed to tell.me it didn't have reverse or neutral... And I didn't check lol.

 

Thanks! I'll polish up the aluminum and Chrome and take the oxidation out of the gel coat eventually. Right now I want to make sure it floats and runs before I do that hahaha.

 

Isn't neutral simply engine off
And reverse a big circle


After learning that.
I would sell this one
Find another that jas everything you want, and maybe a newer model......

Flipping boats can be your new gig.

 

Mine looked like this in 3 shades of blue.


Ran it 2 seasons and tripled my investment. Sold it to buy something bigger. That was 25 yrs ago. Still looking for the right boat.

 

Lol that is probably exactly what the other owners did. Boats seem easy enough to work on and so far I'm enjoying it. This boat has everything I want minus a bigger engine. But I'll enjoy the fuel savings. I'll eventually want a center console for the salt water fishing, but this right now is pretty much what I wanted. I just didn't know I'd be going so deep into it haha.


In other news the boat has pissed off the HOA and I am being told I have to move it.

I told them I'll move it when I'm done.

 

Well that's an interesting way to install an impeller...

Trying to figure out my outdrive. The eye loop on the top tells me it's pre-alpha 1... Mc-1 series. But the squared off anti-vent plate says type R and MR. But the output shaft in my lower doesn't have the tension pin thing, which says alpha 1...
Ugh

 

Its possible someone adapted a different set of parts due to reliability or availability ......

 

If it hasnt been mentioned already i would toss those life jackets and buy new ones. They can deteriorate over time and lose their buoyancy. Better to be safe than sorry brother!

 

Also can mildew and mold....

 

I tossed the ones that were below decks. The rest look new and un faded etc.


So I compared the pump base I took out of the outdrive with the ones I purchased. The one I took out is a pre-alpha MC1 base. However the lower has been identified as a alpha 1 lower due to the vent plate and the lack of pin on the shaft...

Soo... Did the owner put in the wrong pump, or am am I incorrectly IDing the base? ... The world may never know

 

Test fit it Spin by hand, cause if it don't work correctly, you are rebuilding a blue smoke generator.



Ok, maybe white smoke.

 

They both fit Pretty much the same but I've read of you use the wrong one it's bad news.

But can't find anywhere online to know which one to use lol lol

 

I found the serial number for the lower half of my I'll drive and it matches up with a alpha one from 1986. So I was correct and that I have a MC1 upper and alpha one lower. I put the appropriate water pump kit in ( previous folks that were in there put the wrong pump base in...) I put the two halves back together and tomorrow I will start the gimbal bearing and bellows and then do plugs and oil in the engine and out drive and hopefully I will be in the water soon