MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Hyperjump
Tin star
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2016 4:40 am

MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by Hyperjump »

Work in progress.
1- new heads for 327 fireball Graymarine , rebuild or new.
2- trim tabs, make and size
3- paint , top and bottom , she is racked stored
4- windless
5- covers , bimini
Attachments
20160628_102235.jpg
20160628_103033.jpg
20160628_103033.jpg (17.76 KiB) Viewed 26171 times
20160628_103128.jpg
20160628_103128.jpg (15.5 KiB) Viewed 26171 times
20160708_085430.jpg
20160708_085430.jpg (15.11 KiB) Viewed 26171 times
20160708_085451.jpg
20160708_085451.jpg (13.06 KiB) Viewed 26171 times
:D HYPERJUMP :D
1966 26 Ft Express
Saybrook , Ohio
Lake Erie
ddependo
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 292
Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:00 am

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by ddependo »

nice!
1973 32 express fly bridge
Chattanooga
"Southern Lady"
honestcharlie56
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 258
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 8:27 pm
Location: Lake Charles, LA

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by honestcharlie56 »

are you asking questions in the order of 1-5? If so, don't buy new heads and not know where they come from. Find a reputable machinist and use him. We can't see where you live, but I would bet wherever you are someone on this forum knows a guy close enough to use. If your in Texas I'll refer you to my guy. He charged me about 2,000 for heads on two motors, but he does awesome work (stainless valves, hardened seats, new guides, new seals, decking, etc, etc. ). What makes you think you need heads?


PS- that is a gorgeous boat and I know everyone here appreciates you sharing! Let us know she comin!
1990 Marinette 32 Sedan Flybridge "Hubba" Lake Charles, LA
Twin Chrysler 318's
Fastjeff
Site Admin
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:06 am
Location: Rock Halll, MD

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by Fastjeff »

Hold it! If that's the AMC 327 cube motor, you'd better look around for exhaust manifolds BEFORE spending dime one on it. Damn hard to find.

Jeff
"We live at the bottom of an ocean of air, not at the top." General Marvage Slatington
Hyperjump
Tin star
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2016 4:40 am

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by Hyperjump »

No, not asking questions. just order of things needed done. I am in NE Ohio. Ashtabula to be exact. The motor run great. It burns a quart of oil every 2 - 3 times out though. Carbon blowing out the exhaust. When running her she dose not smoke. Just on start ups when smoke and carbon blow out. Had 1 mech say motor needs replaced. Had another mech ( didnt look at the motor) say sounds to me new heads. He was familiar with that motor. He said that year of motor was made to run leaded gas not this stuff these days. He will look deeper in spring. This all came about last year when winterizing the boat , so neither got a chance to look deeper into problem. If i do need new motor then its a chevy 350 , or chrysler 360 . Thanks for all info....
:D HYPERJUMP :D
1966 26 Ft Express
Saybrook , Ohio
Lake Erie
User avatar
Busia
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 406
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:21 am

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by Busia »

If it is running good, leave it alone. Pull the sparkplugs and check if they are fouling. Normal for an engine to burn some oil until it warms up. Make sure you are not overfilling it by draining all the oil and then put in the right amount. Then check the dipstick. If wrong, put a new "full" mark on it. (file a scratch on it) Oil is cheap, just add more if that is all it needs. If you want leaded gas, take a 5 gallon gas can (metal, not plastic ) to the airport and get some 100 low lead Av gas. 5 or 10 gallons of Av gas to a tank will help a lot. Also good for your lawnmower.--Ed
BUSIA
located in Ketchikan, Alaska. Gods country
32 foot Marinette (no fly bridge)
twin 350 Crusader (Chev 350) engines
1:1 Borg Warner velvet drive transmissions
Closed cooling (antifreeze in the engine)
Proud to be retired IBEW and an A+P
EWRice
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:37 pm

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by EWRice »

It does sound like you may need valve stem seals. They can be replaced without pulling the heads. The only reason I would pull heads is if there was a burned valve or bad valve guides. Leaded gas only affects the valve seat and face on these early engines, not the guides. The "lead" helped soften the pounding of the valve and seat before they were hardened. I've seen engines run for years without leaded gas and never burn a valve.

If in fact you need a set of heads, I believe that all three engines share the same head (250,287,327) and there is no differences with the automotive head. Given the choice, I would go with an automotive head. Being that it had antifreeze in the engine it's whole life, it will be in better shape. The later heads (post '64?) Had AIR bumps cast into the top of the exhaust ports, but that will not make any difference.
Muskegon Lake
1972 32' Express flybridge
"AL13"
Twin 318s
On board air & prime 920
1963 Thompson Super Sea Lancer
Graymarine 327
1961 Alumacraft 12'
'55 10hp Johnson
User avatar
bill
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 520
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:17 am
Location: Grosse Ile MI

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by bill »

BigM
Hyperjump
Great looking Marinette. :)
When you get a chance please add a signature to your posts. 8-)
bill
Former owner of
ALUMINATION
Grosse Ile MI
Located on LakeErie
37' F/B Sedan
1975
Twin 360 Chrysler Marine
Raw water cooled
Hydraulic steering both helms
USCG Master Lic. Retired[/color]
Third Owner bill
honestcharlie56
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 258
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 8:27 pm
Location: Lake Charles, LA

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by honestcharlie56 »

Is carbon actually blowing out or are you referring to oil smoke? If carbon is shooting out of the exhaust....take her out and put her through her paces. Getting some heat in those cylinders will do her good. I've fixed plenty of tractors by putting a bush hog on the back and backing the mower into a pond to run the tractor loaded up, sometimes people idle/just putt with engines and they run too cool and collect carbon. If the engine runs good, I would just let it be. Put oil in as needed and spend your time engjoying (sorry for the pun) the boat.
1990 Marinette 32 Sedan Flybridge "Hubba" Lake Charles, LA
Twin Chrysler 318's
Fastjeff
Site Admin
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:06 am
Location: Rock Halll, MD

Re: MY 1966 26 ft 327 fireball

Post by Fastjeff »

"Run the hell out of it!" has cured many a problem.

Jeff
"We live at the bottom of an ocean of air, not at the top." General Marvage Slatington
Post Reply