Working through the pain.

Through all this I have actually been able to get a little work done. My Mom and Dad still like having some time to themselves, so I am not there all the time. I really thought I would be. She is still alert, and there are LOTS of people coming over to visit, so I am going over when I am needed. I am sure that will change as her condition worsens. In the off times I work on the boat. It keeps my mind off things.

Ok... Happy thoughts... Happy thoughts.

I finally got around to drilling the transom holes and test fitting the gimbal assembly. I found this really cool jig at HD that holds the drill straight for 30 bucks. She fits on their nice and everything bolted up. I did have to add 4 layers of 1708 to teh top of the transom to make everything even. I was just over 1/4 inch off between the top and the bottom. You can only have 1/8" at the most. Mine is perfect all teh way around at 2 1/8".

I have decided to go ahead and rebuild the gimbal assembly. Once I started looking at it, I realized I cannot cut corners now. What caught my eye was the oil line for the outdrive. It was cracked so bad in laces, that you could see the braid. Then I looked closer, and it needs a new steering pin, and paint because of corrosion. I talked with Ron at JR marine and I am buying his Bravo rebuild kit with new bushings and Stainless steering pin. So today I got out the hingepin tool and started taking it apart.

Now I just need to rent the hoist this weekend to test fit the engine, and then I can build the mounts.

Gave the Out Drive a good sanding with a green scotch brite pad and used a air grinder on the corrosion.

I then used etching primer 

This is what I used for the paint. You get it at Tractor supply.

I used my HVLP gun to shoot the paint. I had to thin out the paint with Naptha.

All pretty

I got some new stickers off ebay to complete the transformation.

Here is the little jig I bought at HD to drill the holes straight.

Perfect. This is a test fit of the gimbal to make sure everything fits. I will be taking it off again to paint and seal the holes.

here I am measuring for clearance of the new exhaust.