Hello, my 78 Sonic 496 build!

[Fbpd227]

Hello, New to the board, and happy to be here! Hope to meet alot of new friends!
I bought a 78 Sonic jet, with a blown up "van" 350, for a song and dance!
Paint and interior already done, so my project revolves around my new power plant!
Hope to learn alot from the experienced hot boaters on here, and always open to advice and opinions!
We begin.....
I bought this boat for $2000, local to me on Lake Hartwell, on the SC/ GA line.
Now... how the hell do I post pix from my phone!!!!
LOL!

[Fbpd227]

First thing...... pull the old shitty motor!!!

[Fbpd227]

First thing...... pull the old shitty motor!!!

[Fbpd227]

Now time to start gathering parts!!!!!

[Fbpd227]

Found a nice mark IV 454, '90 model, 4 bolt main! $500 with a box of parts, AND an Eagle cast crank! Going to sell the crank, that should help deferre cost a tad
Anyone need it? Std. Std., perfect shape, and stronger than factory cast cranks.
Had the radiused oil holes, chamfered journals, and a clean casting look!
Anyhow.... let me know.... moving on...

[Fbpd227]

Now to the good stuff!!!
Ordered my Scat fully forged rotating assembly, and alanced. H- beam forged rods, 18cc forged pistons, all bearings, and rings- so getting ready!! $1800 on a deal, but still adding up.....
When I get it, I'll post pix.
Hoping to stay pump gas friendly.....

[Fbpd227]

Now to the good stuff!!!
Ordered my Scat fully forged rotating assembly, and alanced. H- beam forged rods, 18cc forged pistons, all bearings, and rings- so getting ready!! $1800 on a deal, but still adding up.....
When I get it, I'll post pix.
Hoping to stay pump gas friendly.....

[Fbpd227]

My buddy/ best frirnd/ brother just donated a set of Dart aluminum high rise valve covers!!!
Oh yeah!!! Just need to sand and polish them up, now!!!

[Fbpd227]

$0. Awesome! !

[Fbpd227]

Now, since I have the Dart valve covers, and great deal popped up on CL, how could I refuse! !
$1500 negotiated, for a set of Dart 308 Race Series aluminum heads, already fully ported and polished!! With ss valves, springs, and push rod guides, COMPLETE! NEVER RUN!!! HELL YEAH!!!

[Fbpd227]

Now.... I need to cc them and see exactly where they are....

[Fbpd227]

Met a guy yesterday, and after alot of talking we worked out s deal for a set up almost exactly like this!
Dual Predators, on a tunnel ram! Don't have an actual pic yet, until he get's back homemade to FL, but this is very close!
$600!!!

[Fbpd227]

Now, waiting on my custom can profile/ kit sugestion from Howards Cams. ....
Stay tuned..... alot more to come!

[Fbpd227]

Now, waiting on my custom can profile/ kit sugestion from Howards Cams. ....
Stay tuned..... alot more to come!

[Fbpd227]

HOLY CRAPIOCA, buffing is hard work!! This crap takes forever!
Took me 4-5 hours to get one valve cover done, and it still needs a few more fine cut buffs, with the Tripoli ruge to really shine, but good Lord, my arms are whooped!!!! LOL!
My much better half thinks I'm crazy, but it's a labor of love!!
Probably wouldn't be as hard if the covers weren't so ruff from the sand cast!
Anyhow... here's a couple pix....
Back to the garage now.....

[Fbpd227]

Well, got both valve covers polished! Bought a new air angle polisher and coarse, medium, and fine scotch pads- DEFFINATELY made the job easier!!! I may do the tops again, to erase any little pits/ scratches left, but the shine is there, now! Big improvement!

[HB Vic]

Looks like it's coming together nicely [emoji1360]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jetBoatLee]

Wow, like deja vu all over again....I too had a 78 Sonic which I sold to a guy up that way. Sadly, he came to a tragic end, not boat related. The boats have an interesting history. They were. (so the story goes), used by the Coast Guard in south Florida as interceptors. In fact, when I owned it, (I suspect it's the same boat), it was a pale blue to the water line with a white deck. The bottom of the hull was just black gelcoat, like yours. It had a small chip on the dash, which revealed a "Coast Guard" orange underneath. I suspect, it was an orange stripe like the Coast Guard used. I owned several jets over the years, and that one is the only one I wished I had kept. Kind of a gull wing design, the ride was exceptional. I'll try to find an old pic of it and post if I can. I'm in Acworth, Ga, and if I can help you in any way please let me know.

[2manymustangs]

Hello, any updates on this project?