Glastron carlson jet boat
January 9th, 2024, 01:59 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 2
Glastron carlson jet boat
Hello Everyone,
Roger here from the Flint area in MI. I worked 30 years at General Motors, starting at Fisher Body Engineering. My first car was a 1972 Olds 88 that I bought from my parents. Later, I sold them my Olds Cutlass 350-Diesel (sorry). My college roommate was an Oldsmobile co-op student, so we spent quite a bit of time on the MSU campus in his '71 Olds 88, dubbed the "South Side Lansing Cruiser".
About a year ago, I purchased a 1973 Glastron Carlson CV21 jet boat, fairly complete except missing the Olds 455 Berkeley Pack-a-jet engine. Probably an oil return victim. If you are familiar with the James Bond boat chase scenes, this is the boat in "Live and Let Die" that the villain steals from the sheriff's son-in-law to chase 007 down the Louisiana bayous. I have been picking up the necessary interior and exterior trim pieces for a full restoration, but won't be too long before it will need some power.
My options are:
1.) Buy/build/marinize another Olds 455 - from scratch, donor car, or engine builder. I did get the jet pump, bellhousing and water-cooled exhaust logs/snails with the boat. A big savings.
2.) Buy an ugly jet boat with running marine Olds 455, swap. (May need to find another wife willing to approve of my buying a second jet boat). Cut up the hull. Save or sell the jet pump and trailer.
For either Olds option, I plan to run an aftermarket EFI system, probably TBI since I don't think anyone makes an MPI system for the Olds yet(?).
Or:
3.) LS swap. Exhaust and integration components will be pricey.
I know this is just supposed to be an introduction, but any inputs the forum has regarding my three options or other Olds 455 specific recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.
Roger here from the Flint area in MI. I worked 30 years at General Motors, starting at Fisher Body Engineering. My first car was a 1972 Olds 88 that I bought from my parents. Later, I sold them my Olds Cutlass 350-Diesel (sorry). My college roommate was an Oldsmobile co-op student, so we spent quite a bit of time on the MSU campus in his '71 Olds 88, dubbed the "South Side Lansing Cruiser".
About a year ago, I purchased a 1973 Glastron Carlson CV21 jet boat, fairly complete except missing the Olds 455 Berkeley Pack-a-jet engine. Probably an oil return victim. If you are familiar with the James Bond boat chase scenes, this is the boat in "Live and Let Die" that the villain steals from the sheriff's son-in-law to chase 007 down the Louisiana bayous. I have been picking up the necessary interior and exterior trim pieces for a full restoration, but won't be too long before it will need some power.
My options are:
1.) Buy/build/marinize another Olds 455 - from scratch, donor car, or engine builder. I did get the jet pump, bellhousing and water-cooled exhaust logs/snails with the boat. A big savings.
2.) Buy an ugly jet boat with running marine Olds 455, swap. (May need to find another wife willing to approve of my buying a second jet boat). Cut up the hull. Save or sell the jet pump and trailer.
For either Olds option, I plan to run an aftermarket EFI system, probably TBI since I don't think anyone makes an MPI system for the Olds yet(?).
Or:
3.) LS swap. Exhaust and integration components will be pricey.
I know this is just supposed to be an introduction, but any inputs the forum has regarding my three options or other Olds 455 specific recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.
Last edited by rbay; January 10th, 2024 at 06:43 AM.
January 9th, 2024, 02:59 PM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: St. Paul Minnesota
Posts: 4,035
Welcome to ClassicOldsmobile.
Here is a recent posting about EFI.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-2/efi-176870/
Here is a recent posting about EFI.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-2/efi-176870/
January 9th, 2024, 03:18 PM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 13,793
Welcome aboard!
Another engine option would be one of Mark Remmel's stroked small blocks.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/racing-high-performance-80/434-stroker-build-154898/
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/racing-high-performance-80/next-stroker-154899/
Another engine option would be one of Mark Remmel's stroked small blocks.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/racing-high-performance-80/434-stroker-build-154898/
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/racing-high-performance-80/next-stroker-154899/
Last edited by Fun71; January 9th, 2024 at 03:20 PM.
January 9th, 2024, 05:25 PM
#5
Phantom Phixer
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 4,678
Option one makes a lot more sense.
There must be a rusty toronado or 98 somewhere near you.
Don't be afraid to snag a 425 if one comes your way. They can be built to all the horsepower that boat will need.
Do you have some way to install Oxygen sensors in those marine manifolds?
They will be necessary with TBI or any EFI system.
There must be a rusty toronado or 98 somewhere near you.
Don't be afraid to snag a 425 if one comes your way. They can be built to all the horsepower that boat will need.
Do you have some way to install Oxygen sensors in those marine manifolds?
They will be necessary with TBI or any EFI system.
Last edited by Charlie Jones; January 9th, 2024 at 05:32 PM.
January 10th, 2024, 06:38 AM
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 2
Hey Charlie Jones,
Living about 40 miles from Lansing, certainly no shortage of Classic Oldsmobiles around. Engine needs to come from one with enough rust to make the body not worth restoration, but not so much as to have completely foo-barred the engine.
For the O2 sensors, cast iron or aluminum marine manifolds have a joint between the log portion and the riser (a.k.a. "snail"). 1" thick adapter plates tapped for the sensor can be inserted into this joint.....it's a dry portion of the exhaust run (maybe some condensation, but no cooling water in the exhaust yet).
Like these for cast iron center risers:
https://affordable-fuel-injection.co...adapter-plate/
or these for aluminum logs & snails:
https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-1098...manifolds.aspx
rbay
Living about 40 miles from Lansing, certainly no shortage of Classic Oldsmobiles around. Engine needs to come from one with enough rust to make the body not worth restoration, but not so much as to have completely foo-barred the engine.
For the O2 sensors, cast iron or aluminum marine manifolds have a joint between the log portion and the riser (a.k.a. "snail"). 1" thick adapter plates tapped for the sensor can be inserted into this joint.....it's a dry portion of the exhaust run (maybe some condensation, but no cooling water in the exhaust yet).
Like these for cast iron center risers:
https://affordable-fuel-injection.co...adapter-plate/
or these for aluminum logs & snails:
https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-1098...manifolds.aspx
rbay
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