Charleston
New Member
I'm starting this fun old thread about my own fun with this 1996 Challenger restoration project. It has been a month now and found some great news from this forum and other insight elsewhere.
Initial State:
1. Left outside. Rear 3-person 2-piece rear seats beyond destroyed. Many even just missing the leather covers entirely. Berries, birds, and whatever else possible stained and dirtied the interior. Took this to local coin op washer and spent 10 bux just plowing through crud.
2. Fuel in system (might be there for 2 years) and oil reservoir full. Battery was charged and jumped prior to purchase. This would not start. It would crank. That made me feel good that things were not locked up. We hit the airbox with some fogger and after another crank some starter fluid and she fired up for a second. NOTE: I have been told NOT to start with starter fluid. Still, I had to know if this engine was functional. Old fuel was later pumped out. I would suggest getting a hand pump from Harbor Freight.
3. Engine compartment dirty and oily. Years of limited preventative maintenance. DESS or MPEM cover was missing. Found it in the steering wheel compartment. Will have to find fasteners for that. The engine foam on both sides were deteriorating due to time, etc. They will need to be replaced.
4. Exhaust fan was stuck in engine compartment. Tried to spin it and it broke off. Shaft was rusted clearly through.
5. Found the oil reservoir hose cut and not plugged leaving reservoir to carbs. Will need to plug to limit contamination. Since then I have found this system had its fuel/oil mixture bypassed. I have read in this forum that this happens to older units where either the oil pump dies or they do not want to risk it running out of oil to engine. Either way, looks like pre-mix for me. GREAT CATCH FOR ME HERE SINCE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE EVENT.
6. One DESS key came with the craft. It did work. One or Two beeps came up showing that it was programmed to the craft and also the beeper/chimer was functional.
7. Later inspection showed the fuel system lines were bone dry. I disconnected the line at the "Y" to verify this and to also test for vacuum during the cranking. Harbor Freight again, Item #93547. With 20% coupon it was only 15.00. This showed no vacuum from the pump. Oh yes, by the way the MAG carb has the fuel pump in it. Just a FYI. Took me days on this task.
8. As mentioned earlier, the exterior was worn and beaten. The front beverage compartment hinges were both broken off. At least cover was there. Also the rope storage compartment (on the back engine compartment cover) had both of its hinges broken. By design, these will continue to break. Just a piece of plastic that is folded back and forth over and over. What do you expect here. All plastic components were sun bleached. Cup holders missing. Passenger seat missing. No clue what to do there, yet. Some minor voids in visible hull. Will need to fill/patch those. Seats were already removed so fasteners were missing and "darts." Also the controls cover was loose. Get those fasteners later.
9. Title was fun. A typo in it between a 2 and a Z. Nice. DNR required me to do a pencil rubbing of it and bring it in for correct. Done.
10. Drive system was tested and is functional. How functional, not sure. Steering and reverse work at least physically. Might need some tuning. Throttle seems good.
11. Another note, all fuel lines are black. I have read that if you have grey ones, you are in trouble and need to replace them ASAP. No dry rotting noted under my inspection. I tried to squeeze them all by hand. These unique hose clamps really suck. Do yourself a favor and put in regular screwdriver based hose clamps in whenever you do a change. Otherwise it is some unique tool for servicing.
12. No cover or bimini on this. It did come with a shorelander trailer. The VIN sticker on that is completely faded out white. This required contacting Shorelander to have them find me actual model and VIN since even that title had a typo in it. Virginia...can you PLEASE MAKE YOUR DNR AND DMV WORKERS WEAR GLASSES??? BTW, a lot of stamped other locations of trailer can help with translation to actual model number. Shorelander was able to give me correct VIN. For 10.00 and a copy of the current (albiet incorrect) title will allow them to produce a new shiny VIN sticker.
13. No rust on engine. Flywheel guard was sitting in compartment not attached. No fasteners around for that.
More to follow:
Charleston
Initial State:
1. Left outside. Rear 3-person 2-piece rear seats beyond destroyed. Many even just missing the leather covers entirely. Berries, birds, and whatever else possible stained and dirtied the interior. Took this to local coin op washer and spent 10 bux just plowing through crud.
2. Fuel in system (might be there for 2 years) and oil reservoir full. Battery was charged and jumped prior to purchase. This would not start. It would crank. That made me feel good that things were not locked up. We hit the airbox with some fogger and after another crank some starter fluid and she fired up for a second. NOTE: I have been told NOT to start with starter fluid. Still, I had to know if this engine was functional. Old fuel was later pumped out. I would suggest getting a hand pump from Harbor Freight.
3. Engine compartment dirty and oily. Years of limited preventative maintenance. DESS or MPEM cover was missing. Found it in the steering wheel compartment. Will have to find fasteners for that. The engine foam on both sides were deteriorating due to time, etc. They will need to be replaced.
4. Exhaust fan was stuck in engine compartment. Tried to spin it and it broke off. Shaft was rusted clearly through.
5. Found the oil reservoir hose cut and not plugged leaving reservoir to carbs. Will need to plug to limit contamination. Since then I have found this system had its fuel/oil mixture bypassed. I have read in this forum that this happens to older units where either the oil pump dies or they do not want to risk it running out of oil to engine. Either way, looks like pre-mix for me. GREAT CATCH FOR ME HERE SINCE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE EVENT.
6. One DESS key came with the craft. It did work. One or Two beeps came up showing that it was programmed to the craft and also the beeper/chimer was functional.
7. Later inspection showed the fuel system lines were bone dry. I disconnected the line at the "Y" to verify this and to also test for vacuum during the cranking. Harbor Freight again, Item #93547. With 20% coupon it was only 15.00. This showed no vacuum from the pump. Oh yes, by the way the MAG carb has the fuel pump in it. Just a FYI. Took me days on this task.
8. As mentioned earlier, the exterior was worn and beaten. The front beverage compartment hinges were both broken off. At least cover was there. Also the rope storage compartment (on the back engine compartment cover) had both of its hinges broken. By design, these will continue to break. Just a piece of plastic that is folded back and forth over and over. What do you expect here. All plastic components were sun bleached. Cup holders missing. Passenger seat missing. No clue what to do there, yet. Some minor voids in visible hull. Will need to fill/patch those. Seats were already removed so fasteners were missing and "darts." Also the controls cover was loose. Get those fasteners later.
9. Title was fun. A typo in it between a 2 and a Z. Nice. DNR required me to do a pencil rubbing of it and bring it in for correct. Done.
10. Drive system was tested and is functional. How functional, not sure. Steering and reverse work at least physically. Might need some tuning. Throttle seems good.
11. Another note, all fuel lines are black. I have read that if you have grey ones, you are in trouble and need to replace them ASAP. No dry rotting noted under my inspection. I tried to squeeze them all by hand. These unique hose clamps really suck. Do yourself a favor and put in regular screwdriver based hose clamps in whenever you do a change. Otherwise it is some unique tool for servicing.
12. No cover or bimini on this. It did come with a shorelander trailer. The VIN sticker on that is completely faded out white. This required contacting Shorelander to have them find me actual model and VIN since even that title had a typo in it. Virginia...can you PLEASE MAKE YOUR DNR AND DMV WORKERS WEAR GLASSES??? BTW, a lot of stamped other locations of trailer can help with translation to actual model number. Shorelander was able to give me correct VIN. For 10.00 and a copy of the current (albiet incorrect) title will allow them to produce a new shiny VIN sticker.
13. No rust on engine. Flywheel guard was sitting in compartment not attached. No fasteners around for that.
More to follow:
Charleston
It's just a giant jet ski, that comes with a cooler, in which you can mount a stereo, and which you can ride at night. I love it!
