79 viper build

[89Talon18]

Hello i just wanted to share and document my viper build. I bought the boat in april of 2019 and started cutting on it that winter knowing it needed a core, transom and floor. I have never owned a hydrostream and wanted the full experience from restore to scaring myself. I did not split the boat because it had a near prefect rub rail. The gel is pretty sun baked and the individual i bought it from refured to it as a non skid finish. Here are the pics from the beginning of the project
481783
481784481785
481786
481787

[89Talon18]

Before i started cutting i added extra bunks to the trailer
481788
481789
481790

[Capt.Insane-o]

Get your ass back to grinding.

[89Talon18]

And the cutting starts. 481791
481792
481793
481793
481794
481795
481796
481797
481798

[89Talon18]

Believe me id rather be home finishing up the grinding right now then being at work

[89Talon18]

481799481800481801481802481803

[89Talon18]

481804481805481806

[89Talon18]

And progress from today. I am doing a final finish grind before putting the materials back in.481807
481808

[tnelsmn]

AWESOME! Another person to share in the misery, I mean joy, of rebuilding a Hydrostream. :cheers:

You're off to a h*ll of a start. Looking forward to progress updates.
I'm going to be using your line of "from restoration to scaring myself" :D

[89Talon18]

Actually im really not minding it. Was kinda a good way to not think about the every day BS and drama. Lint roller or masking tape worked great to get the glass out of the skin

[tnelsmn]

Yeah, my garage has been my "safe space" as they would call it these days haha. Great way to stay distracted. I've throughly enjoyed my build. Looks like you're wearing a tyvek suit in your picture, thats a great first step to prevent itch. I've also found a pair of ladies nylons as a washcloth in the shower helps to pull the glass out after a day of grinding too. Steal an old pair from the wife.

[89Talon18]

Good tip i will have to try that on the next build.

[LakeFever]

Nice!

Yep getting lost in your own projects with hard work and focus always makes for a satisfying experience. Stay on it

[89Talon18]

Got an hours worth of grinding in today before i have to start getting ready to leave for work. One thing im figuring out is the harbor freight grinding disc do a better job then the home depot diablo stuff and at half the cost. Todays advance was about 2 1/2 to 3 foot.481835481836

[89Talon18]

Here are the materials that are going back in.
481841 481842 481843 481844

[89Talon18]

Managed to get out yesterday and finish up the grinding minus the corners where the pad and transom meets.
482052
482053
482054
482055
482056
482057
482058482059482060482061482062482063

[tnelsmn]

That looks great! I don't envy you working under the bow like that.

[89Talon18]

Yeah there was core all the way to the bow eye and had to be very carefully cutting it out with a chain saw wheel which made for very quick work

[SkywayGT]

89Talon18

Have you started putting this back together? Been itching to see your progress LOL

[89Talon18]

Its been a rough go, hurt my back a while ago and its been a pretty slow process. I had a mentor lined up to point and tell what to do and drink all my beer but i eventually caved and had to hire him to finish it.
485135485136485137485138485139485140

[LakeFever]

Sucks to hear about your back but good to see you found a solution to the build. If you haven’t yet got one an inversion table is a great back aid

[89Talon18]

The physical therapist did try decompression which felt great until i got off the table and vertical again. ****y part is it introduce more pain and new symptoms. Can definitely say paying someone to finish this project and watching how its done is worth the money. ive learned a lot so far and would not hesitate to tackle the next one without help.

[89Talon18]

Its been a slow go but can see the end now.488545488546488547488548488549488550

[tnelsmn]

Great to see you back at it! Its coming along nicely.

[FLAMINEDDY]

Your original transom didn't look rotten?..you just replacing for piece of mind/big power?

[89Talon18]

Oh yeah it was bad, the plywood was delaminating and was wet. I pulled the majority of it out by hand. The cardboard box with the debris on the first page was the transom

[89Talon18]

Did manage to get a little more done over the weekend. Got a final fit on the floor and got the knees made.
488756488757488758488759

[89Talon18]

Had an hours worth of free time today before i had to run off to work so i managed to get some core cut out and ready for under the floor. 488854488855

[89Talon18]

Flamineddy im not really planning on any big power for now but my trainer motor is going to be a bridgeport for now. If i can quickly get a handle on keeping it on the pad im wanting to try some drag racing with the umpba group in Wisconsin.