1971 F-26 Repower Diesel or Gas?

[The Dog House]

The original gauge setup was one fuel gauge for two tanks. A pull switch would toggle between the two tanks so you would know how much fuel was in either the port or starboard tank. It was not possible to see the fuel level of both tanks at the same time. If you look at wolfnnj's picture of his dash you can see the pull switch at the bottom left of the panel. A PO of my boat removed the pull switch and installed a separate fuel gauge for each tank. I'm not sure how the gauge wiring is currently wired but the two gauges do both work for each tank (albeit backwards). I'm never bored with this boat!

[vabeach1234]

That's why my fuel gauge doesn't match the rest of them.



But I have new fuel tanks waiting to be installed so I'll be replacing the gauge to match the rest of them.

Dog House, once I finish my tank install (if you can wait), you can have my old gauge.

[The Dog House]

Dog House, once I finish my tank install (if you can wait), you can have my old gauge.

PM sent.

[wolfnnj]

I have two 1 gallon bags full of original Trojan gauges if any one needs just let me know

[wolfnnj]

I was just given two Todd seats they are nice captains chairs and extended mounts. I have those original f-bar seats ( re-upholstered last year) should I upgrade to the new Todd's and toss the old ones? I was never a fan of the f-bar seats. Any thoughts.

[The Dog House]

I was just given two Todd seats they are nice captains chairs and extended mounts. I have those original f-bar seats ( re-upholstered last year) should I upgrade to the new Todd's and toss the old ones? I was never a fan of the f-bar seats. Any thoughts.

The thing I don't like about the f-bar seats is that the engine hatch can not be opened when the seats are in use since the seat supports are on top of the hatch. Trojan kind of struck out on that design. It would have been much better to have the seat supports on the deck so the hatch could still be opened.

[vabeach1234]

The thing I don't like about the f-bar seats is that the engine hatch can not be opened when the seats are in use since the seat supports are on top of the hatch. Trojan kind of struck out on that design. It would have been much better to have the seat supports on the deck so the hatch could still be opened.

My seat supports aren't on the hatch so I can open mine. I use a bungee cord to hold it open seeing how I can't open it past 90 degrees with the port seat in. On my F26, there is a piece of plywood between the F-bar and the seats that the vertical supports attach to. Maybe this isn't the factory setup but it allows the supports to be located a little off of the hatch (outward).

[The Dog House]

My seat supports aren't on the hatch so I can open mine. I use a bungee cord to hold it open seeing how I can't open it past 90 degrees with the port seat in. On my F26, there is a piece of plywood between the F-bar and the seats that the vertical supports attach to. Maybe this isn't the factory setup but it allows the supports to be located a little off of the hatch (outward).

My seat legs are about 2 inches onto the hatch. I wonder if moving the seat legs outward off the hatch was an improvement that was made between the 1971 and 1972 model years. My seats are also wider and do not have the side arms. I think your setup is definitely the better of the two.

[The Dog House]

My seat supports aren't on the hatch so I can open mine. I use a bungee cord to hold it open seeing how I can't open it past 90 degrees with the port seat in. On my F26, there is a piece of plywood between the F-bar and the seats that the vertical supports attach to. Maybe this isn't the factory setup but it allows the supports to be located a little off of the hatch (outward).

After closer examination I do not believe your seats are OEM. The plywood underneath leads me to believe the original F bars and legs were used with a different seat. Once I get my boat in the water, I'm going to start measuring and see if I can move my legs outboard to get them off the hatch. I think I can move the seats closer to the wall which will keep the leg supports in the same relative position. If not, I'll look into moving the legs. My concern would be the strength of the seat inboard of the legs. If all else fails, I can use the F bars and legs with a new, smaller seat. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Paul]

On my F-26, the seats are wide and stick out over the engine hatch however the vertical support bars are to the outside edge of the hatch. The seats are solid and the hatch can be opened without removing the seats.

[The Dog House]

Any updates?

[wolfnnj]

Well I haven't posted in a while because things haven't been going my way with the f-26.
So my nieghbor and my buddy with a backhoe were setting up the engine (318) to be removed. My buddy inadvertently wrapped the chain around the drive shaft instead of just the engine and as we were pulling the engine out the boat lifted off the blocks....... anyway the short and the long of it is I destroyed the shaft log, my $300 brand new waterless bearing, and the drive shaft in one afternoon.




This all happened three weeks ago. So I called Trojan Bob he got me a brand new old stock shaft log I picked up a drive-shaft in my travels across the northeast off of a f-26 in Rhode Island so I have a spare. today we installed the new shaft log and got the engine started ( fired right up thank god). Here is the video of the engine running before timing it and all.


This is new shaft log installed before i cleaned it up a little





Thats all of the updates for now. I am installing the air-conditioning next and my new toilet. My launch date is still up in the air I am hoping that it will be in the next three weeks but we will see.

[The Dog House]

Well I haven't posted in a while because things haven't been going my way with the f-26.
So my nieghbor and my buddy with a backhoe were setting up the engine (318) to be removed. My buddy inadvertently wrapped the chain around the drive shaft instead of just the engine and as we were pulling the engine out the boat lifted off the blocks....... anyway the short and the long of it is I destroyed the shaft log, my $300 brand new waterless bearing, and the drive shaft in one afternoon.

Ouch! I feel your pain just reading about it. At least the new engine sounds good. Hopefully installing the new engine will go better than taking the old one out.

[wolfnnj]

I'm taking the engine and boat seperatly to Wagners boat yard in Leonardo they will install it mic tune the shaft and sea trial the boat for me for $500 it would cost me almost double to do it myself between renting backhoe and paying Trojan bob to help. Ill take pics of it when it's all done. So everyone can see how it fits.

[prowlersfish]

I would make a point to be at they sea trial