Finally got some some pics of the boat, for those who would like to see...

[dmontzsta]

Once again 1964 Lavey Craft, the guy we bought it from said it was original. It took days of polishing and waxing on the engine and hull to get it looking good again. The interior has tears and is cracking pretty bad, I think it will need to be redone soon and the paint on the side of the hull is crack (driversside) due to someone just docking it and letting it get slammed up.
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyInWaterPassFrontSide.jpg

[dmontzsta]

http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/AreYouReady.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/ThatBoatScaresMe.jpg
And I had to throw the little on in for you guys :)
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/ItsMyBirthday.jpg
The pics suck, The were taken on a disposable, the actual 4" pictures look good, I had Rite Aid make me a disc for $3, but no more, I will take them to work and re-scan.

[CALIFORNIA PERFORMANCE]

Nice boat. Where do you take it out at?

[GofastRacer]

Nice boat, you ought to keep all original.. :cool: :cool:

[dmontzsta]

We usually go to Elsinore or Perris regularly, I live around 10 minutes from Perris and 20 minutes from Elsinore.
I would love to keep it original, but then it would look raggedy :)
There is two ways to look at it, people will say "man that is nice and original" or "that thing is an original pos" :cool:
Thanks for the compliments, it was alot of HARD work getting it to look and run right. The guy we bought it from was around 20 and his parents bought him some hydro blown boat that did around 145mph, so he left this Lavey in his driveway for around 1-2 years, uncovered. We bought it 5 years ago for $2400.00

[GofastRacer]

You got a pretty good deal, I meant you should fix it up but don't change anything!.. :cool: wink

[dmontzsta]

GofastRacer:
You got a pretty good deal, I meant you should fix it up but don't change anything!.. :cool: wink Oh, I gotcha now. Agreed, if the interior or paint ever gets re-done, it will remain the same (even though I am not too hot on the pink:) ) but that adds some flare. Only thing I would like to change is the engine and or seating arrangement, it is not too safe.

[dmontzsta]

The License still gets me
3469
aka
3 For 69 :confused:

[GofastRacer]

dmontzsta:
The License still gets me
3469
aka
3 For 69 :confused: :D :D :D

[058]

GofastRacer:
Nice boat, you ought to keep all original.. :cool: :cool: I agree. :D

[dmontzsta]

Only thing is, I need more speed now. :D

[CALIFORNIA PERFORMANCE]

Tell me about it. wink

[21rayson]

speed cost money how fast do you want to go. :D

[dmontzsta]

however fast every little bit of money I get along the way will take me :cool:

[superdave013]

Cool looking boat! Thanks for posting the pics.
Just a little tip if I may.
Looking at how you have it parked you might want to know that v drive props and the running gear are big $$$$$. You should keep 'em off the beach / bottom.
Take an anchor with a flot on the rope. Tie the front out a ways and then tie the stern / back with a ski rope and a stake on the beach.
Kind of a hassle haveing to get wet to get in and out but that's a small price to pay to keep the underwater gear in good shape.
Have fun with it!
[ June 08, 2003, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: superdave013 ]

[dmontzsta]

Thanks for the tip superdave, actually the damn current kept dragging it in closer, sometimes we would do something and turn around and the damned thing would be completely stuck in sand Prop and all, it is a bitch to wiggle out. Currently we are using 4 20lb weights from a weight bench for an anchor.

[dmontzsta]

More Pics to add.
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyinElsinoreIdling.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyinDarkGarage.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyWith3PeopleTakingOff.jpg
This was when we first got it.
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyRearOrganDonor.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyPassSideEngine.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyEngineDriversSide.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyCraftinPerris.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyCraftBackonTruck.jpg

[dmontzsta]

http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyCraftBackIdle.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/Lavey390ciFrontView.jpg
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/BoatOnTruck.jpg

[dmontzsta]

http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyLogoPassSideEngine.jpg
Getting ready to replace all the gauges with some nice white autometers.
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./Family%20Pics/LaveyOriginalCockPit.jpg

[GofastRacer]

Dude, you on FKN crack?, that boat is AWESOME, why in hell do you want to FK it up? eek! You want more power?, put a 428 in it or a 427 but leave it the way it is!. If old man Lavey saw it he'd shit, you have a rare piece there!... :cool: :cool:

[dmontzsta]

haha, old man Lavey at the Lavey Craft headquarters offered $7k for it, but we said no.
What do you mean by keep it original? Ford motor?

[CircleJerk]

Nostalgia,Nostalgia,Nostalgia.....did I make my point? This is an example of why Nostalgia is so popular with v-drives and your local Classic V-drive Club of America still sports over 600 members. There's something about this and other old boats that triggers happy memories from days of long ago. You want to go back and relive them, at least some of us do! Great boat, just the way it is! Laveys rule Nostalgic boats, until I see a wood decker of a different brand. They are all good, just some are a little Nostier smile_sp !

[v-drive]

I found my 66 Lavey Craft 2 yrs ago for $2000 without a motor and was stoked. I have an olds to put in it now but it originally had a 427 vette in it. From what I have been able to find out about mine (talked to original owner)it was made in Joe's garage. My serial # is 135. Ford made a few versions of that 390 and it is a worthwhhile engine. I am inclined to agree with with the people about keeping it original it is just the way it should be. If someone on the boards has Joe Lavey's telephone number call him and let him know there are people who still have his old boats. I'm shooting for the last weekend in June to be in the water. :cool: v-drive
[ June 10, 2003, 04:44 AM: Message edited by: v-drive ]

[superdave013]

The only thing I would be in a hurry to change is to get rid of what ever that is on top of the carb. I'ed look around for an old skool spark arrester for it.
The paint still looks pretty good in the pics!
Now you just need an old Rancho to tow it with. How cool would that be.

[GN117 Big Dawg]

Hey V-Drive, FYI, There is NO "Joe" Lavey. I'm sure you know that. I'm not trying to be picky, but when it it comes to the MASTERS, we must get it right, and I know you would agree. Mr. Al Lavey is the artision that built your very nice example of early 70's Laveycraft.
Al is (to best of my knowledge) alive and well living in Los Alimitos, just down for my dear old freind and racing mentor Mr. Bob Clune. I under- stand Al is a very private person and very elderly by now, and I have allways respected his pivacey.
[ June 10, 2003, 07:15 AM: Message edited by: GN117 Big Dawg ]

[dmontzsta]

Thanks for all the good info guys. Now I am thinking about just building the 390, there is ALOT of goodies for it, since it is in the FE series 360,390,427 and 428, I think I could get 500ish hp all motor. Plus we have already dumped a good amount of money in it and it is a VERY healthy sounding motor.
superdave, what do you think about a scoop on top?

[GN117 Big Dawg]

Demonsta, ya ready for a little triviea about your LC. Remember the TFH "Hillbilly"? Well back in the very early 70's, Bob Fulgham, the owner of that famous racerboat, started drag boat racin' with the family skiier. Bob's first river flattie was, you guessedher chester, the very same style boat that you own now! That boat was known as "Shower Pan" (Bob installed pans in new homes)a 70 to 75MPH bracket boat( back when NDBA ran every thing in brackets, even fuel flats and hydros). Bob stepped up to Top Gas Flat after that little LC kicked everyones ass in bracket racin'. The TGF boats were "Porky Pig",1,2,3, the forth "Pig" was called "Just Another Pig" they were early Paul Phaff customers and used a number of sponsored hull makes in those days... then came the "Hillbilly TFH" and the rest, as they say is history.
The deck sculpture is a stiffiner, the end result of the deck being laid up so thin that the drag racers would come in after a pass and complain that he deck was flopping like a flag in a gale. The styilish art deco stiffiner on the deck along with the beautiful lines of the gunwall rails are the signiture of Al Lavey's undeniable craftmanship and artison.

[superdave013]

dmontzsta:
superdave, what do you think about a scoop on top? Theres a guy that goes by Restofreak that makes a classic old style scoop. That style scoop was on lots of hot rods and boats back in the day.
Or just one of the old style arresters would look good.
You can pic the spark arresters on e bay now and then for pretty cheep.

[dmontzsta]

like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2418612317&category=35596
what do you think about this?
http://www.rexmar.com/images/page603.jpg

[Itsahobby]

Hmm, I was thinking of superdave013's Black
wagon! But a Ranchero would be cool. wink superdave013:
The only thing I would be in a hurry to change is to get rid of what ever that is on top of the carb. I'ed look around for an old skool spark arrester for it.
The paint still looks pretty good in the pics!
Now you just need an old Rancho to tow it with. How cool would that be.

[superdave013]

dmontzsta:
like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2418612317&category=35596
what do you think about this?
http://www.rexmar.com/images/page603.jpg Well, that first one is for moto exhaust. The second one is nice but not old skool.

[058]

Dmontzsta, If you want to keep the Ford I have a few ideas that you might find interesting and it won't break the bank. BTW, I have a 67 Lavey with a 390 in it also. Just a stock engine, thru transome exhaust and 1 Holley. A fun, reliable turn-key boat that will cruise all day on 10 gals of pump 89 oct. :D [and I don't get kicked off of lakes for being obnoxiously noisey] eek!

[dmontzsta]

I am definately thinking of keeping it, since it would cost around $2k to swap engines and I could use that to simply make the good ole FE a bit faster :) and still keep it original like the guys said.
do you have instant messanger?
or email me at dmontzsta@werd.com
Thanks bro.

[v-drive]

GN117, Thanks for straightening me out. I knew that and please don't ask where I got Joe because I flat do not know. I was not meaning to intrude on Al I just thought he might like to know that his boats were still going strong and that he was well thought of. Please don't misread my excitement.
............. :cool: v-drive
[ June 10, 2003, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: v-drive ]

[058]

dmontzsta, check your p/m

[dmontzsta]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2418296037&category=36474
what do you think? :cool:

[superdave013]

I like this style of scoop for the old classics myself. This is rrr's boat. There is also some little spark arresters that fit that era nicely too. When I run across a pic I'll show it to ya.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/524/109FE3194-med.jpg

[waterloged]

Glad to see some Ford's on the boards... :D :D :D

[JEThro]

Did anyone notice the black California license on the trailer? I think that just adds more to the nostalgia. Get in touch with 058. He's got a Lavey, and in my oppinion, he's the Ford guroo.

[dmontzsta]

JEThro:
Did anyone notice the black California license on the trailer? I think that just adds more to the nostalgia. Get in touch with 058. He's got a Lavey, and in my oppinion, he's the Ford guroo. You are right, I talk to him almost everyday.

[roostwear]

Here's the perfect period piece.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2419739970&category=31286

[dmontzsta]

roostwear:
Here's the perfect period piece.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2419739970&category=31286 wow, that is pretty sweet. I am going to keep an eye on it, that sucker is in mint condition.