Challenger History?

[challengerjet]

I'm in huntington bch, we have a trailer at the rio on parker strip, but we're actually in the process of selling it and looking into water wheel down in blythe. do you guys have any photos? would love to compare the challengers.
cj

[LEMON SQUIRT]

WELL I'VE GOT A BUDDY THAT HAS A 78 CHALLENGER SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME BOAT WHITE WITH BROWN OUTER TRIM AND SINGLE SCALLOP UP THE BOW W/454 AND WE HAVE SAT IT RIGHT NEXT TO FOMOCO'S KATCHINA AND THEY ARE BASICALLY THE SAME BOATS-VERY SMALL DIFFERENCES- BUT HARD TO TELL APART.I THOUGHT IN AN ISSUE OF JET TECH IN HOT BOAT A FEW MONTHES BACK GREG WAS TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE CHALLENGER CAME FROM (I THINK-CHECK IT OUT)BY THE WAY THE NAMES LEMON SQUIRT USED TO BE GOLDEN 420 BUT SOLD THE eLEMONator(flawed hull piece of shit) and now have a 78 bahner theres pictures of it under FOMOCO in RJB.COM we work at the same shop well C'YA.

[GARYB]

I HAVE A 1978 19FT. MINI DAY CRUISER MADE BY CHALLENGER IT HAS 454,BERKLEY JET,NEW SEATS & CARPET,NEW GAUGES,THE MOTOR AND JET WHERE REBUILED LAST YEAR THE JELL COAT IS STILL NICE TO LOOK AT.
IT IS A SOLD BOAT NO ROOT ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND.
I LIVE IN CORONA, GO TO LAKE PARIS ALOT AND MAKE A FEW TRIPS TO LAKE MOHAVE.

[fryzll]

Well guys, I think im gonna put my boat in the water for the first time tomorrow. My buddy's dad has been razzin me about havin stagefright http://free.***boat.net/ubb/tongue.gif. The seats are all glassed and ressined but i dont have the uppolstery done yet, oh well, life jackets will work just fine for the float test http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif. I will try to snap some pictures of it and post them on this thread ( hopefully no underwater camera equipment will be needed) so we can compare. At least El Cap is only 15 min away from me http://free.***boat.net/ubb/smile.gif. Anyhow wish me luck and i'll let ya know how it goes tomorrow evening.
Chris
P.S. And I dont have to worry about lake lice at El Cap, theyre quarentined off in their own little section like the diseased ridden people they are http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif. Just kidding
P.SS No im not http://free.***boat.net/ubb/tongue.gif
C-ya

[challengerjet]

fryzll, How'd it go over the weekend? did you get the boat in the water? details man, details.
cj

[fryzll]

Well guys everthing went great yesterday. The only thing i had to do was set the idle up http://free.***boat.net/ubb/smile.gif. I have to fix a few small leaks on the cables but thats no prob. The boat planes real easy and the pump was done before I baught the boat( I pulled the bowl off and its real tight) so im happy so far. After some low RPM cruisin I opened it up and w/ 400 pounds of two fat ass guys, more tools and parts than I should have taken ( I allways take more than I should) the cooler, full tanks and gear it ran right up to 4800 RPM and was at atleast 60 MPH http://free.***boat.net/ubb/smile.gif. I need to know if you guys are using scags on your pump or not, im used to a 21 foot Eliminator day cruiser and my boat needs alot more throtle to make it turn, is that the norm for these hulls? I still havnt dialed everthing in yet like the trim, timing and jetting but it ran perfect. It sits really ass low in the water so Im going to have a wake guard made for the rear
(good thing ive got 2 auto bilges http://free.***boat.net/ubb/wink.gif). I snapped some pictures so i will try to post them later. Anyway let me know about the scag and what kind RPM vs. speed you guys are running, im trying to figure out what impeller ive got cause there were no markings on it. The motor is a 460 w/ DOVE C heads with very mild porting, Erson JB100 cam int .545 @ 296 dur, exaust .545 @ 306 dur, Hypereutectic dish tops( I know but I allready had em:eek http://free.***boat.net/ubb/smile.gif, Comp Cams roller tip rockers(again I had em), the rods have been shot polished and shot peened w/ ARP bolt, Edelbrock Victor460 manifold w/ a Holley 4150 750cfm that I milled the choke horn off of, rejeted and 4.5 power valve. I just wanted a reliable runner, my guess on H/P is around 425 what do you guys think? Im really happy, now all i need is uppolstery so it more comfy http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif.
Chris

[fryzll]

I just wanted to set it on fire:d

[challengerjet]

sounds like things went well. better than my first outting in mine. 4th of July weekend was my maiden voyage and what a disaster. i finally got things worked out on my last trip until i had fuel tank problems but we've got those worked out and this weekend it should be ready for action. as far as the skegs i've only got two on either side of my intake if those are even called skegs? you're right on the money when it comes to turning, mine takes a lot of throttle to turn as well.
i'm running a BBC with two 750 dp holleys on a polished weiand TR. my tach read 5k but i have no idea about speed i'm thinking if i'm breaking 60mph i'm happy as a pig in a ditch. not too sure about the rest of the motor i bought it from young guy who was clueless about all of it, so that leaves me just as clueless. i've got a couple of good pictures of it on the trailer (digi) and another in the water (film) but don't have the slightest idea how to post. drop me an email and i can give you my upholstery guy, he's cheap and does killer work out of his garage.
jamie

[old rigger]

chalengerjet,
I noticed you are in HB. I'm in Long Beach. If you are interested, you can drag your boat over here (to my house) and I'll show you where to mount a keel fin on that thing. I even have one here that you can look at . It will make a biiiiiig difference in making that boat turn. We put them on all 20.5 classics at Advantage boats. They won't turn worth a $hit without them. I know that's not even close to the same boat as yours, but my point is that alot of jets can benefit from one of them. I have a 20 Spectra that came new with one.
It's really a no brainer, but a little to far forward will make the boat bow steer and to close to the intake can starve the pump in a turn. Let me know.

[challengerjet]

old rigger, show me the way...
let me know when is convenient for you, i'm sure i could waste several hours of your time with questions.
jamie.