1997 SPX Restore - Reluctantly

[etemplet]

I may as well give this "BOMB" its own thread. What a pile of crap. I posted parts for this ski a couple months ago when I was coerced by the group to restore this one. I have a Miller built mild race engine and gray box to go with it. Factory Pipe with solenoids, buckshot intake and Carbs, whatever cool nozzle everyone keeps trying to buy off me and I'm sure the impeller and all that is matched to the ski. I'm opting to build the 1997 SPX Hull over the 96XP. It's either or but I thought the SPX hull would be an easier prep. It might be easier but it needs painting. It's ugly. So thus far... it's gutted, almost all stickers removed and lightly scuffed. Lots of work to do... I'm mulling over the colors... easiest is to stay stock on the colors. We'll see.








It isn't pretty... it's WET.




I've cleaned a couple of hoods and they don't last. I'm going to paint this one. If I was smart I'd stay with the yellow. We'll see.

 

[burtshaver2021]

Hi Etemplete, I’m looking forward to following along here with your restoration. Have you ridden the X4 hull before?

 

[etemplet]

Hi Etemplete, I’m looking forward to following along here with your restoration. Have you ridden the X4 hull before?

Yes I had a 1996 SPX 717 which I really liked. Then I restored a 1996 XP. Those are like dirt bikes in making my arms hurt from holding on. I know I'm not gonna like riding the ski I'm building now. Mat Braley (race guru) says this ski, without the performance engine, would run in the low 60's and get there really quick.

This was a really fun ski !! I'm told this was an X4 hull.



I painted this one... the upper hull was in terrible shape. My wife put the graphics on for me. The guy I sold this ski to is still beating crap out of it. LOL It's been a few years. LOL

 

[mikidymac]

Buff and polish. I don't see anything that requires paint?

 

[etemplet]

Well, I have the top section sanded pretty good. Not much left to do for paint prep. I'm working on the bottom now, cleaning it up. This thing sure is light without then engine and all that stuff in there. I have a load of go fast parts for this ski and just pulled the R&D trims and intake grate off the 96XP. I'll give more effort to polish the bottom but I will likely paint it as it is so easy with the ski in this position. I'm thinking Black because I like the look of the 98 SPX. We'll see.




The hull is wet so it isn't that pretty. beware of pictures of jets skis when the ski has just been washed. LOL

 

[mikidymac]

Wetsand and polish, I have done some that looked worse than that and look like new. If it looks good wet it will look great sanded and polished.
But if you really like painting go for it, I hate it.

 

[etemplet]

Muhaaahaaaaaa !!!! Let the games BEGIN !!!

 

[mikidymac]

Slowly step away from the paint gun.....
Now grab the buffer and polish......

 

[etemplet]

It's black !! Rushed up Saturday to do the paint work. Threatening rain but it worked out. I got with my buddy that owns a couple of autobody shops and he got me straightened out. I always "wing it" when painting. I use what I have regarding paint (I have lots of materials and paint colors on hand), Harbor Freight guns (which are not bad equipment), I paint in the yard, wind and such.... I've been having a atomization issue lately which really affects how the paint is laying down. I haven't been able to solve the problem. Usually when I finish I'm saying to myself... Oooooo Weeeee dats fine. I'm back on track now so she's gonna be spot on.... FINE !! Thinking about sliver instead of white top hull but the standard colors for the 98 are appealing to me. I think the black bottom sets the skis apart... my opinion. I was thinking about silver hull with the hood a red metallic tri-coat. Painted my Yamaha 350 resto that color in Feb. It's FINE !!!






And Da Yamaha RED

 

[shamrock246]

What brand of paint did you use on the hull?

 

[burtshaver2021]

It's black !! Rushed up Saturday to do the paint work. Threatening rain but it worked out. I got with my buddy that owns a couple of autobody shops and he got me straightened out. I always "wing it" when painting. I use what I have regarding paint (I have lots of materials and paint colors on hand), Harbor Freight guns (which are not bad equipment), I paint in the yard, wind and such.... I've been having a atomization issue lately which really affects how the paint is laying down. I haven't been able to solve the problem. Usually when I finish I'm saying to myself... Oooooo Weeeee dats fine. I'm back on track now so she's gonna be spot on.... FINE !! Thinking about sliver instead of white top hull but the standard colors for the 98 are appealing to me. I think the black bottom sets the skis apart... my opinion. I was thinking about silver hull with the hood a red metallic tri-coat. Painted my Yamaha 350 resto that color in Feb. It's FINE !!!

View attachment 68705

View attachment 68706


And Da Yamaha RED

View attachment 68708

What kind of car is that under the shelter? Is it a Mustang? What’s the circle thing with the gauge on it outside of the shop? Painting looks good, especially that fuel tank

 

[etemplet]

Red ball tank is my Air Compressor tank.

Yes that is my neighbor's Mustang. It's for sale. When you can't work on stuff yourself and you have to pay full price everything is expensive. H wanted to restore it but that takes time and a lot of money. Classic Cars are ridiculously priced in my opinion and they drive like crap compared to today's vehicles. Reliability isn't there either unless you drop in a modern set up. I've never been a Mustang fan. I like the 67 GTO.

 

[etemplet]

What brand of paint did you use on the hull?

I just used automotive base/clear. (shopline) You can buy ACME base/clear on line. It isn't the best but I'm sure it will do what we need it to do. I bought some black hull paint when I did the RX and the process took forever to dry. I left it in the yard for weeks before i flipped it over. It always seemed soft for me. The skis spends such little time in the water I can't see Base/Clear having a problem. One thing for sure, it won't need polishing and will stay shiny for a long long time. Once and DONE !!

This is the RX



It needed hull repair as the bottom was damaged previously with a pitiful excuse for a repair. The side had some damage as well but I got it all fixed up neat and pretty.





End Result !!!

 

[mikidymac]

For Home DIY painting check out Southern Polyurethanes. They are specifically made for people that don't have heated paint booths. Their clear is really easy to work with.

How about doing the Flying Fish (Chris Fischetti) Replica in silver and black?

 

[etemplet]

Digging through my stash of paint. Accent on least cash possible. I have enough metallic Silver, and maybe enough Ultra-White. Hmmm.....

 

[etemplet]

I'm prepping the hood for paint. Sanding with 320. They start looking good and it is tempting to transition from paint prep to polishing and rubbing out the hood. That works but it doesn't last as long as the repaint. Paint can last years but if I put a cleaned up hood in the yard in 6 months it will start looking dingy again. Yep this one is getting painted.

Picture of the hood I'm prepping. It is still wet so the finish you see is not the true finish. Sanding and polishing is not a bad method if one wishes to take the time. If you don't have access to painting equipment it will look fine... you just have to stay after it.



The beginning. The hood was sitting on the ski in the yard for 5 years or so.

 

[burtshaver2021]

I'm prepping the hood for paint. Sanding with 320. They start looking good and it is tempting to transition from paint prep to polishing and rubbing out the hood. That works but it doesn't last as long as the repaint. Paint can last years but if I put a cleaned up hood in the yard in 6 months it will start looking dingy again. Yep this one is getting painted.

Picture of the hood I'm prepping. It is still wet so the finish you see is not the true finish. Sanding and polishing is not a bad method if one wishes to take the time. If you don't have access to painting equipment it will look fine... you just have to stay after it.

View attachment 68715

The beginning. The hood was sitting on the ski in the yard for 5 years or so.

View attachment 68716

Your making good progress, project is moving along quickly.

 

[etemplet]

Better picture of the hood dry. Not bad but keeping it real. It's almost ready for paint... whatever color that may end up.

 

[etemplet]

Your making good progress, project is moving along quickly.

Thanks ! Prep and paint doesn't take long if the weather is good. I'm looking forward to getting another engine off my shop floor and in a ski. It's like cleaning up. LOL

 

[etemplet]

This ski has potential to being a pain in the butt. Miller race build, factory pipe, Buck Shot carbs... it wreaks of me having to rejet and test and rejet. .

 

[mikidymac]

I would pull the top gauge cover on that hood and paint it separately. They come off pretty easy from the underside.

 

[etemplet]

I would pull the top gauge cover on that hood and paint it separately. They come off pretty easy from the underside.

Coated with sealer. Paint tomorrow.

 

[etemplet]

This one shouldn't need polishing for a while. I decided to stay yellow. It makes everything easier. The color I used is "Lemon Peel" close enough match for me.

 

[etemplet]

Basking in the sun.... Genie happy!!

That little black dot in the 2nd picture isn't a paint defect but a bug that landed on the already dry hood. The BUG photobombed me. LOL

 

[etemplet]

So.... now it goes on the trailer. I clean and prep the engine, paint the pipes, rebuild the carbs