Winter refresh of my 96 XP

[suke]

So about 5 years or so ago I did a "resto" of a 96 XP. She's been great but felt it was time to change it up a bit.

RESTO - My semi resto 96 XP project

So on the list of things was this:
West Coast head with pump gas domes
Ocean Pro FA's
UMI
New carbs....like brand new with accel pump
Single gauge hood
Skat trak 17/22 impeller

Last season I did some minor changes: sponsons, extended pump....parts to run extended pump.

Anywho on to the pics. I was going to wait until I was done, but figured I might as well post where I'm at.

New carbs, love minty fresh parts:

Cleaned up and found a paint that matches the stock OceanPro FA's

Head is on:

UMI installed:

Relocated my multi gauge and DESS post:

Thanks to bowhunter I got ahold of a green single gauge hood and wetsanded it and painted it john deere yellow and it turned out amazing.

Primered

Bottom painted and it's damn near a spot on match

Wetsanded and ready for color

Bottom is done

First couple coats of color:

Clear going on

8 layers of clear later

Next morning

2 days later

We'll see how it does.....and that's where I'm at right now. Still have to put the hood back together, the carbs and FA's on, do some more wire magic to get the gauges wired up.

 

[mikidymac]

Gross, what is that yamaha doing around the seadoo's. And a WestCoast head with Ocean Pro FA's. Geeze what is the world coming to.

Just kidding the hood and FA's look great.

 

[suke]

Gross, what is that yamaha doing around the seadoo's. And a WestCoast head with Ocean Pro FA's. Geeze what is the world coming to.

Just kidding the hood and FA's look great.

LOL I've had that ski since I was a kid. West coast head an ocean pro Fa's were a very specific find I was looking for as mpower already has a ski with those exact settings so I know how it should ride. Easier to tune if you've got a working replica.

 

[Bowhunter252]

Hood looks AMAZING!!! Hard to believe it was faded green. What paint did you use?

 

[suke]

Hood looks AMAZING!!! Hard to believe it was faded green. What paint did you use?

Primer

Paint

Clear

Can't really recommend this as I don't know how it'll hold up, but it damn sure matches. I wanted to stick to the same brand for all primer, paint, and clear.

 

[Bowhunter252]

I bought a piece of plexiglass for the inner cover. Going to try and match it. The paint I bought was WAY off!

 

[suke]

I bought a piece of plexiglass for the inner cover. Going to try and match it. The paint I bought was WAY off!

Ahhhh that john deere yellow rustoleum is spot on if that's the color you're trying to match. I have the cover with the holes in if it you want it. I'll ship it to ya. Or if you happen to be up this way again just let me know.

 

[Bowhunter252]

I think I’m good without it. I’ll shoot u a pic of what I did with some scrap plexi until I figured out what I wanted. I overlaid it with yellow vinyl. It’s close but I really want it painted. Then cut a BRP stencil in purple. I think it looks pretty sweet

 

[suke]

I think I’m good without it. I’ll shoot u a pic of what I did with some scrap plexi until I figured out what I wanted. I overlaid it with yellow vinyl. It’s close but I really want it painted. Then cut a BRP stencil in purple. I think it looks pretty sweet

Ahhhh vinyl on that would be easier for sure. Especially with it being completely flat.

 

[Bowhunter252]

The color is slightly off and I’m OCD about it. Lol

 

[andrewterri]

Suke, is the yellow seadoo uses all the same? Your hood looks great and I have a 96 GTI hood that's yellow and needs to be redone.

 

[suke]

Suke, is the yellow seadoo uses all the same? Your hood looks great and I have a 96 GTI hood that's yellow and needs to be redone.

I'm not 100% sure. Not sure why they'd use a bunch of different yellows. I guess it couldn't hurt to buy a can and spray something and hold it up and see. I knew from past folks talking that this specific paint would match the X4 yellow.

 

[andrewterri]

Guess I will give it a shot. Can't look any worse than it does

 

[mikidymac]

I was just giving you a hard time suke using two different brands of parts. Just messing with you that’s all.

 

[1of500]

You forgot to clean the white paint off the bolts on the head come on man

 

[suke]

You forgot to clean the white paint off the bolts on the head come on man

LOL I tried a wire wheel and it didn't do squat. So I'm going to paint them white again with a touch up brush.

 

[1of500]

Wire wheel on a bench grinder works not sure a hand drill would

 

[suke]

Wire wheel on a bench grinder works not sure a hand drill would

Yeah I only had the hand drill portion, so I'll be painting them.

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

Dang, most of the pics didn't show up for me. The carb did, wow! Shiny!
As for the paint on the bolts, wire wheel on a drill press on highest setting is what I use. Those cheap small wheels from Harbor Freight, do the job well. The big wheels are too soft usually.If using a hand drill, try using a C-clamp and secure it to something. You need to really press that bolt against the brush wheel. I find that clean shiny stainless steel bolts look best on a head That ski is going to be a beast with those upgrades. Maybe I'll come up next summer and ride with you guys. I plan to build my 95 XP800, but IDK if I'll keep original paint scheme. I know you guys say it's blasphemy, but I kind of want a ski that's more original. Currently, I'm looking for a good place to get a reasonably placed crank. Crankworks wants $600 for a balanced one. Not sure it's worth it.
Currently, I'm stuck in Singapore till spring, dreaming about working on my ski and living vicariously through this forum. Once I get back, I'm going to put that x4 together and jump these amazing mountain waves behind the yachts everyone seems to have in Miami. They aren't afraid to use the throttle either

 

[andrewterri]

I think its hard when I'm at work and cant work on the ski when I have a pile of parts waiting for me. I cant imagine having to wait four months. You have my sympathy LOL

 

[suke]

Dang, most of the pics didn't show up for me. The carb did, wow! Shiny!
As for the paint on the bolts, wire wheel on a drill press on highest setting is what I use. Those cheap small wheels from Harbor Freight, do the job well. The big wheels are too soft usually.If using a hand drill, try using a C-clamp and secure it to something. You need to really press that bolt against the brush wheel. I find that clean shiny stainless steel bolts look best on a head That ski is going to be a beast with those upgrades. Maybe I'll come up next summer and ride with you guys. I plan to build my 95 XP800, but IDK if I'll keep original paint scheme. I know you guys say it's blasphemy, but I kind of want a ski that's more original. Currently, I'm looking for a good place to get a reasonably placed crank. Crankworks wants $600 for a balanced one. Not sure it's worth it.
Currently, I'm stuck in Singapore till spring, dreaming about working on my ski and living vicariously through this forum. Once I get back, I'm going to put that x4 together and jump these amazing mountain waves behind the yachts everyone seems to have in Miami. They aren't afraid to use the throttle either

Do it!!! Don't worry what everyone else thinks. At this point I'm only going forward so paint on the head bolts it is.

 

[mikidymac]

IdoSeaDoo, I don't think the Crankworks is worth the $600. I haven't paid more than $400 for an OEM crank from seadoo.

Also the $29 bench grinder with a wire wheel from Harbor Freight does a great job of cleaning up the bolts.

 

[suke]

Also the $29 bench grinder with a wire wheel from Harbor Freight does a great job of cleaning up the bolts.

Hmmmm yeah you're probably right.

 

[emspjay]

Great work! That hood looks amazing!

 

[AdamXP800]

Ski is looking great!