550sx build

[BKlenk]

Hello guys and gals. new to the site but figured i would do a build thread on a build i have going on right now. i think i posted this in the correct section if not Mods feel free to move it. For starters my name is Bryan and i currently live in LA but will soon be moving to Vista CA. I have taken my fiance out a few times and she has really taken to it and enjoys it so i figure its time to build her a ski of her own! This will be a surprise for her so dont ruin it haha! For starters i acquired a Virgin 440/550 hull. By virgin i mean this hull was ordered by accident by Whitter Honda Kawasaki back in 1989 when my dad work there and ended up getting sold to a close family friend with the intentions of having a back up hull for his race ski in case it was ever damaged. the hull sat in his garage covered until a few years ago when i got it from him. i have been hanging onto it for a while and finally decided to use it. this ski doesnt even have a VIN plate and only a few scuffs from transport. Along with this hull my dad and myself have acquired a crap tone of parts and motors over the years. plans for the ski are as follows. Im going to use one of my built PJS 550sx reed motor with twin 38mm carbs, ported intake, high compression head, and full west coast exhaust and waterbox with low pro right side exhaust exit. probably going to keep the stock flywheel to mellow the power band on the motor out a little to make it easier to ride. it will have a 440 pump, stainless skat trac impeller and bored nozzle, ocean pro ride plate and intake grate. steering quicken plate and finger throttle. lime green and white hyro turf and a cool graphics kit and thats all i can think of at the moment.

i have most of the big parts but i need a VIN and all the little small poop that adds up so i bought a non running 550 from criagslist last week and tore it all apart today. started with this







then i accidentally the whole thing








This is the hull im starting with. Ill have more updates when i get some time to start putting things together. let me know what you guys think.

 

[Graham Buchan]

sweet! get some of those hull reinforcements too if you can! also are you going to clean the inside and paint the inside? i just see a bit of crap in the bottom there that could be cleaned out

 

[BKlenk]

sweet! get some of those hull reinforcements too if you can! also are you going to clean the inside and paint the inside? i just see a bit of crap in the bottom there that could be cleaned out

oh yeah forgot to mention i already have hull reinforcements for it. Also yes the inside will be cleaned and painted. I took the pic after pulling the hull out of the shed where it has been sitting for a while and has gathered some junk. It already power washed out nicely

 

[BKlenk]

also looking for some advise on where to get hydroturf. should i go to hydroturf directly or a site like blowsion? I havent been able to find a kit for the side rails on these skies but i have seen it done many times. Are you guys just buying a sheet and cutting strips for the side rails or is there a pre cut kit i dont know about? help is greatly appreciated.

 

[BKlenk]

alright so i have a few updates. i have been collecting parts and such the past week or so and finally had some time to work on the ski today. first i got some auto paint and painted the hood and handle poll. they guy at finish maters said the paint isnt really meant to be in water but im going to give it a shot as i wanted something better then rattle can. dont have any pictures of that as its kinda boring but everything is white now. went through the drive shaft and and made sure the bearings an seals where all good. got it installed and shimmed today as well



also got the motor cleaned up from sitting in storage for a while and its ready to drop into its new home





the motor is just set in place right now so that i could put the exhaust in and mark the cut out for the new right side exhaust. tomorrow im hoping to start actually start installing parts for good. first up is the handle poll and steering. followed by the pump and if i have the time i can shim the motor in so that it can stay in for good.

 

[Graham Buchan]

alright so i have a few updates. i have been collecting parts and such the past week or so and finally had some time to work on the ski today. first i got some auto paint and painted the hood and handle poll. they guy at finish maters said the paint isnt really meant to be in water but im going to give it a shot as i wanted something better then rattle can. dont have any pictures of that as its kinda boring but everything is white now. went through the drive shaft and and made sure the bearings an seals where all good. got it installed and shimmed today as well



also got the motor cleaned up from sitting in storage for a while and its ready to drop into its new home





the motor is just set in place right now so that i could put the exhaust in and mark the cut out for the new right side exhaust. tomorrow im hoping to start actually start installing parts for good. first up is the handle poll and steering. followed by the pump and if i have the time i can shim the motor in so that it can stay in for good.

sick! i may have to pm you my motor i built yesterday/ today its pretty sick! do you have the battery spacer?

 

[Big Kahuna]

Confused you said the hull was ordered new in 89. That hull looks like an early 80's hull. 300 or 440 hull. The giveaway is the exhaust outlet being up above bond line on left hand side.

 

[Graham Buchan]

^^^ i was thinking the same but didnt give it much thought

 

[BKlenk]

Confused you said the hull was ordered new in 89. That hull looks like an early 80's hull. 300 or 440 hull. The giveaway is the exhaust outlet being up above bond line on left hand side.

interesting, i did not know this. ill get a picture of the paperwork that i have. its possible i misunderstood the story but the sales recite i have for it is dated 5/16/1989 so possibly the hull was purchased earlier then that but sold to the family friend on that date. I have more updates as the ski is now done and ran perfectly this past weekend in Mission Bay in San Diege CA. The fiance was beyond excited about the surprise and it definitely earned me some brownie points haha. ill get more pictures up soon after i upload them

 

[Big Kahuna]

Old Stock most likely. If you could add rear exhaust you will like it better. You may could order the rear cap that came on the 90+ hulls that came with rear ehaust