TOPIC: DONE!! Restoration 1962 Buehler Turbocraft Jet 35

Hello Bob,

Yes, the intake is stock. From what I've gleaned from the Turbocraft brochures and tech data I have, there were three different grates offered. I can always change it if needed in the future since I do have two different ones currently. The lake I will be using this boat in is shallow and has a lot of weed patches. So I chose the more aggressive one.

Thanks for the offer of the spacer. I'll find out if we need the dimensions or the piece.

It's been a month, we need an update on your boat!

Newest photos comming up of the new rub rails, rechromed hardware installed, and windshield

Getting there!! Here are the newest updated photos.

Looking GREAT Rick!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

The Buehler is looking awesome Rick, getting closer now! Any projected splash date yet?

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Splash date September / October!

More photos. The pump is in!
Custom step mounted.
Bulkhead installed
All new wiring for the restored guages, and the rest of the boat.

You remind me of myself. I did a Buehler back in the 80's had a 327 vette engine in it, she really flew, but too many times in the back of a squad car for running flat out in the no wake zone, convinced me to sell her, (I was young and crazy then.) I remember that the most difficult part of owning that boat (aside from 18 gallons of fuel an hour at WOT) was sealing the bearing pack at the front end of the jet, I had the three stage jet and it would create such force that I had problems keeping the bearings from being washed out, and then of course trashing the rollers and races.
So for me it never really became the everyday boat I needed at the time, so I sold it, and bought something that would keep me on the correct side of the law, and that was easier on fuel, (gotta feed the kids or so I'm told.)
Anyway it's great to see one more being lovingly restored, best of luck with it and Good Boating!
Best regards,
Joseph

Thank you Joseph. Hopefully with my less powerful motor I will not be burning out the bearings, and I might feed the kids.

Don't have too many pics of back then, but I found this one, it's the first day after I brought it home to work on, the bucket in the photo got a lot of use. The second pic is of my 1973 Glastron V173 I just finished this project (except for building windshields for it) I send it along to give you an idea of what my completed work looks like, the Buehler was just as nice, except then I used paint the Glastron was re gel coated.
Regards,
Joseph

Not sure why the second pic didn't take, so I'll try one more time.
Joseph

And here's one of old man Hamilton, himself, the father of your pump and inventor of jet propulsion for boating purposes.

Wow, thanks for posting those photos. If the Buehler looked half as good as your Glastron it must have looked fantastic. Wish you had more photos of it. Do you remeber the year / model?

I believe it was late 60's like 68 or 69, if I remember correctly it was a turbocraft 200, 17 feet and really got looks in the shallows of some of the back waters where I used to prowl, some could not believe that big of a boat could nav in the shallows like that, most of the folks were sporting alum, fishing boats where I went with that boat, if I remember correctly I only needed 10 inches of water to float it. Never beached it, always made it through. If I found one today my wife would kill me cause she knows I'd do it in a New York minute, truth is she loved the sound that 327 made at WOT and even at idle. but like I said the bearing pack was difficult to keep dry, and gas was only getting more expensive by the hour back then, I think it was approaching 1.70 a gallon where I used to go, think about it 1.70 a gal is expensive, well it was at the time, found a buyer that fell in love and bought it on the spot in the water.
As far as pics are concerned I was never much for taking them until I noticed my mom getting old and sort of sickly, dropped my fork at the dinner table one night and went directly to the camera shop that night, glad I got some pics of her before, we lost her. But alas the boat was just a plaything at the time, I'll ask my brother mabey he has some, anyway here is one of the dash taken I think at the same time the other was.
Enjoy and don't worry too much about shallow water, that's why old man Hamilton made em cause the water in the rivers in New Zealand were too shallow for anything else.
Joseph

By the way did you name her yet?
Meet Miss Goody Two Screws.

Been following your build.....been doing the same thing but not to the same degree because my boat was decent.....but did replace the floors etc......Gel coat was good........being a gear head....I recently concentrated on the engine.......Do you know Rodney K with a Buehler? I need to return a 3rd stage to him...lost his email...thanks John

Hello John,

Yours sure does look great! A very clean job. I checked on all my past emails and couldn't come up with a Rodney. Sorry.

All the best...
Rick

Nope, no name yet. Miss Goody Two Screws is quite the boat. I bet you get lots of looks with that.

Joseph, the more I look at your dash on the Buehler, the more I think it is early 60's.

thanks Rick,...Rodney lives in ohio and owns a Queen Bee.

Here is another shot of the engine

This is a well Blue printed engine with lot of sound changes to the engine...This is a 0 deck height engine which requires a special piston for the Chrysler...I used the new EQ heads which you can use on the LA block...small changes to the oiling but you get a nice cyl head that won't crack and you can use the 8 bolt Magnum Valve covers.
Its Been honed with a plate and has a change in the intake dept for better low end.....thee are many more changes which could be a lot to list...questions are always welcomed.
Thanks John

By the way your Buehler is beyond beautiful......I know how many hours I have in mine......can't even guess the time and money you have in your boat......But I love it! Especially the transom design!

Start of the wire project......the stock Buehler electrical was a huge mess behind the engine...I upgraded and tried to keep it simple but effective

Thank you John for the kind comments. I wouldn't even know what questions to ask about your motor. I'm hoping my decision to keep the motor /generator / starter all original for the time period doesn't come back to bite me. This will be my first GM motor.

I'm a FMEL (Ford/Mercury/Edsel/Lincoln) guy.

I will be using Nelson Racing Engines out here in Ca. for a 430 cu. in. that will go in my '61 CC Continental.

As for how much, or how long, you don't want to know. But it is well worth it!

I'm just so impressed at how nicely many of the boats on this forum are turning out. And can't wait to see your finished product. That motor is a work of art.

Thanks........I did not like the original marine Chrysler Starter for example and refitted the stock bell housing to take a modern day gear drive starter....These are the things that really make the difference. The average guy would have no clue about the amount of work and thought a boat like this takes......my problem......I live in Salt Water country and I cannot make myself drop in salt.....so if you know somebody that wants an extreme build Buehler with no shortcuts...it will be for sale when finished......or trade for a nice salt water center console.....

It's hard to believe you want to sell it. But I sure wouldn't want to put it in the salt either.

desperate need for 1 emblem...one was not on the Buehler when I purchased the boat.any condition

John,

Great talking with you today! I hope something pans out for you regarding the emblem. Hope we talk again soon.

All the best..
Rick

Still plugging away!
Restored Steering Wheel installed
Front seats and cockpit finished.

More progress!
View of new floor, aluminum trim, and interior panels installed.
Rear seat installed. We are presently designing rear seat back mounts so the seat can be removed to get to the ski rack.

Really looking beautiful.....tell me about those side panels? That cant be peg board? What is it?

Hope to see some pin striping and that little gal! www.fiberglassics.com/components/com_kunena/template/200907_the_lips/images/english/emoticons/wink.png

Engine is in!!

She's really coming together now Rick, looking great!

Absolutely wonderful Rick, she's really coming along nicely!!!!!!!

Bo

Finished except the top & cover.
I want to thank Dave & Scott Wrzesinski of Marine Services Unlimited for taking on this project and bringing it to completion. The care they took in every aspect of the restoration I think shows in the finished product. I wish to thank all on this forum who have given encouragement, help finding parts, showing other restorations, and best of all a gateway to making new friends.
Also I have been keeping the family that owned the boat since the 60's updated on the restoration. I thank them for selling me the boat, showing interest in the progress, and hope they are pleased with the outcome.
I hoped to have some water shots, but it might be next year before that happens.
Next project: Mostly wood, and using Marine Services again.
Here are the finished photos. ENJOY!

What can we all say......the Buehler is beautiful and I am sure John Buehler would be proud and sure like some of your small changes......aka improvements!

The only thing I would have changes is maybe moving the light over to the side so you don't get impaled as you get in an out of the boat!

I am not being critical, but trying to understand why you did not move it over since you were making some subtle changes anyway.

But the Buehler is real fine!

Thanks John!

We didn't move the light because the whole unit unplugs. It will be stored where the skis are when not in use.

Thanks for clarifying that.......scratched my head for about 30 minutes! Like I should have known better........now I am humbled.
Should have given more credit to you guys!

That baby looks fantastic Rick, congrats! Really looking forward to some on the water pics, as I know you are.

Outstanding Rick, I'm looking forward to water pics also!

Bob