Uh Oh…My Boaterhome Might Actually Be a BUMMERHOME 😖

Thanks to ARMRA Colostrum for sponsoring this video! Head to www.tryarmra.com/HeavyD or enter code HEAVYD to get 15% off your first order.

I am a shade tree boat mechanic. Mercruiser engines are just Chev blocks with different heads and cam. Parts are readily available and the outdrives are basically bullet proof. Check your bellows, gimbal bearings, exhaust hoses, impeller pumps etc. Most things are relatively easy to repair or replace minus the gimbals. Kind of bears to do. Make sure the outdrives get a good fluid change and pump the fluid from the bottom to the top. It eliminates air bubbles. When ever you run those engines, get those outdrives down as low as you can. The clutch dogs and u-joints don't like that extreme angle and keep them either watered with a fake a lake or submerged. Like you said, running them dry eats those rubber impellers alive! Also, make sure when you do pull the engines, the stringers are strong and true. If the pulleys are pointed towards the hull, you will overheat due to the water not being able to have the right angle of attack under water and it will cavitate at the intake strakes at FOT. The engines not being level WILL lift the outdrives up. But as soon as you drop speed, it will pick water back up and things will cool down. Keep that thing as original as possible. Its so, so DOPE!

You are killing those U joints in the outdrive by running it in the up position. Pull the drive, grease the joints, check the bellows and shift cable. 👊

Good Call !!! Something that rare is only all original once.. So glad you decided to keep it as original as possible. Let that ol girl keep her soul..

You've got to restore it as it is. They're an icon of retroness. Repower the inboards and van so you know the running gear is good but keep the looks. Yes, a ton more money but the end result would be well worth it

That vehicle is so unique. Only 21 ever made. Best served to try & keep it as original as possible. Overhaul the boat engines. Get rid of whatever powers the van & see if a 24 valve diesel will match up with the unique transmission the thing has, then update all the upholstery to Heavy D taste. That's my 2 cents. Do what you want, me i'd keep it original as possible except it's heartbeat. Ty for taking us along

Honestly if money isn't a deal breaking issue, I think it would be amazing to see that thing rebuilt as original as possible, and looking new. I think it would add way more value to it, and mean a lot more to you guys if it was restored. My humble opinion. :). Love the content, love all the guys, and all the crew. Thanks for sharing.

I've said this before but once again, this might be your best videos - EVER!!! I had a one year old 1979 Dodge van and a buddy who worked at the local speed shop. He asked if I wanted it to be fast, I said sure. He said he just hot rodded the same engine a 318cu inch and knew what it needed. I said go for it. A week later he calls and said parts are in come and get em. Waiting for me was an Edelbrock dual flow 360 manifold, a 650 Carter and a shift kit for the automatic transmission. The carb was popped open on his counter, the main jets changed out in less than five minutes and out the door I went. Parts installed in a day and the following weekend I was headed out to the Mojave Desert. Let me just say he was right, it hauled hinny. First gear held up to 55 MPH and I chicken footed second gear and slowed down because I couldn't afford a ticket. It was well spent money and added a bunch of power for a few hundred bucks at that time. The shift kit did it's job as well.

As others have said, restore it as original as possible - visually. Mechanically - put all the upgrades in it that weren’t available back then to make both the boat and van more-than-capable . As few of these that were made, fewer that are still alive today, I have to believe you’ll get a buyer for it someday who will pay more than what you put in it.

No outboard motors. Try to keep everything as original as possible. That is what makes this such an awesome machine

At the bottom of the throttle quadrants handle, where it pivots from neutral to forward and reverse. Pull the base of the handle out sideways away from the mount like you're going to remove it. It's spring-loaded and this will disengage the transmission, it's basically Park. You can then push the throttle handle forward to increase the RPMs of the engine without engaging the outdrive in forward gear.

You have to save the entire system, truck and boat! Originality rules! I'm 66 years young and this reminds me of my youth! Stay with it guys! I know it's a money put now...but when restored... you'll be the envy of motorhoming and boating! 😍

Restore/rebuild it! This is a treasure many people would not have known about it if it wasn't for you guys. Let the people of This generation know where ideas come. from

Don't destroy it ! Keep it original !! Restore it !!! This is a world legacy. I used to watch it in tv in argentina when I was a kid. Now im living in usa. I'm sure it's known worldwide.

The boaterhome is one of the best projects to date. Try to keep it as close to original as possible. Can't wait to see the build process and final result.

It was so awesome seeing that thing rip across the water. If it were mine I'd just go through both boat motors, refresh the good one and fix what's wrong with the bad one. Only deal breaker I see is if the crank is shot and you can't regrind or replace it. The van motor just needs the fuel systems and ignition made right. If your compression check is good, you should be ok, EXCEPT for the cam timing gear which has a nylon cover that cracks and crumbles with age. Just replace it with a solid gear and new chain, and you'll never have to deal with it again. Replace the water pump while you're at it, as the impeller fins are probably eaten away, which doesn't help when the rest of the system and the block are coated with scale. Wish I lived closer, as it would be a treat to rebuild that 360 if I did.

I'd say to try to keep it as visually original as possible. Under the hood, go for broke with the upgrades. That boat on the water is quintessential '70s.

Restoration with better and lighter materials, new props, weight reduction, most powerful and reliable engines possible, would be a good start I think.

My thoughts would be to replace the van engine, transmission, and probably gears with a big Cummings diesel and updated Ram transmission and transfer case. You could even add big compound turbos for that extra pulling power. I would have to suggest braking upgrades not just service to the the existing brake system. and even a suspension restomod. The interior can be done with the restoration of the boat interior. It would be a good time to upgrade the electronics in both the van and boat sections. Replace the boat engines with a couple of Texas Speed 427's and service the propeller drive system or replace it. Running a closed loop coolant system with lake water radiator system would be probably the best cooling option. That is a lot of cost and time but that's what I would dream of doing to this. A good polishing of the exteriors would make it really pop.

What is missing in the market, it's an affordable and design proof amphibious ATV or compact boat with retractable wheels. Way more convenient for the average person.