Completed Restorations
1975 Evinrude 75
This restoration was possible because of the Texas AOMC. Di Johnson told Joe and Hans about a 1975 Hustler that was going to be auctioned at a boat storage lot near Lake Houston in Dec. 2010. It was a longshaft motor on a rotten old bass boat. Another bidder sorely wanted the boat and trailer (Joe and Hans didn't!) so the friendly competing bidder agreed to let us have the powerhead and upper cowl. In return, we agreed to build him a 70 hp powerhead and throw in a 70 cowl. Our good friends, the Schuberts at Sport Marine in Richmond, gave us a cratered 70 powerhead that had swallowed saltwater. We had a good crank and oversize pistons, had the block rebored and built the 70 hp powerhead for the not yet restored fishing boat. Then, in Nov. 2011 at the Rothermel AOMC swap meet in Houston, Joe saw a shortshaft Hustler exhaust housing and swivel brackets in the back of a truck. He asked if the gearcase existed, it did! Joe offered $80 for the whole thing if the seller would drive to spring and get the gearcase. That completed the list of parts needed to build a complete 1975 Evinrude 75 racing motor. We have our 1979 Johnson Stinger with 1975 powerhead, so this is the backup motor for May Fly III.
In spring 2012 Joe and Hans carefully (as is their habit) rebuilt the Hustler powerhead and gearcase. The swivel bracket bushing was shot so that was replaced as well. Unlike the small hp OMC models where the driveshaft slips out once the waterpump is removed, you have to remove the propshaft and gears and then unbolt the pinion gear to remove the driveshaft. This is necessay in order to replace the driveshaft seals, and inspect the driveshaft bearings. As of Jan. 2013 the motor is complete and ready for break in on the May Fly III. In addition, Joe bought back one of the four EP props that he built in 1978 and sold 1996-2000. That prop and the other two props he built in spring 2011 run equally well on the May Fly III/Stinger. The original 1978 prop is shown on the Evinrude 75.
