1969 18 2+3 V-Drive

[bubbad]

Does anyone out there know production numbers for this boat?I have owned the boat for 28 years. the boat is baby blue with white stripe. It has a 351W with original V-Drive, Right hand drive? with only 500 hrs.sitting on the original trailer. There are two decals behind the DONZI one says Bahamas the other USA ?. on one side of the windshield there is a decal that says, Hollman -Moody racing?, on the other side it has a decal that says Bobby Allison Racing? I will post serial numbers from foil plate along with engine and v-drive numbers with pics. any help with history would be great. also is there anyone out there with original V-drive parts , I dont need any now but would like to gather as much as I could. thanks

[MOP]

Matty Boy will have the best answers, he has been collecting data for quite a few years.

[silverghost]

There is really not very much that can go wrong with that V-Drive set-up unless you run hard aground and damage your underwater running gear.
Get a new strut cutless rubber bearing as a spare.
Some shaft struts have two bearings.
Your boat may have had a Big Block Holman-Moody Ford 427 side-oiler when new.
V-Drive Donzi's were mostly Big-Block Holman-Moody marined Fords in those days.
If it did not have a Big Block it most likely had a Ford 289 & the 351W which came a bit later I believe.
Perhapps this 351 W was it's second replacment engine?
Post some photos of your great your Donzi 18.
We all would sure like to see it.
Especially those rare racing decals.

[mattyboy]

drop me a line I'll tell ya what I know
mnmveth@optonline.net

Matty Veth
Lake George Donzi Classic Club

[bubbad]

Thanks to all, engine is original, 24 years ago I had to lower the compression. pump fuel wasnt high enough octane,I blew a hole in a piston because engine was detonating, Like a D.A. I replaced original intake and carburator with aftermarket,wish I had or could get the original set up back on motor, other than that and new interior boat is original. windshield is currently off boat, I would like to find original attachment hardware to be able to bring her back to completly original. I will take photos this weekend for all to enjoy. Thanks Again