Brink70

I got tired of riding sit downs so i decided to get myself a stand up. I came upon this Jet Ski on craigslist in October 09. Went and checked it out and why not, I bought it. The thing looked like **** when I bought it but I have attentions on restoring it. I paid $400 for it. Came with a trailer and titles for both. So I thought that was a pretty good deal. The Jet Ski is a 1984 Kawasaki js 440 with a 550 motor in it. It runs good started right up took it for a test drive on Halloween in the freezing water to make sure everything worked before I tore the thing apart for winter. So everything worked as it should. Brought it home gave it a wash and started tarring it apart in November. I made a nice dolly for it to work on. Only thing i really did so far was the motor. New gaskets and gave it a nice paint job and rebuilt the carbs. Since November break, it has been sitting because it’s too damn cold to work on it in the garage. So my plans on finishing it are to sand it down and bondo/fiberglass the bad parts of the ski. Then paint it black, green and white. So here are some pictures from when I got it to when I stopped working on it.
Future modifications I plan on doing are… Skid plate which I already have an ocean pro, new intake grate, 550 pump, skat trak prop, 15* bars, new air filter and new hydro turf that’s about it.
Let me know what you guys think. I know the first few pictures are very disturbing but trust me I will have this Jet Ski looking good when I’m finished with it.


First day after i picked it up on the tailor it came with.




















nothing like a good wash






time to gut the haul


yummy


nothing like another good wash


much better














and the only thing i did so far was redo the whole engine

__________________
go big or go home

77 js 440-sold
84 js 440/550 rebuilding
88 js 550 mod parts
88 js 550 custom

rock_smasher

wow!!!!! that really changed the whole look. whats the plan for the hull?

edit- lol i missed the whole section about the plan. looks great so far!

__________________
By the time you hear the sirens, It's already too late...


As sure as God made black and white, whats done in the dark will be seen in the light.

Brink70

ha yeah thx man. yah i plan on putting bondo and fiberglass on any part of the jet ski that needs it and finish sanding it down. but its not gona happen till its get warmer out so another month or 2. but im happy so far. my engine shines cant wait to put all back in

__________________
go big or go home

77 js 440-sold
84 js 440/550 rebuilding
88 js 550 mod parts
88 js 550 custom

StandUpGuy23

Don't use bondo. I just learned this as well. If water gets to it then it swells and falls out.

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JS550/650 conversion- ported (exhaust ports widdened 2mm, raised 1mm, transfers stair stepped, cases ported), Blackjack 46mm, Prok FA, Boysen reeds, stuffers, Westcoast head 30cc domes (175psi), Jetinetics charging flywheel, Dale's Bad Attitude Ignition, PJS exhaust manifold, Factory Performance Pipe, Coffmans Waterbox, footholds, Team Waterfly Tubbies.

650 pump conversion- SXR prop cut to fit 650 pump repitched to a 9/17, TBM pump stuffer, OP nozzles, and OP skegged ride plate.

Brink70

alright thx for the heads up, what should i use then?

__________________
go big or go home

77 js 440-sold
84 js 440/550 rebuilding
88 js 550 mod parts
88 js 550 custom

rock_smasher

duraglass works good for small fixes, it's a 2 part just like bondo, but it's for fiberglass.

__________________
By the time you hear the sirens, It's already too late...


As sure as God made black and white, whats done in the dark will be seen in the light.

Brink70

alright ill give that stuff a try. my noise is pretty beat up but i hope to get it back to shape.

__________________
go big or go home

77 js 440-sold
84 js 440/550 rebuilding
88 js 550 mod parts
88 js 550 custom

burlmays9

whered you get that 550 with the green stripes down both sides?

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Signature......?

Brink70

thats my buddys... he redid his also it was a 440 till he blew it up

__________________
go big or go home

77 js 440-sold
84 js 440/550 rebuilding
88 js 550 mod parts
88 js 550 custom

joe-734

awesome build.
i have a 85 js550 that i am currently rebuilding.
Unless you already changed them out; the stock intake plate that covers the carburetor will polish up nicely.
Anyway, maybe i will see you out on the lake.
looks great