Making progress, again…
Spend a long and productive day in the shop today, the first in almost a month. Got a lot done, with Ken's help, including:
• The first task was to install the lower radiator shell tray that Andy had made for me and which now was painted. It fit perfectly and I can see how it helps deflect air up through the radiator. After it was in, I could reinstall the front sway bar.
• Got the new ignition assembly installed and power to the system, with no shorts. It was a lot harder getting it in the 2nd time with all the other stuff surrounding it, but it's in and it works.
• Installed my new original style Delco battery - here's a picture of it;
• Got the engine running again, and actually drove the car a few feet outside, where I drained the remainder of the block. Here's what it looks like now.
Getting it running took a lot of time however. The distributor was shorting out because it lacked an insulating washer where the points and primary lead connect. Ken finally took the whole think apart and made a new one. Now it works fine, the first time running since last March or April.
• Installed the radio delete plate, which completes the dash except for the wiper switch. It has to wait until the cracked windshield glass is replaced. I decided not to put the radio head in, although I have one, because the rest of the radio (box, speaker) isn't restored.
• Painted the removable wooden floorboards, the RR bumper bracket and some other small parts. Got the floorboards installed – after some countersinking and bolt alignment – and the rear bumper mounted.
• Got a new boot for the emergency brake lever on eBay and it fit perfectly. Got it on and that lever mounted to the center floorboard, but forgot to hook the brake assembly itself up.
• Straightened out the front license plate bracket and bolted on the plate.
• Tightened up a loose brake line connection and eliminated an exhaust pipe rattle.
• Got the horn wired, and installed the center vertical bracket, which doesn't seem to really do much. Here's Ken at work on the horn.
• Patched the RR tail lamp base, which had a broken piece where one of the two bolts holding the base to the lamp body had broken. Used a product that can be molded and hardens like steel to make the patch. It will then be drilled out when hardened to hold the screw securely.
• Got the gas tank filler neck correctly positioned and the filler neck strap mounted to the frame. This took a little muscle to bend it in the right position to be center on the fender neck hole.
• Got the heater hoses installed, but didn't have the clamps, so that job isn't finished yet. When it is, I'll get the coolant added and run the engine to get to operating temperature. I hope that's about 170 degrees, same as the coupe, with no vapor lock or other heat related maladies.
Yesterday Ken worked on getting the door windows assembled. The driver's door is coming along well, but the plater screwed up the RH vent window frame. It has to be ground done and redone - it got over plated and is now larger than it should be. Here's a picture of the driver's door, inside and out. Ken needs to make a stainless steel window frame piece; the aluminum one shown here is just a place holder.
All in all, a very productive day.
• The first task was to install the lower radiator shell tray that Andy had made for me and which now was painted. It fit perfectly and I can see how it helps deflect air up through the radiator. After it was in, I could reinstall the front sway bar.
• Got the new ignition assembly installed and power to the system, with no shorts. It was a lot harder getting it in the 2nd time with all the other stuff surrounding it, but it's in and it works.
• Installed my new original style Delco battery - here's a picture of it;
• Got the engine running again, and actually drove the car a few feet outside, where I drained the remainder of the block. Here's what it looks like now.
Getting it running took a lot of time however. The distributor was shorting out because it lacked an insulating washer where the points and primary lead connect. Ken finally took the whole think apart and made a new one. Now it works fine, the first time running since last March or April.
• Installed the radio delete plate, which completes the dash except for the wiper switch. It has to wait until the cracked windshield glass is replaced. I decided not to put the radio head in, although I have one, because the rest of the radio (box, speaker) isn't restored.
• Painted the removable wooden floorboards, the RR bumper bracket and some other small parts. Got the floorboards installed – after some countersinking and bolt alignment – and the rear bumper mounted.
• Got a new boot for the emergency brake lever on eBay and it fit perfectly. Got it on and that lever mounted to the center floorboard, but forgot to hook the brake assembly itself up.
• Straightened out the front license plate bracket and bolted on the plate.
• Tightened up a loose brake line connection and eliminated an exhaust pipe rattle.
• Got the horn wired, and installed the center vertical bracket, which doesn't seem to really do much. Here's Ken at work on the horn.
• Patched the RR tail lamp base, which had a broken piece where one of the two bolts holding the base to the lamp body had broken. Used a product that can be molded and hardens like steel to make the patch. It will then be drilled out when hardened to hold the screw securely.
• Got the gas tank filler neck correctly positioned and the filler neck strap mounted to the frame. This took a little muscle to bend it in the right position to be center on the fender neck hole.
• Got the heater hoses installed, but didn't have the clamps, so that job isn't finished yet. When it is, I'll get the coolant added and run the engine to get to operating temperature. I hope that's about 170 degrees, same as the coupe, with no vapor lock or other heat related maladies.
Yesterday Ken worked on getting the door windows assembled. The driver's door is coming along well, but the plater screwed up the RH vent window frame. It has to be ground done and redone - it got over plated and is now larger than it should be. Here's a picture of the driver's door, inside and out. Ken needs to make a stainless steel window frame piece; the aluminum one shown here is just a place holder.
All in all, a very productive day.
posted by Bob Shafto at 9:25 PM
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