Wife's Favorite-Unchained Melody

One of my Favorite Instrumentals From 1956

Still Waiting

Heavy rain for two days and more predicted next week, so I can't prime and paint. My only progress has been cutting a few parts for the console and getting a head start on some minor body work.

I tried linking two videos, but the Blogger software isn't cooperating, so I can't even ling to a couple of songs from 1956 in the same post. So, I'll just add them in individual posts.

Think I'll go read a book until the Bristol race comes on....and Sunday will be a day to read and rest.

Back to Waiting

Once again the weather slows progress. It was windy enough that I wasn't able to apply the primer-surfacer before the deadline to overcoat the epoxy primer without sanding. The weather for the next ten days is expected to be showery, so I'm not in a big rush to work on the body.

After determining the locations for the A/C compressor and alternator, there was a need to install a spacer behind the crank pulley. Fortunately, the scrap metal bin had a piece of aluminum the exact thickness, so I made what I needed and got it installed.

It was surprisingly difficult to find flanged stub pipes that fit the exhaust manifolds. The stock exhaust pipe measured 1.55" while the manifold opening is about 1.75. These pipes measure 1.86" ID, so along with dual pipes flow should improve somewhat. With the stock manifolds hampering efficiency, removing burnt fuel will need some help to balance the intake side.

While the pipe and flanges look to be very high quality, the parts provided to attach them made me scratch my head. They only included one gasket, so I threw it in my gasket collection and replaced it with a pair of high quality Remflex gaskets. After frustrating experiences with stock exhaust and manifold gaskets on my slant six cars, I switched to Remflex and all the problems were cured.

The furnished bolts might be long enough to attach the flanges to a thin, stamped manifold, but they are 1/2" too short if using on cast iron manifolds. What's really strange is the models the manufacturer says this flange kit is supposed to fit are all foreign four-cylinders. Go figure!

I'm guessing not much else will be accomplished until the weather is more stable again.

Primed but not Pretty

The wind cooperated, but equipment less so.

The body was rolled out and wiped down before the sun had cleared the horizon. While the primer mix sat and did its thing for the recommended fifteen minutes, I got the HVLP sprayer hooked up with filter and pressure attachments, and air hose run outside.

I immediately had problems adjusting the spray pattern. The pattern would not spread as much as it should have, so there was a heavy spot in the middle surrounded by thin coverage, but I had to get started before the weather changed and the epoxy began to set. It worked t to a certain degree, but there were several runs due to the poor pattern, so that means more sanding. Nothing is ever easy!

Before I finished the first coat, it became apparent that I wasn’t getting enough air pressure and after playing with the pressure adjustments on the sprayer, I discovered that the line pressure was low. For some reason the shop circuit breaker had tripped and the compressor shut down. By the time I got going again, a breeze had started, but I still managed to apply two coats of epoxy. It looks like crap, but at least it’s covered!

When I disassembled and cleaned the gun, I found a tiny particle of dried paint stuck in the spray nozzle, so I suppose that was the cause of my problems. The last time I used that gun, I took extra care soaking all the parts in solvent and then blowing everything out, so I can’t figure where the paint particle came from. As usual, I filtered the each part when I filled the measuring cup, and then filtered the mixture again when I filled the gun, so I don’t think it got in there today.

Missed by that Much!

Saturday was another calm morning and I hoped it would remain quiet enough to shoot the epoxy primer. I pushed the car outside soon after sunrise, but didn’t have quite enough time to do the job before the wind began. Another twenty minutes and I would have been finished.

The car was filthy dirty as it hadn’t been outside for a good cleaning in weeks,  so I had to spend a half-hour brushing, blowing and wiping before I could finish masking. I was nearly done masking when the wind came up. Though it wasn’t strong, it was too much to spray.

The forecast for this morning looks similar, so if I can roll it out before sunrise and give it a quick dusting while the primer mix is sitting, maybe I can get the job done. Then it has to receive the final build-primer coat within three days, or the epoxy would have to be sanded again and I really don’t want to do that.

As long as the car was outside, I decided to give the inside work area a good cleaning, and also rearrange the stacks of parts and materials that had been put aside for storage. It looks much better now and I have more elbow room.

I also had a chance to check my winch setup. While I can still roll it around myself, I won’t be able to do that after the drivetrain is installed. The winch worked okay until the cable angle became too steep and tripped the safety shutoff. I’ll have to try rigging a brace and pulley setup to reroute the cable path. Seems like there’s always something not directly related to the car that takes time and money! I can always use the come-along, but electric motors sure makes it easier.

More Hurry up and Wait

Still passing time waiting for a little cooler weather and calm mornings. I was ready to roll it out the door and prime, but the wind was already too strong by 7am. By 10am, the forecasted 8-9mph was blowing at about 15.

I did manage to get the left exhaust manifold sand blasted, painted and installed. It's darker in color than the new casting, but nobody will be able to see both sides at the same time, and after a few months they will both be getting gray and rusty.

I also got more console sheet metal cut. Soon that project will be on hold as I can't finish the top plate until the transmission is in place and the shifter can be mounted in the proper location. Only thing left is to make a plate for the seat module and fuse blocks under the arm rest storage bin.

Console Progress

In spite of near 100 degree heat, I've been able to spend some time in the workshop doing what I consider the fun part of  car projects...customizing the interior. I've changed my mind about details of the console design several times, but each iteration seems to be an improvement over the previous one, but that remains to be seen. It will probably undergo several more changes.

Yesterday, I sanded the etching primer on the body with hopes the wind is calm enough one morning in the next few days to apply a coat of epoxy primer and a couple of coats of primer-surfacer. I really want to get the painting done so I can install the engine and transmission. I can't move the car by myself with those heavy parts installed, and I much prefer to paint outside the workshop, so I'm at the mercy of Mother Nature for the next major steps.

New Arrivals

The reproduction '66 Fury, rear-dump, right side exhaust manifold arrived and it's a very nice casting. It fits exactly, so it should be good.

The replacement for the broken metal shear also arrived, so I can get back to work on the console.

While waiting for fence and roof contractors and the insurance adjuster, I did manage to finish the mounting brackets for the AC compressor and the alternator. Everything fit-checks okay, so I can cross off one more task, though they will need some paint touch-up.

More Non-car Problems

There’s nothing like home ownership to take away the fun time of working on old cars.

Since my last post the AC drain plugged and the AC shut down in 100 degree heat. The installer built the drain so it wouldn’t come apart, so I had to use a snake, air pressure and lots of Chlorox to get it to flow. This came after working on the new ice machine that died a few days after being installed.

Then yesterday, a wind storm took down my vinyl fence and destroyed my 16’ garage door. A large hammer and an hour of straightening panels and brackets allowed me to operate the garage door, but it’s a twisted mess that will need replacement.

The fence will need major repairs. I managed to cobble it together by propping with 2X4s, but it won’t withstand more than a gentle breeze in that condition, so I hope no more storms hit before I can get it replaced. A fence contractor is coming on Monday to give an estimate, but he can’t get to it for 2-3 weeks.

The roof leak  above the kitchen also made another appearance during the storm, so the roofer was out to inspect it again.  Looks like he’ll have to replace about 200 sq ft of shingles to make sure it’s fixed, but it will be at least three weeks before he can get to it.

I’m really getting to dislike this house!

This afternoon, I tried to finish the AC compressor mount, but the Ingersoll Rand metal shear broke another set of blades, so nothing got done. Since that’s the second one that broke, I ordered a different brand to replace it.

The only car work accomplished has been ordering and receiving a few more parts. Maybe tomorrow will go better.