Motor Mounts

I found parts to fabricate motor mounts at the same place, so that's one more thing I can work on.

Seats and Module

After searching for Sebring seats all over the state, I found a nice set a mere seven miles away, and at less than half the price I was quoted for a set to be shipped in to a bigger yard. These were out of a 2000 model, so they had the seat belt module and harness that will make it much easier to wire. The driver's seat is also powered, so that's a bonus!

I'm soon going to have to decide on interior colors and materials so I can get the seats to the upholsterer. Last time I had some done it took a couple of months to get them back.

Unchained Melody Arranged by Inka Gold

3-20-15

The stainless window frames I worked on just didn't look good enough, so I re-sanded and polished them one more time. The metal surface appears to vary in density, as some areas are easier to cut and polish. There are also veins of yellowish metal that resist sanding, and that don't change much by cutting deeper.

Compared to new, the finish is far from perfect, but compared to what I started with, they are beautiful. Guess I'll have to live with the slightly foggy appearance as well as the few pits that are too deep to remove. If the car is ever complete, the frames will be easy enough to upgrade with chromed Belvedere parts.

80F Today and Rain Forecast All Week

Spent several hours cleaning, straightening and patching the front gravel pan. Painted  with rust reformer and primer, then stored it away.

Shared emails with FuryJim to see if the Mylar inserts he makes for '57 and '58 Plymouths can be used to make my smaller-than stock-inserts.

Took door window frames to Binswangers to cut and install new Solex glass. Quarter panel windows are already Solex, but the cracked driver's side door glass was clear, laminated safety glass that had obviously been a replacement at some time.

Received window frame cat whiskers from Canadian company. Will cut and install if rain prevents working outside.

Going Private

Due to the number of purists and busybodies who insist on dictating their demands to do things their way, I've decided to take this blog private. It will be a historical journal only, not meant to entertain, educate, or inform anyone but me, but I may occasionally open it to previous readers when the time is right.

More Sanding and Polishing

Still below normal temps and not much improvement for at least a week, so cleaning and polishing is all there is to do. Got all the window glass frames done except for final polishing that is waiting for my ultra-fine sandpaper order to arrive.

Also got one door trim to that point. I had thought I might have to scrap the stainless steel parts because of their deep pitting, but they will be useable, if not beautiful.

The part on the right that is nearly complete looked even worse than the one on the left before I began. You cans still see a few small pits that won't go away after the final sanding and buffing, but I don't dare cut them any deeper or the parts will bend and deform too easily.

Restoration on Pause

Got my order from Gary Goers yesterday and I thought it was going to be like Christmas with goodies to unwrap and play with, and light snow expected last night. The forecast was for about 1" of snow, but as of this evening it's 6" deep and rising, so all restoration work is on hold. There are lots of small jobs I could be working, but along with the snow we have 23F and wind, and the small shop heater can't keep it comfortable when it's that cold so I spent the day getting ready for tax time.

As complicated as tax laws have become, I'd almost rather work outside in the snow!

2-21-15

The up and down weather conditions have not allowed much time to work outside, so when I do have some time I clean, polish and paint the dozens of smaller items that eventually must be restored before they can be reassembled.

The stainless steel side window frames have been the most time consuming. I worked four hours Friday just to complete one side of one window. On the plus side, seeing once pitted, rusty parts gleaming is encouragement to do more.

I had been expecting some rigid window channels to arrive any day, as they had been shipped a couple of weeks ago from a Canadian company. Turns out the package was severely damaged in shipment and returned to the sender. They wrote and said they now had to wait for one of the parts to arrive from the manufacturer to refill the order. Fortunately I don't need them yet, as they were not now sure of the ship date.

I'm also waiting for a shipment of seals and weatherstrip from Gary Goers. My check has been cashed, so I'm expecting that order to arrive soon.

I've located a set of motor mount saddles in a nearby wrecking yard, but they are in a truck and except for the saddle part that supports the mount bolt the configuration is far different than those found in cars. Since the car version is proving difficult to find, I suppose I will have to get the ones from the truck and plan on doing a lot more cutting and welding. The mounts are the only thing stopping me from sending the engine block to the machine shop as I'd like to do a fit check before the block is freshly machined and subject to damage.

Little Stuff

It’s back to searching and waiting for parts so I can establish motor and transmission mount locations. However, there’s never a shortage of jobs to keep me occupied.

First things first.  I had to cut down last year’s lanatana dead growth, but  my self-propelled Husqvarna mower refused to start.  A shot of starter fluid got it to fire, but when that burned up it quit, so I knew it was a fuel problem. I verified there was no water in the fuel system and when I removed the carb I found it clean as new, but flushed everything with carb cleaner anyway. Still wouldn’t start. I removed the carb again and used more carb cleaner and compressed air on everything. Still wouldn’t start. It took a third time and a thin wire to remove a tiny gob of sticky, tan material from deep inside and partially plugging one of the ports. I have no idea what it was, but no solvent would cut it. Now it runs like a champ, but I wasted two hours.

After my mowing job I finally got back to the car. The first project was cleaning and painting the damper and several engine brackets. Now they are sitting on the shelf, out of the way and waiting for installation. While I was painting, I touched up the frame that has been sitting outside, painted and exposed to the elements for more than two years. Then I scraped decades old greasy, dirty crud from the transmission housing and various engine parts and covers.

 

 

Since the weather was nice and I could work outside, I decided to clean, de-rust, sand and polish the stainless steel surrounding the door and quarter window glass. The pitting was deep, so it was a slow, tedious process. I got one window finished and another nearly done, but it took the better part of two days. I’ll still have to disassemble them and replace the bedding channel when it arrives, but at least the stainless looks decent, if not perfect.