Changes...Again

The deeper I get into this project, the crazier it gets, as I find myself running in circles and changing plans nearly every day.

I had just about given up on the idea of using the pushbutton shifter I modified, but learned that my high-detent force worry might be resolved by using a '65 model detent spring in the '66 transmission. I ordered one to try out and received an email that it's already been shipped and should be here this Wednesday. Thanks to Slant Six Dan for the info, and to Pat Blais for the outstanding response!

I also decided not to build individual bucket seats for the rear, and instead to use the stock bench seat. It would have been nice, but I have far too many other time consuming tasks to take care of if I want to get this car on the road sometime next year.

Console Mockup

Still working on things that need to be decided before the seats and side panels can go out to be reupholstered. The current project to mockup console and rear seats to establish dimensions is nearly done, but a problem with this website won't let me post pictures. Still not working right, but will try a copy and paste.



It works, but as a thumbnail only. Might have something to do with Windows 10 that I recently installed.

Still Plugging Away

Sometimes it seems as if nothing important takes place with my project. Though I’ve been able to work 2-3 hours a day since I got back from my trip, I have no pictures to document progress. I finished the cosmetic modifications to the steering column to make it look more like the original, and installed the ignition and turn signal switches, but it will need a re-paint before photos.

I’ve also been wire brushing, cleaning, de-rusting and repairing several body pats so they can be installed or taken to the upholstery shop. Door panel stainless trim is getting polished, and I completed a mockup of the redesigned door panels. They will look like a cross between the OEM Fury and Belvedere. I would have liked to use the Fury parts, but they were missing on the parts car.

Also spent a few hours on the customized steering wheel and horn ring assembly. About the time I decide which way to proceed, I come up with a better idea…or at least a different plan. It may be the last thing completed!

I finally decided the configuration for the console and purchased material for it this morning. I need to complete the frame before I can design the custom rear bucket seat frames that will need to go in with the front seats to be recovered. I’m still not sure if I can use the modified pushbutton shifter, or if I will have to use the A-body floor shift, so there are still decisions to be made about the cover and internal parts of the console. I can make that determination later as long as the external dimensions of the console frame don’t change.

Back in the Saddle

It's amazing how far behind you can get by taking a two week "vacation. When I got home, the yard looked like a parched jungle despite having an automated sprinkler system for much of it. The lawn wasn't too bad, but I've spent a week trying to resuscitate wilted trees and shrubs. Unfortunately, I fear that several will not make it. Besides the heat damage, my Knockout Roses were hit with a virus..."rose rosette"...that's said to be fatal in most cases. No more roses for my yard, even the ones that claim to be disease resistant.

Small jobs are all I've been able to get done when it comes to the car. I had to make some dimensional changes on the seat mounting brackets, but now have the seats placed correctly. I'd like to take the seats in to be reupholstered, but they want the rear seats at the same time and I have yet to start work on them. Since the bench portion will be highly modified, it may be awhile before I get them ready.

After comparing the ivory color I used for the steering wheel column and dash to the exterior color and the fabric, I decided it contained too much yellow to match properly, and it was too shiny. I found a more muted cream color in the paint store book, so I had them mix a pint and add a dab of flattening agent to soften the shine. I should be able to re-paint the steering column this weekend.

The rear seat arm rest panels were in pretty bad shape with rust damage. It took lots of time with a wire wheel and sander to get them ready to re-cover.

Still trying to come up with a period-appearing design for the horn ring and steering wheel center trim, but I'm not satisfied with anything I've tried so far. It's not needed anytime soon, but it's a project I can contemplate when I have only a few minutes at a time.

I ordered Duplicolor, ceramic, silver engine paint online yesterday and it's already been shipped, so maybe I can begin assembling the engine in the next week or two. It would be nice to get some of the big parts out of my way so I can quit stumbling over them.

More Parts and Material

A Cloyes double roller timing set from Rockauto, and Melling pushrods from Gary Pavlovich are all I needed to build the long block, but that will have to wait until I get back from my two week trip north. I still don't have the oil pump, but it's been shipped and should arrive before I leave.

 

The seat fabric arrived much faster than expected, and as soon as I finish locating the passenger seat in the correct position, I'll visit the upholstery shop and make an appointment to bring them in.

I also received a sample of the leather I'll use to wrap the steering wheel. The color is "Sand", which looked perfect on their website, but a bit too brown in real life. The picture I took makes it look even more brown, but with gold highlights that aren't there under normal light. I'll take it with me when I select vinyl fabrics and see if I can make a match that looks nice, but I'll probably use black since at least some Furys came with a black steering wheel and they looked fine.

Still unsure what to do about the ignition. The original points distributor is in great shape, and with the horrible quality of so many foreign made car parts, I'm hesitant about converting to an electronic system. If the points and condenser go bad along the highway, I can swap a set and get it running in 10 minutes or less. The car will not be raced, and I doubt I would wear out a set of points in my lifetime, and it won't be driven in cold weather, so I just might stay with the old technology...at least for a while.

Back to work...as soon as the house AC is repaired!

Typical weekend timing as the house air conditioning failed yet again! It must have another refrigerant leak, as the electronics are working, but the cooling air is not very cold. The repairman will be out this afternoon.
However, since my honey-do projects are complete for a few days, it's back to work on the car. A part I had ordered for the steering wheel customization arrived, so if it's too hot to work on the car I can get back to designing the wheel.

I ordered the seat fabric, and when it arrives the Sebring seats go to the upholsterer with an expected 6-8 weeks to complete. I was slightly disappointed when he said won't replace the seat belts with a matching color due to federal regulations. The only option is to find some stock parts that are close to matching, but I'd need the entire retractor assembly, so I'll just have to get by with gray belts.

Lots of Parts

I picked up the engine from the machine shop and mounted the block on a new engine stand.

The crankshaft was in good shape and only needed polishing. All the valves were replaced with high quality stainless parts and hardened seats were installed. I won't even unwrap them until they are ready to install. The bill was a pleasant surprise at just over $1400 and that included the gasket set, US sourced Clevite rod and main bearings, rods resized, and the pistons I furnished installed. A new intermediate shaft bushing was pressed in, as were cam bearings and brass freeze plugs. Having a performance machine shop nearby is a blessing, and one that does work for a reasonable price is almost unheard of.

 

Fabric samples also arrived. Two of them were similar to '57-'59 patterns, but I couldn't find samples of anything similar to '56. The light one with the odd pattern is somewhat like what I saw on a '56 Fury that had be "restified", but I think the color might look washed-out if paired with the creamy white vinyl I visualize. I like both of the darker, patterned fabrics, and am leaning toward the top one, as it appears a bit more gold in bright light. While not original, it does look period correct, so I'll take it in to the upholstery shop and match it to available vinyl and carpet.

 

 I won't be using a lot of the fabric, as I think it might look too busy, so I only plan to put it in the center portions of the seats and an accent section on the door panels. Carpet will also be darker and probably a deep pile.

 

Upholstery Fabric

Though the interior will be a drastic change from stock, my intent is to have it look period correct wherever possible. I could order the original design Fury fabric from SLS, but if customer comments are to be believed, it could take years to get it. Instead, I'll try to find a fabric pattern that looks as if it could have been used on a fifties Chrysler product. I ordered several samples from an online supplier that I can take to the upholsterer for color matching to his vinyl and carpet samples.

Parts Ordering Day

Ordered cam and lifters from Gary Pavlovich. I decided on the mild version 256 cam, as I don't intend to race and this one should provide good torque. With the tall rear end gears, torque will be appreciated, and mileage should be decent.

Also ordered metal to construct the steering wheel horn ring. I think I've decided on the center I want and will get to work making it.

Paint Saga Continues

I never thought procuring the correct '57 Fury paint would be an issue, but I think it might finally be resolved.

After two weeks of hearing nothing back from the painter who was going to have the supplier scan the actual '57 Fury, I stopped at the paint shop to find out what was happening. After some confused conversation and a couple of phone calls, it was determined that they had scanned it and determined the proper Delfleet code. They mixed a pint, put it in a box, and I was on my way. Unfortunately, I neglected to look at the smear on the top of the can until I got home. At least this time it wasn't a grayish white...it was dark gray! More phone calls, an hour wait, and another thirty mile round trip, but this time the color looks right.

Going with the Delfleet product instead of Deltron was at the suggestion of the painter. He said it better matches the OEM paint and saves several hundred dollars. I can get two gallons for less than one gallon of the other, and since I don't want the modern look, it might be a better choice.

Gary Pavlovich sent me the cam specs which I dropped off a stock cam, but decided to go with a torque grind from Gary, so a spring upgrade was needed.