Notes

I bought this car in November 2001. The last time it was driven was in 1993, so I had a little bit to do before I could drive it. The first and probably the second scariest thing was towing it the 50 miles on I-40. Fortunately my wife has been supportive about this whole endevor because the scariest part about restoring this car was telling her I was buying a car that has not run in 8 years.

I turned it over a bunch of times by hand while pouring oil over the valves and to get fresh oil in to all the nooks and cranies. It didn't take long before I was driving it to work. I've started working on the body. If you've looked at my pictures you can see all that rust on the trunk and roof. I've since sanded the roof and trunk down to metal and primed it with self etching primer.

The things I've been able to do so far:

1. I've put in a rebuilt carb
2. Altenator and regulator
3. Oils and fluids
4. Battery and cables
5. Starter and solenoid
6. All of the ignition stuff and plugs
7. Installed oil pressure, water temp and charging guages
8. Tires
9. New master cylinder
10. Rebuilt the brakes and had turned all four drums
11. Inner and outer tie rods
12. New shocks all around
13. Put in a noisy old Flowmaster
14. And, of course, a radio with more than one speaker.

Future things I need to do and a few things I would like to do.

1. I need to hit a few more of the rust spots and stop the car consuming monster.
2. When my wife and I finally get a house I'm going to strip the car completely, windows, everything. I can then get all of the rust and do a much better prime job.
3. Paint the car. I bought the sprayer and have access to a compressor, so I think I'm going to do it myself and hopefully not screw it up.
4. It needs some serious re-upholstering. It looked great when I got it but soon as my butt started sitting on it it began to crack and tear. I've got a sewing machine and big dreams. we'll see how it turns out..
5. I've also been thinking about trying to rebuild the transmission. I might call around first and see if it is cheaper to get your trans rebuilt after it is out of the car. It's a C4 and I've been told to leave it to those who know/blessed with the knowledge of trans rebuilding.

Some things the guys at TFFN are corruputing my impressionable mind with.

1. Put in the exhaust divider and strap in the headers! (this is one step I might pass on)
2. However I do like the idea of getting a 2 barrel carb
3. and switching to electronic ignition (which will be my first step after all the other major repairs)

After all of this is through let's just hope I will still have enough money for gas.

Update 2/24/02

My engine is apart. It is still in the car, but only the crankshaft is left. I'm going to try and take it out tuesday. I am going to replace or have the following done.

1. new oil pump
2. new gas pump
3. new cam and lifters
4. new rods
5. new timing chain and sprockets
6. new water pump
7. new gaskets and seals all around
8. I was going to have the head rebuilt at a machine shop, but there was a big chumk of metal missing so it no good. So I got another through AutoZone. I hate buying from these types of stores, but it was a difference of $120 for the head and my wife only loves me so much.
9. If I can get the block out I am going to have the machine shop dip it, check out the main bearings, drill out the bolt that broke off in it and check out the cyclinders.
10. I'm also taking the pistons to the machine shop, but I forgot what I'm supposed to have them do to them. I'm hoping I can have the machine shop put them back into the block.
11. Paint the engine. I'm going to the Agrisupply shop and buy a tub then I'm going to get some Drano and I'm going to strip all the caked on grease and paint. I need to get some metal prep too.
12. clean and paint the engine compartment
13. clean and paint everything else
14. new hoses... all four of them.. gotta love old cars.
15. Never spend money again
    

I'll post some pictures soon.

Update 11/6/02

I finally bought a garage! The nice part is it also came with a house for my wife and I to live in too. So the car sits. I plan on turning the tags in soon, so as to save a little money on insurance to help pay for the restoration.

The rebuild went smoothly, but the car has been running a little hot and rich. I did put in a weber carb, so it might need a little adjusting. More to come later on!