[Bryan59EC]

Yep, this having a job certainly gets in the way of getting stuff done.
Particularly when I am only home on Sat & Sun.
Been work traveling and have only spent the weekends at home.
Leaves me with Saturday to do some stuff to her car.

But on a good note, I got the passenger side lower control arm and ball joint replaced on the Crown Vic.
This side came apart pretty easy and no heat was was involved to help the process. This side only took a bit less than 2 hours when last weekend the driver side took about 8hours

I think the squeaking is gone now-----front end was pretty squeaky when turning the wheel last weekend and this morning----after the ball joint change, no more squeaking (will know in the morning when it is colder out).

Here in the next few weeks I will get all of the steering stuff replaced just to be on the safe side as she puts about 200 miles a day on this car.

Also finally crawled under the 66 Elky to tighten up all of the rear control arms and the front suspension.
Did not want to tighten anything until the car was done hand had been sitting for a while--------dont want to put the bushings in a bind.

All in all----pretty productive day
The Elky even started up without any help from some ether after sitting for about a month without being started----guess the fuel pump is working now.
I suspected an "iffy" alternator as it did not seem to be charging, or perhaps it was draining the battery over a period of time. So the car had been sitting with the battery disconnected.

Changed the alternator from a cs130 to a cs130D and tie voltmeter reads a lot higher-----hopefully when I get back from Dallas this coming week the battery will still have a charge to start the car.
(new battery, alternator, and complete wiring)

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Bryan59EC

Yep, this having a job certainly gets in the way of getting stuff done.
Particularly when I am only home on Sat & Sun.
Been work traveling and have only spent the weekends at home.
Leaves me with Saturday to do some stuff to her car.

But on a good note, I got the passenger side lower control arm and ball joint replaced on the Crown Vic.
This side came apart pretty easy and no heat was was involved to help the process. This side only took a bit less than 2 hours when last weekend the driver side took about 8hours

I think the squeaking is gone now-----front end was pretty squeaky when turning the wheel last weekend and this morning----after the ball joint change, no more squeaking (will know in the morning when it is colder out).

Here in the next few weeks I will get all of the steering stuff replaced just to be on the safe side as she puts about 200 miles a day on this car.

Also finally crawled under the 66 Elky to tighten up all of the rear control arms and the front suspension.
Did not want to tighten anything until the car was done hand had been sitting for a while--------dont want to put the bushings in a bind.

All in all----pretty productive day
The Elky even started up without any help from some ether after sitting for about a month without being started----guess the fuel pump is working now.
I suspected an "iffy" alternator as it did not seem to be charging, or perhaps it was draining the battery over a period of time. So the car had been sitting with the battery disconnected.

Changed the alternator from a cs130 to a cs130D and tie voltmeter reads a lot higher-----hopefully when I get back from Dallas this coming week the battery will still have a charge to start the car.
(new battery, alternator, and complete wiring)

Funny how I have had mechanics do work for us who tighten the bolts thru bushings while the darn suspension is hanging! TICKS ME OFF. But they will do it.

Today, didn't touch the Gran Sport but spent the day working on my SHO to sell it. I was thinking $1500 but darn that car looks good and it's all original, I am thinking after a little research I may be able to get $2500. That would be nice, could use the extra dough.

Brian

[Irelands child]

A good day here -

Made up a cover for the new trunk mounted battery and a separate top for that cover to hold the JVC stereo/receiver a couple days ago. Yesterday I was able to find some vinyl fabric to cover this assembly. It's a little darker, but it's about as close as I could find locally. I then covered it this morning - and have a new appreciation for guys who do this for a living - then got it all installed and finished 'cleaning up' the wiring. Got the trunk upholstery modified - had to pull the covering loose from the ABS backer , trim about an inch off of that backer, reinstall the padded upholstery then install on the trunk lid. After that, reinstalled the electric trunk opener. Next, the driver's door needed to have the padded upholstery pulled and the floppy mirror tightened.

After a chicken 'n' dumpling dinner, a cold adult beverage, am tired and just sat down to watch the NA$CAR Bud Shootout

Dave W

[MARTINSR]

I found $175 in tools that I had "lost" today. Now, the sad part is I already had replaced the sockets to a tune of $75!

I had pulled these tools from my tool box at work to pick up a pair of horns at the wrecking yard for my Rambler back in August when I was finishing it up. I thought I had just lost them, had them in a bag or something and just left them somewhere. I waited a good long time before I started replacing them. You know, because you just KNOW they are going to show up. I waited about four months before I went ahead and picked up the sockets. So today I find them cleaning out my SHO to sell. I had SEARCHED this car a few times looking for them. They were under A FRIGGING FLOOR MAT! GRRRRRRRRr

Brian

[MARTINSR]

I also took another haul of junk from my Ramber parts car to the metal bin at the shop today. Good by rear end and other misc metal parts.

Brian

[StreetKruzer]

Finally got the rear end today! Painted it a little and put it in. When I had taken it out, I removed it in pieces. Man, it was a real job putting that thing in all together in one heavy chunk. Going to be a while yet before I can get it on the road and see how the 700R4 and these 3.70 gears compare to the TH350 and 4.11's I took out. I couldn't resist, I had to put the rear tires on and see how the channel in the front changed the looks. I have decided it was definitely worth the time & work, beside, I was able to correct a few other things in the process. Got a couple "honey do's" tomorrow but I'm going to try to get a couple of the smaller pieces of floor in that won't affect running any mechanicals.

[MARTINSR]

Looks good, I love that photo of the rear end in there, it is "cozy" isn't it! Ever since I saw my first dragster up close where that rear end was shortened to almost the pumpkin, nothing but gears and slicks, I have loved the short little rear end, all business baby.

Brian

[deadbodyman]

I finally got some free time today and made a hammer form to make the new wheel openings I want....This was my first attempt and my only sheet of steel I had left .without thinking I made the wrong side,OOPS .....Oh well ,at least I dont have to make it again.I'll just have to wait and make the right side which has the widened fender already (that has to be done first) I'm pretty happy with the results I just wish I made the right side so I could have stayed and got it tacked on..

[deadbodyman]

This is the right fender that was widened 2" that I made the reshaped wheel opening for Unfortunately without thinking I had the form upside down and I actually made the left wheel opening

[eloc431962]

Originally Posted by deadbodyman

This is the right fender that was widened 2" that I made the reshaped wheel opening for Unfortunately without thinking I had the form upside down and I actually made the left wheel opening

Really looking good Mikey you can work on my rig anytime my friend.



Cole

[deadbodyman]

Sure....As long as I can do BOTH sides just in case I screw up...This was a major feat for me and I've been putting it off dreading putting the proper shape back in because its a compound curve...it was surprizingly easy....Thanks to the guys at www.allmetal .com for pointing me in the right direction

[nine4gmc]

i like that wide body look, nice work on the hammer form job too!!

[matts37chev]

Originally Posted by deadbodyman

I finally got some free time today and made a hammer form to make the new wheel openings I want....This was my first attempt and my only sheet of steel I had left .without thinking I made the wrong side,OOPS .....Oh well ,at least I dont have to make it again.I'll just have to wait and make the right side which has the widened fender already (that has to be done first) I'm pretty happy with the results I just wish I made the right side so I could have stayed and got it tacked on..

all this poking and prodding on us got you going



yesterday, I went to the swap-meet and picked up some small grinding wheels, a 1/4" pipe tap, and a outside mirror

today I bought some scion tc seats, so now I have something to sit on

[StreetKruzer]

Got the "Honey Do's" done for now, made a couple pieces for the floor in front of the tubs. Welded them in and went back to fitting the seats. With a tunnel in the floor now, will have to approach them different. Made a couple pieces to mount the inside slide rails over the tunnel a bit. This should let me mount the seats a bit further back than the original position as I'm 6'1" and it was just a little tighter than I wanted. I plan to reinforce under these pieces where I put studs up through. I'll close the ends also and make some risers for the outer slides also. Dang it! The weekend draws to a close and not nearly enough done.

[lowROLLERchevy]

another "What Did I Work On This week" reply:

Started ripping apart the GTI golf which was originally presumed to have a bad head gasket. its actually a bad turbo thats leaking coolant into the intake hosing and watering down only one cylinder. I was originally waiting for a day we could get it on the lift but i broke down and just started doing it on the floor.

pulling a turbo off one of these engines thats already out of the car is enough work as it is, its even less fun on your back in a cold shop on an assembled car.

That car will be getting a k03/k04 hybrid turbo since we have 2 busted k03's that are only good for parts at this point

Also got to diagnose a 2002 A4 quattro. Customer bought it 2 weeks / 275 miles ago and it came back on a flatbed. Customer stated "the engine just .. stopped" while driving on the highway.

Starter wouldnt turn the engine over. A socket / ratchet on the crank wouldn't turn the engine over. Pulled the plugs and cylinder #2 ate one of its valves as an afternoon snack. The head of the valve has about an inch is stem still intact, and its tripoded between the head and the piston. Piston looks like it was beaten with the end of a pipe, and even the spark plug hole is peened smaller from all the squished metal.

Car has a 7mo service plan that will pay up to $1200 for the repairs, but i have zero faith in the warranty company. They seam to like to parrot the phrases "normal wear" and "electrical issue"

Ill probably wind up punching the entire company in the face to get the car covered.

Fun times