I'll try to post pics as I progress in getting the car back to mint condition.
The Scratch
This is the scratch on the passenger side rear-fender well. I removed the rust and filled in and wet-sanded smooth. I will have paint made to match. Eventually, I will have the entire car stripped, sanded and repainted properly - but, for now...
The Trunk
Here is the rust under the trunk mat. After removing the trunk mat completely, I found a lot more rust. I used a "rust-converter", which transforms the rust into sandable, paintable primer.
I also cleaned up the trunk mat, repairing some of the tears with a rubber cement and patches on the bottom. In addition, I sanded the rust from the lug wrench and repainted it, as well as the jack stand base. I chromed the wing nut.
The Engine I
First, a pic of the motor when I bought it. So far, I have replaced the radiator and added the fan shroud (note how small the original one is - with NO fan shroud), added an electric fan on the radiator and a coolant overflow tank, cleaned and painted the breather cover and degreased the engine to reveal some of that MOPAR blue (what's left of it).
The Emblem
The "Lost Emblem" has come home! When I bought the car (1st pic), the emblem on the header was missing - these are HARD to find! I found this emblem on eBay listed for a '70 Duster trunk deck emblem. I bought it on a chance ($9.95 + S/H), and when I put it up next to the remains of the adhesive on the header I was overjoyed to see it was a perfect match! I cleaned it up, scraping off the old adhesive, then polished and touched up the black paint and on it went. It looks much better now. Still need to get the chrome trim on the right front fender, however - that'll be one of my next projects.
The Fender Trim
OK, I now have the trim on the right front fender. I used the trim off of my original car, but after installing I noticed this car has a rubber trim in the center of the chrome. No problem, as I had the original trim piece which is bent, but had the rubber insert, which I transferred over - hence the completed trim!
The Radiator
Now, we do the "new" radiator. I removed the radiator after flushing the system. I cleaned the shroud and dressed it. I also removed the fan blade and pulley, cleaned and painted them. I used naval jelly to clean some of the rust from the radiator, cleaned then primed it. Then, I painted and added clear coat to seal. Looks much better, don't you think? ALSO... You can't see them (and I don't want to crawl under the car with the camera!) but, I have also installed new shocks on the front.
The Dash Lens
Out with the old... This is the old instrument cluster I removed (notice the "marred" spot over where the clock belongs) along with an "empty" dash shot. I kept the speedometer, as the one in the new cluster did not work, so, we keep the original miles.
I "thumbnailed" these pics so you could blow them up for greater detail. The new lens is clean. I touched up all the trim paint around the dash face and cleaned the entire cluster. All the gauges work - temp, fuel, volts and odometer. I had to change out the speedometer, using the original. Try to ignore that blue knee in these pics.
The New Carpet
I "thumbnailed" these as well. For my birthday this year, Janine got me carpet for my "baby". I went with the 80/20 loop as opposed to the "plush" which the car had. You can see from the first two pics how faded the original had become - even thought the carpet itself is still in good shape. The new carpet's color is perfect and I believe this type of carpet will wear better - plus it looks GREAT! Now I need some matching floor mats - but not too many folks are putting out green mats these days!
The New Shocks
FINALLY - new shocks on the back to match the front. I got these Monroe shocks for Father's Day (isn't my wife thoughtful?) It was only a 30 minute job getting the old air shocks off and these on (no power tools). It was raining out, so I'll have to wait to see how she handles on the road now!
The Blow-outs
Bad News! On the way to Summers Last Blast 2002 in Vernon, TX, I had a blowout on the passenger side rear - lost an emblem, a hubcap and the chrome trim around the fender-well (nearly impossible to find!) THEN, on the way home, had another blowout on the driver side front - tucked the fender under, ripped out the side marker & fender top turn signal wiring AND messed up the chrome trim (saved the hubcap though!). Talk about BUMMED! (Still looking for trim - email if you have a line on some!) I parked the car until April, 2003. Bought a new battery & got ready to get new tires.
The Timing Chain
THEN, the timing chain fell off (see pic 1 above). I'm surprised the car had run as well as it had with the timing gear in this condition. Well, all this lent itself to a massive undertaking. Since I had to tear down the front half of the engine anyway, I pulled the valve covers, cleaned them up and added some new "mopar-blue" (touched up the front half of the motor as well as the timing chain cover & vibration damper), new gaskets (all the way around), got the heavy-duty timing chain, new water pump (also now "mopar-blue"), new alternator, fuel pump, replaced all of the electronic ignition parts, hoses (upper, lower, heater & vacuum). Also just bought a NEW pair of leaf-springs - the old ones are just worn out & don't hold up. Don't want any problems down the line. Still have to get to a body shop to have the front fender fixed - hoping to find my old friend John Turvaville to do the work for me. I may have a line on some trim for the fender-wells but if anyone has a lead on where I can find these, please email me. I'll post more pics when everything is put back together.
The Engine II
Everything is back together now and, yes, it does run (surprise, surprise!). I am taking it out today for it's maiden voyage to get new tires and inspection. When I get back home, it will be time to put the new leaf springs on (that will be fun, I'm sure).
The Stereo
The first pic here is what a floor mount cassette player for my car would look like, if I had one. Unfortunately, I only have a picture of one, as they sell for anywhere from $350 for a non-working unit to upwards of $800 for a working one. So, for now, I have improvised. When not powered on, the face of this AM/FM CD player is blank (last pic) and when powered up, the buttons pop out and face lights up. Also comes with a wireless remote control. If I ever locate a "reasonably" priced factory cassette (1st pic) I will transfer the stereo into the casing and THAT will be cool! (If anyone happens to have one they are ready to "throw out", give me a call - I'll be happy to pay postage!)
Got the tires on, full set! I now have a piece of mind about driving that I didn't have last time I took a road trip.
The first two pics are the "old" springs. third is a pic with no spring, fourth and fifth are the completed work with the sixth a side shot showing her sitting pretty! It rides MUCH better, more like a car than a boat on choppy water. STILL looking for that chrome, though...
Getting ready for Summer's Last Blast 2003 in Vernon, TX. Will enter the cruise but not the show until we get some body work & trim replaced.
New radiator installed 08/05 for SLB 2005
NEW (used) fenderwell trim on the rt quarter panel - FINALLY!
(more to come)
