|
Here is a recent
project we did for a former Fort Erie resident. Having owned
this car for about 30 years, the owner decided it was time to
complete the project he had started so many years ago. We
recently dragged it out into the daylight for the first time
since 1985! |
|
| A little
dirty after so many years in a warehouse. Time had not been kind
as we found water had penetrated the steering box causing it to
seize. This despite being in a heated building all those years.
We couldn’t figure it out either. |
|
This is a
swap the owner had started, but not completed. A used 350 and
Muncie 4 speed was going in to replace the original 265 and
power glide. Headers and a few other modifications were
planned. Unfortunately family/career/lack of cash/time/friends
that work free {pick one] caused the project to stall. |
|
| Lots of
extra parts were purchased while in storage. Planning was moving
forward even if the work had stalled. If you look on top of the
spare tire, you will see a factory original 2 four barrel intake
and carbs that are destined for use in the near future. |
|
| The
owner found this 327 and had it rebuilt and stored away with the
56 some time during its long absence from the road. We
dismantled the engine to check for rust after its long storage.
No damage was found so we reassembled the engine with new
gaskets and installed a single 4 barrel on an aluminum intake
manifold for now. |
|
| A safety
inspection was performed to ensure peace of mind when this
classic returns to the street where it belongs. New rear springs
were installed to bring the ride height back up to level. New
shocks should help the ride quality and handling. |
|
| The gas
tank was pulled to clean the varnish inside. Old gas turns to
sludge during long periods of storage and should be cleaned
before attempting to start an engine. Make sure you flush the
lines also as they can hold enough crud to plug a carburetor.
This tank was very rust free, but we coated the inside with
Por15 tank sealer and coated the outside to prevent any future
problems from occurring. |
|
| The
brakes were rebuilt while here, as safety is nothing to leave to
chance. A new dual master cylinder was added with all the other
new parts as time is not kind to any rubber parts in the brake
system. Brake fluid is “hygroscopic” which means it will absorb
water from the air. Over time the water travels to the lowest
points in the hydraulic system, which means that the wheel
cylinders rust as they are most often the lowest point in many
cars. |
|
| The
steering box was frozen in the straight ahead position due to
rust caused by the water in the box. No one knows how the water
entered but it must have been in there before it was stored as
it sat in a climate controlled warehouse till we picked it up in
the fall of 07. The rust was so severe we had to buy another
used box and an aftermarket rebuild kit to make it roadworthy
again. |
|
| A quick
power wash, a little sanding and some semi gloss paint will
really brighten the engine compartment. Just visible in the
upper right corner is the new dual master cylinder. For those
less mechanically inclined, a dual system means that if a leak
develops in either the front or rear brake system, the other
half will still function and allow you to stop with at least a
portion of your original braking power. |
|
| Almost
finished and looking good. An alternator replaces the original
generator, the rad was cleaned and reused and we are on our way
to a great cruiser. Seat belts will installed in the near future
as the owner has 2 daughters anxious to ride in daddy’s old car. |
|
| Here is
the owner on a test drive for the first time since 1985. What a
long time to go without an old car fix! Ironically the car was
driven right back to Fort Erie and put back in the same spot it
had spent so many years. Don’t worry, it is only for the winter
as we did not finish the work till late fall and poor weather
was here so look out next spring. The gears they will be a
crashing. |
|
|
|
