What have you done to your wagon lately? (Let's keep the thread going!)

Display the war wounds with pride, (and a bit of ribbing).

 

Double checking everything, getting ready for vacation trip.

 

Took it for an inspection on Wednesday. It passed and a man complimented its looks and then on the trip to a grocery store before I went home it felt like a brake was locked up as it wasn't coasting as far as it should have (when I did brake the car was rumbling back and forth too) then once I stopped in a parking lot and put it in Overdrive it wouldn't even move unless I pressed the accelerator. Drum brake, most likely?

 

Likely. Did the test include a park brake test? That's where I'd start first.

 

Really quickly, pull the park brake pedal release, a d while holding it, put your toe under the pedal to see if it'll lift up.

 

I know what you're talking about as I had something similar happen to my Suburban. This 1990 Mercury doesn't have a parking brake release to pull though, it's system where you push the pedal down and then it locks then if you want to release it you either press it further or you switch from Park on the transmission to any gear which releases it. I have been using the parking brake but not lately and sometimes it didn't engage. With that said, this only happened after I held the brake hard on a hill. By the time I got home (over 70 miles later) the car wasn't braking funny anymore. When I remembered to check the drum brakes for excessive heat the one on the driver's side was warm but this is after it had at least 15 minutes to cool down. I should however jack up the car, block it and test for drag. Thanks though!

 

Just got home and had to check and make sure they all start and move still. Hoping to get my 66 Ford picked up this week and home.

 

The Merc does have a release (I didn't know it was a '90); lay across the seat from the passenger side, look under the dash at the pedal assembly, and there's a small release to the right of the pedal arm. Pull it, and if the brakes are relaxed and the spring isn't broken, the pedal will snap up. If not, while holding the release lever, pull on the pedal.

 

After getting all of the stupid quirks fixed, I finally got the engine on my 91 OCC running. It is almost ready to drive. It was hit twice in my dad's driveway, once by my dad, and once by a "turn around" hit and run. It is going to the AC shop to have a custom hose made, and fill the system, before I go to the body shop.

This is the final configuration of the engine minus the AC hose.

 

When I brought my wagon it had 4 different trailer plugs but none fit my trailer. The wiring was run under the car wrapped around suspension components . I tore all the old wiring out and rewired the brakes and lights. the lights I used 3 relays to protect the car from the trailer. Does anypne know if I should use the Kelsey hayes brake controller that is in the car? It connects to the master cylinder. I can't get a good answer.

Mike

 

It needs to be tested to see if it still works first. Good thing is, if it doesn't there are tons of replacements out there to buy, and they're not that hard to change out. Just don't spill brake fluid inside the car.

 

Well I didn't do anything directly to my wagon today or this week, but I did finally break down and had a carport installed to house it and my '73 Grand Ville sedan. We finally sold the old '54 Chevy bus that graced this spot in our yard for over 10 years, so I was able to finally do this. I just wish I had of done it years ago, but glad I have it now. It will keep a lot of the rain and sun off of them. I plan to eventually close it in. I snapped these on Sunday... it is a tight fit, but I got both of these boats under there.

 

That car port looks like it will do nicely. Now make certain you get the boats out occasionally so that they don't start to dry rot

 

That looks like it will do the trick.

 

Thanks. Its nothing fancy by any means, but at least will keep some of the weather off of them. After I sold the bus, I only had to add about $400.00 to have this installed, including the gravels.

Yeah, I need to drive them more. I start them every couple of weeks and move about. I was driving the wagon every weekend back in the summer to the local cruise-ins until it developed a bad gas line leak by the right rear tire about 6 weeks ago and I parked it... oddly the same hose I had replaced 2 years ago had rotted again and busted open. Apparently it was old stock from the parts store. I have it replaced, but haven't got it back out yet. I plan on taking her out this weekend. The Pontiac on the other hand will run, move, drive, but the tires are the same ones I put on there in 2003 and rotted. I plan to get new tires on her and start driving her as well. I have to get the vinyl off of the top quick, because it is getting rust bubbles under there, thanks to setting out in the weather so many years. So little time, so little money and so much to do. lol. I have a fairly nice savings account, but that is supposed to be a down payment for another new car in the future, but may have to get a little of it out to help these two out a bit cosmetically. lol.

Thanks.