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

I am hoping to get a chance to replace the old Autolite 2100 with a rebuilt one that I have in the next week. Also re-introduce all the correct and appropriate vacuum lines. Next week I go to the DMV to trade in the plates of three cars, wagon included, for correct YOM plates.

 

getting time to uncover the rides. did compleat front end work on the 69 dodge a108, its ready. miss savoy and the superbee are also ready. still wating on the 428 rebuild for the gaxalie., but alotta rain latley so salt is off the roads. swapmeets, car shows, warm weather, good timesahead. sorry, i put this in wrong thread

 

Actually got the chance to change out the Autolite 2100 on the Ambassador. Then pulled the old vacuum lines to replace with new rubber along with the two that were missing of the temperature T that has three ports. Now satisfied I hook up the dwell meter and vacuum gauge. Set the needles two turns out since that almost always works well on Ford 289/302 engines. Primed the fuel bowl and car started right away to fast idle at 1500 rpm. It wouldn't drop and the fast cam linkage wouldn't release. The thermostat housing was generic with no mark to set neutral, lean, or rich. Turns out it was all the way counter clockwise so the choke would never release.

Once I loosened the screws and turned clockwise, as the engine was now warm, I set it where the choke plate was full open. Tweaked the idle speed a bit and saw 21 mm Hg on the vacuum gauge. Perfect we are set. No more fluctuating idle speed to the point of dying at a stop light. The car now runs great on city streets as freeway was Ok before the change.

 

Next part of the winter project,




This is where I'm at right now.

 

awesome job!!!

 

On to stretching and shaping carpet for the wheel tubs.

Using the old carpet to lay out the pass side.

Stretching and clamping, it took multiple attempts to get it close.

Now on to stretching the left tub, the right side is on top of the finished pile.
Having plastic inner well covers is nice that they can be removed from the car for recovering but also a pain in that they are pretty flexible and make stretching the carpet over them a pain.

 

Looks fantastic!

 

Next installment,

Recovering the lift gate panel.

Most of the carpeted pieces laid out.

I picked up some SEM vinyl paint for the rear seats, it is supposed to be Palomino but looks like mustard and yet the cap & label matched the original seat colour. It'll do until I need to recover the rear seats.

Stripping and recovering the c pillars, left side is already done.

And finally the load floor carpet but I have to do a bit of work to the load floor first.

A plywood load floor which is fine except at some point in its past it was badly soaked and the layers at the rear are separating, so I've glued & clamped it together and we'll see if it holds, if not a sheet of 3/8ths ply is in order.

 

exhalant work sir

 

Looking fantastic Kevin.

 

1963 Cadillac Vista Wagon finally all done.
Happy spring driving to everyone!

 

nice !!! caddy!!

 

I'm with Wylee what a Caddy.

 

Got under the Ambassador last week to change out the shocks, Noticed that when taking off the wheels they were torqued to no more than 35 ft.lbs. Also noticed a crack in a front brake line. Then noticed a small leak from the rubber portion of the fuel line from the filler pipe to the gas tank. Of course, getting under the car showed me that all the bushings are shot and ball joints and tie rods need replacement.

So next to tackle will be the brakes with new front hoses and a new master whose date I can log.

 

NEVER crawl under your old car and look up. Apparently, what you find will keep you busy for weeks.......