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

Yes it's in Grant , and what a place ! They were recomened to me by ride tech , the people that make ride suspension parts . I studied most of the company's that make chassis for x frames and they seemed to be the best for the $ .

They are always busy and we're working on a large # of frames to be shipped all over the world . They were preparing to put one in a container to Russia . They wanted the wagon there to make sure of measurements were right as they hadn't done one like I wanted. It will have coil over in front but bagged in rear so my wife can pull her 67 airstream . Latter, Blue .

 

Hey, today I fixed the cruise control in my '89 Boxie.

I enlisted the help of a buddy, (that could actually fit under the dash and see the fuse box) ran a trouble shoot matrix I found on the net. Starting at the fuse, checked both switches on the brake arm, rung out all the wires and was pulling the vacuum diaphragm/control pack, for some bench testing, when I noticed there was two nipples, but only one vacuum hose connected to the vacuum diaphragm casting.

yea, it's pretty well hid and covered in grease and smut, I missed it the first time. I pulled the first hose off, to check vacuum, but never saw the second one.
(When my service manual get's here, in a few days, I'll bet it shows 2 lines and 2 nipples...Thanks Joe.)
I pulled a vacuum test on the brake switch hose/ vacuum line under the dash. I couldn't get a vacuum. I Traced the line thru the fire wall and found it hanging down, tangled in the front shock. It had been there so long, it was covered in red slime from the last radiator hose leak.

A new piece of vacuum hose installed and, Viola, it works.

2 hours of trouble shooting to fix a problem in 10 seconds, yea, that's about par for the course.

I said all that to say this. Check the simple stuff FIRST.

Paul

 

CLeaned PCV valve and breather cap. I didn't pull the connection from the back of the engine block out since I wasn't sure how to get it out. Looks like it is a throw the vice grips on and hope for the best, but what that would end up as is a torn up piece I think.

I'm in the process of building a transmission hump console(from wood). Ordered some single drink holders: http://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-184-single-drink-holder.aspx
I want to add some accessory charging ports that are better regulated than straight off the alternator, so I am thinking of picking this up: http://www.amazon.com/DROK-4-5-30V-...&sr=8-4&keywords=dc+to+dc+12v+power+regulator
Still researching on that though.

Hit Best Buy and saw they were having 10% off on the open box price on any item. Found a radio: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-MVHX5...d=1413751664&sr=8-1&keywords=pioneer+mvh560bt
What caught my eye on this one is it's only 3" deep(the chassis, that is from the back of the face plate to the back of the unit). That would easily mount in the center console, I could even mount it with the face mounting straight up since it has a remote control. I really just need something to run my iPod through, but the open box price is $85 and with 10% off of that, it is tempting.

 

We had our last cruise in of the season in our town last night. These were the only other wagons...I got some new tires (or tars in Southernese). Cooper Cobra 255/60-15's on the rear and 215/65-15's on the front. It handles way better than the skinny 70 series that were on it...

 

Door Panels

Long wait , but it was worth it . Had SMS Auto Fabrics reproduce the door panels for the 64 Custom 880 wagon . Amazing detail in there work . Have tinted glass to install so that will go along with the install of the door panels.

 

Awesome! They do excellent work if you have the cash and patience.

 

I've been meaning to paint my black trim on my doors all summer, but finally got off my arse today and did it. It's the vertical trim next to the windows. They were all nearly rubbed clean and were pretty much raw and kinda sliver looking, so I masked them off and painted them satin black with a rattle can...

 

Rebuilt the power steering pump on my '63 Safari. $65 for a rebuilt, $10 for an O-ring/seal kit and some fun I love the way you can take things apart and rebuild original components on the old cars.

 

awesome work on those panels.

 

First thing my "new" 65 Rambler American 330 got was dual exhaust.
Went from 2" single to 2.25" off manifold to Magnaflow with dual 2.25" outlets. Continues dual 2.25" to rectangle tips under bumper.
Looks like right side aint quite square. Easy to adjust cuz not welded to pipe.

 

I finished up the building of my center console, need to post pics. I wanted to make the sides removable so I could pull the shelf out if needed, plus I could more easily do wiring if I put a radio in there. I added a charging port and will add another one when I figure out where I put it. Had a couple of marine ones I'd bought a while back to wire up a charging port for the sailboat.

I ended up ordering this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0B7C3M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 fixed regulator.
I also ordered a new small fuse block: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VU9D1G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I want to mount it close to the starter solenoid and run whatever accessories I add of it and I want it fused as close to the voltage source as possible.

I might trek to a U Pick U Pull yard and try and find a small fuse block as I want the thing weather proofed. I figure for the time being I could use either an electrical box or project box.

 

Nice job looks good !

 

Some center console pics. Still need to stain it, but it's mostly done. Constructed from old kitchen cabinet(ripped to 1" strips for the frame) doors and some scrap and new plywood.

console1

console2

console3

 

I just finished applying some silver pin striping along the sides from nose to tail, and around the tailgate along the body line. Also pin striped my hood along the raised edge from one side down the nose and back up the other side. Pin striped the side view mirrors. She also got a wash/polish/wax job today, the first time in forever.

 

I decided to try a couple of different things on the '59 Country Squire since it was about time for a thorough check up. I had all of the fluids drained and checked / flushed. Everything looked good. Also had everything greased and lubed.

The heat during summer has been giving me some trouble with my cars going into vapor lock. This happened three times in two of the cars I own this summer, and a couple of times the summer before. So I switched to an electric fuel pump to try it out. Today was the first day I drove it, and it is surprisingly quite. The only time I can hear it is when I turn the key without starting the car.

The other thing I am trying is one of those original looking generators that have an alternator inside. So far so good on that also.

Tonight our church is doing a trunk or treat. Last year I used the Edsel. This year I'm using the Squire.

Have a great Halloween!