1964 Catalina Safari Wagon

I agree. Looks fantastic! Now get her running!!!!

 

It looks great, and I like that they used brass freeze plugs instead of the steel ones. You shouldn't have any rusting problems with them. One thing that I can say from experience. Just don't rush to get it done. Work at a normal pace, and when it is done, you will be way ahead of the game. Too many mistakes are made when we rush to finish the project.
What did you do with the old master cylinder? I might be able to use it for my 1962 Chevrolet, which I am keeping all original.

 

Jacob:
Whats the progress? California ain't that cold !!! Try working on the car outside here at 0*!!! LOL!!!!

 

That's so funny that you replied today. I was posting some of the pics that I have gotten to.
Side note. I am waiting on some engine parts while I detail the front end. My relative at Edelbrock got laid off around Thanksgiving. He is trying to get me a deal from his old boss.

Ok... I could just tell you what I have done but that would be cruel after making you wait so long. And yes California is very cold right now 40's. Brrrrrr!

A pic to show my dad that I couldn't get to the pins that were holding that joint together. So, I had to remove the u-bolts on the rear end.


Pic to show myself which way the slim-jim linkage was pointing.




What happened to my car?






Pics of the engine out.






I am renting a coil spring compressor from AutoZone, so I will be doing that tomorrow. I will try to post some pics of that as well. I already have the ball joints, spindles and upper control arms off on the front. The tie rods look like they may need replaced soon. But since I don't need to take a bunch of stuff apart to get to them, they may have to wait until more money comes in. I also started painting some acc. brackets. My dad and co-worker were laughing at me because I got gloss black. I just saw that it said protective paint and thought it would be good. Oh well.

 

Gloss black.. Well I have used it. But it does look funny. Semi-gloss is the best. I found that I was painting over the gloss black. It looked good like the first day then was just bad....

If you have not gotten a carb, I might have something. It is a Holley spreadbore 500 Eco-master. Mechanical secondaries....

What parts are you missing?

 

I will paint the rest Flat Blat. I will pick some up later. Can't the whole engine compartment glossy.
Ref pics so I can remove any hoses to paint the firewall.

Ref to remove power steering box to get that area really clean and I need to replace those hoses anyway.


Woo hoo. No control arms. I will take a pic of the cleaned up control arms soon. Also, have the joints and bushings on order. Should be in next week.


Sorry for the ugly pics I was using my phone.
Dave on the carb; what are mechanical secondaries? Is it electric choke? I was hoping for that but if the carb is cheap enough I could get everything started and replace the carb at a later date.
I will be posting a topic on PY soon to get rid of some from drum brakes and the power booster and everything. I no longer need them or the wheels.

 

Progress!
Love it.

How's the 400 coming along?

 

Jake:
It is a manual choke. But if 40* is as cold as it gets out there, you won't really need it.
This article can describe the difference better than I can. Let me know if you are interested and I can talk some pictures...

Dave

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/135_0402_four_barrel_carburetors_howto/index.html

 

Jake;
Here is that carb paint we discussed. East wood site is running slow. So this was what I found...

Dave

http://www.eastwood.com/carb-renew-2-bronze-aerosol-5-oz.html

 

The 400 isn't moving along really. I was waiting for a good deal on an intake and carb and valve covers and what not. Well, even at a discounted rate my intake would be 195.00. To tank this one and check for cracks is 45.00. At least 300 for a carb, found a Qjet in the pile of parts with the engine. 79 bucks for the kit 30 for the book to rebuild it. 45 for the electronic choke. (Remember the wife will be driving it).
A total savings of..... around 300 dollars. (That pays for the front suspension kit). Great stuff.



This is what is missing in that last pic. Power Brake booster (Dry master cylinder) I just had the brakes checked, they said everything was fine.


Body code on firewall. Should I tape over that (My coworker sprayed some degreaser all over it, even after I said don't do it, the numbers may not have lasted I will check tomorrow).


Some pics of the lovely Q-Jet








Took the wheel well out to remove all of the grease.




Inside the wheel area


That's where I am at right now. Woo hoo. Be very careful when removing front springs. Especially when the engine is out.

 

Amazing how clean that thing is under all the grime!

That Q-jet will probably be just fine; make sure you get all the internal air passages completely clear.

What kind of intake are you looking for?
$195 seems awfully steep for a stock Pontiac intake.

 

Sorry but this one is picture heavy.
JMT455 - I was going to get an Edelbrock intake, aluminum. I was planning on over time swapping stuff out to newer products to lighten the load a bit. But it seems that will be a bit off.

I'm further along than this but it took me awhile to find these pictures. For some reason I uploaded them in the wrong folder and there were so many of them I didn't want to re-upload them so soon.

No real order here. Removed the a/c and heater core. Everything looks fine. Some broken fiberglass. Someone has removed this before it looks like. Some screws were missing and what not.

















Paint looked like new back here.




















This is where I found out: Fiberglass isn't easy to use.



I have the front compression springs in now, the control arms, and spindles, center link and tie rod ends. The break conversion kit had a few issues. I had to open up the holes for the bolts and for the part that goes in through the firewall and connects to the brake pedal. Then I prayed that the bolts would be long enough. They don't look like they would be and they are shorter than the original. Put one rotor on and found that the brake pad wouldn't fit in there. Uh oh. A lot of back and forth for a couple of weeks trying to figure out the problem with the manufacturer. Turns out they forgot to machine part of the caliper bracket. They are sending a new set.

Waiting on the a/c vacuum actuators. Then I can put all of that back together. Then the inner wheel wells will go back in and stuff will start going back together. Starting the rebuild on the trans (TH400). I already have the kit. So far so good I think.

 

Sorry guys. I have been having some kidney problems. Huge kidney stone that they had to break up. Had a stent put in and on the third of July I get to have it removed because I finished passing all of the little pieces of stone. Great!

Anyway. Here is a little bit of where I am at.







My Safe T Track 2.69 posi rear end third member

 

Been there, done that with the kidney stones, MM. Eleven times.
You are doing a lot of good work on that car! It will be a real beauty when you are done with it. I admire your work ethic and tenacity!

 

Thanks SF. I hope this will be my only run in with the stones. I am drinking a ton of water now. Whereas in the past I would drink maybe a cup of water a month. If that.

I am trying to be diligent with this car. It gets discouraging at times with how much money adds up and how long it is taking, but it is completely worth it. Every time I go and look at the car I get inspired to do more.
In the beginning with all the grease I kept getting overwhelmed. It's amazing how much some cleaning and painting can do for your mind set.

I am hoping for a smooth start up sometime next month. If everything goes well.

Some things I still have to do. Rebuild the rear drum brakes, purchase the wheels and tires ( I know I posted the ones I would buy, but I am saving that for last and I keep changing my mind on which ones I like), run a new brake line in the engine compartment, rebuild the tranny (which I have all the parts for), replace the rear coil springs (already have them), lower the gas tank and fix the float.
Plus the 50 other things I haven't noticed yet.