1973 Torino Tribute Restoration

Thanks guys for the kudos once again. I will hopefully update my thread alot more now that she is home.

 

Ouch!

 

I did a lil cleaning of the interior today and discovered a lil friend under the hood. A few days ago I thought I saw a RAT outta the corner of my eye, but wasn't sure so today it was confirmed. I went out to the garage to put on my work tennis shoes and there were no shoe laces. Apparently while the wagon was at the paint shop it took in a stole away. Unfortunately this RAT has gotten into some of the engine wiring including the spark plug wires. I'm not mechanically inclined so I really don't know how bad it is. Well I thought it was gone because I didn't hear it anymore, but there sitting inside the cowl was the lil F%$#@! I tried prodding it, vaccuming it, blowing air on it, but it wouldn't budge. It NO longer has a nest so I hope it won't hang around for too much longer and cause more damage. I also set up a couple D-CON poison traps to help it along! Any other ideas???

I cleaned the interior and glued up the falling sound deadener from the roof and re-installed the roof rack. I also installed the rear tailgate interior panel and few other odds and ends.

Hopefully tommorrow there will be signs of the RAT eating the bait so it will be for the stray cats we have in the neighborhood.

Here are few pics of todays progress.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery...rId=77691875608&token=158106597308:1827905747

 

Looking REAL good, gpd!! Keep at it.
Might want to put some of that poison on the floor around where the car is parked. You may have scared him so bad he won't want to jump up there again! LOL

 

I just came in from the garage and I checked the traps. (Also got another beverage... ...) I think you're right Silver. It doesn't look like anything has been touched. It may have jumped out when I went to Home Depot for the poison earlier this evening. I really am worried about getting rid of it because I don't want it making more of an expense for me.

Also started reviewing the 100's of photos I took during the disassembly phase so hopefully I can put her back together without incident. Wishful thinking huh???

 

Plus I'm sure you want the little bugger out of there before he finds his way into your house.

 

Today was another good day. I got the Driver's side mirror on, all four doors "fuzzies" on, all four door weatherstripping on, mocked up the interior door panels (I still need to grease the window mechanisms and cut out the water shields, which I am gonna take Norm's advise and use heavy mill plastic). I installed the rear tailgate stainless trim along with the door trim. Pics will follow on another post.

Sorry I forgot to mention I worked most of the day on the wagon and I didn't hear the RAT at all. Either it has bugged out or it was taking a super long siesta! Hopefully somewhere else and not inside the wagon.

 

Way to go, gpd! The rat helping? Hey....you MIGHT want to consider using that thin insulate board they use in cars now that the car's all the way down. When you do that the car will ride so quiet you will think you are in a tomb.

 

I thought that is what he was referring to with the door "fuzzies"! Maybe a whole rat family helping out!

David

 

Pull your seats out and look inside them. Rats will make a nest inside the cushons.
I've got a little Jack Russell terrier that would zero in on that thing in a heart beat.

 

Any chance you loan him out???

On a side note luckily the wagon was a bare shell when it was at the paint shop. The seats are safe and sound. That is probably why the RAT took residence under the hood. :banghead3:

Silver are you referring to the "dynomat" sound deadener that sticks to everything for a quieter ride?

Also what type of grease should I use for the window mechanisms? The door windows don't roll up and down as they should. They kinda stick a lil bit. I haven't really looked, but I hope the window rollers aren't in bad shape.

 

I don't know why it is that they always seem to go for the engine compartment? By the way....if the heater, etc is in the car....make sure you check in all the vent ducts for more nesting and debris he may have dragged down in there. They love those ducts.

 

I found my nest inside the frame rail, just in front of the fender.

 

Me son brought home a rat fer a pet...I wanted to you know what to it but after a while you git used to its little sharp nails running around inside yur shirt...It did like to move the dogs food around ha ha...It would sit on yur shoulder like a parrot and then away it would go inside yur shirt and out a sleeve and down yur leg and over to the one whom must be obayed (bin a slow learner ) and up on her shoulder.....should have got pictures...would have kept the reletives away if we told them they were running wild here and make sure each picture had Daffney in it somewhere...Hindsight...

 

LMAO....yup....I've been a slow learner, too, FF!