1973 Torino Tribute Restoration

Yeah you could, NAPA can mix pretty much any color into aerosol. I intend on having them do a can or two of Polar White (9D) just so I can touch up my rockers and where I fix the small problems. I won't be able to get a full paint job for awhile so I want to save up a few grand, do it right, change to Nighthawk Black Pearl (Honda-Acura color, black with blue metalflake, or something to that effect).

Yeah, my car is supposed to be done and ready for me to sink another $1120 into to pick it up. My wife is not optimistic that it'll be soon, but it'll be before the end of the month. I wanted to go get it on the 18th (my birthday) but not sure we can spare that much by then, might be another week. I'm very excited to drive it home and spend many many tens of hours annoying my children by shooing them out of the garage and away from my baby.

 

There's TWO budgets. One for the SWMBO (swooning song for permission ), and the real one (double or nothin')

Somehow, we snooker ourselves between a rock (SWMBO) and a hard place (reality.):banghead3:

 

I agree Norm! Way back when I thought I could get away with doing this restoration for under $10K. Granted I knew I was going have to tackle all I could and make every dollar strech, but that budget has seen it's surprises. I finally broke down and bought classic car insurance due to the car is not here at home safe and sound. So now I'm like if it burns to the ground, heaven forbid, at the shop at least I am not out my investment.

But back to my original comment. I will be lucky to stay within 50% over my original budget. Just don't tell my wife. It'll be our lil secret guys! If NOT I best go or pack the bagsBest part is the wagon will hold practically everything I own.

 

Here's today's progress:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=zovqivs.c94jv1x4&x=0&h=1&y=-glsfn2&localeid=en_US

Tomorrow the engine is off to the re-builders and I start tackling the engine compartment.

 

Way to go, GPD! Give it plenty of coats.

 

So how many quarts of oil per block? I guess you could silicone it for a day. How the heck would anyone get a hole like that at the bottom of the pan?:confused:

Nice primer job. Is that just regular primer or heat/oil resistant, or...???

 

When I was in the used car biz I noticed that Fords were infamous for rusted oil pans. Mostly the trucks. Don't know why? I was the kind of dealer that fixed anything and everything before I put it on the line. It got to the point that if I bought an old Ford at auction one of the first things I would do when it was on the rack was to smack the pan. More than once it would crumble. I found this out for the first time when I sold a Ford truck to a nice guy and when he got it home he was looking underneath on a rack and BUMPED the pan and knocked a hole in it.

 

Mine's looking rusty... Oh, oh! Thanks for the tip.

 

The Oil pan dilemma: It looks like from the inside there was corrosion as well. I figured because the car sat for so long that it rusted from the inside out. I dunno, but I already ordered a nice chrome one.

I just got home from the mechanic shop. The Long block is at the builders and should be ready by the end of the week. I spoke to my transmission guy and he said if I get him the transmission in the next couple days he should have it ready by next week so my mechanic should finish dropping it maybe tomorrow.

I spent the day in the HOT sun cleaning the engine compartment. Luckily the inner fender wells were already done as was the radiator support. But geez the frame and firewall was so NASTY! It had caked on grudge and grime that it took me the better part of the day to scrape it off. Then multiple repeats of degreaser and power washing. Each time I would degrease and scrub with a scotch brite and brush till all the grime was off. If it wasn't for the power washer I dunno what I would have done. 35 years of road grime was stuck on there like it had already made a home. Kinda like that rat that came home when the wagon was at the paint shop.

Everything was left to dry. All the smog stuff and A/C stuff is coming out so I can mask off what doesn't need paint. The frame itself is getting POR-15 Rust paint and the fire wall is getting the semi-gloss paint. There is just too much stuff to try and mask off around the firewall. Basically just the center of the firewall needs paint due to the sides had been done when the wagon was painted.

I've learned ALOT of what not to do with this restoration. Next time around I need my own work space where everything can be laid out and I NEED tools. A parts washer would come in handy as would a blast cabinet. Maybe not needed, but it would make things go alot quicker.

I stopped by the parts store and picked up some more Rustoleum OLD FORD BLUE paint for the engine block. The aircleaner and valve covers were first coated in Rustoleum engine primer and then the blue paint. They came out pretty good.

Hey Silver I did use multiple coats on those pieces and will do the same on the engine compartment tomorrow.

I didn't take the camera today cause I didn't want to leave it in the truck in this HEAT. Today's high was 100 and again tomorrow. I promise photos tomorrow though. Stay tuned!

Gotta celebrate a hard days work! Geez I love vacation!

 

I do that when I get a good day's work done. I grab a cup of cold coffee or an iced beer (helada! por favor!) and go sit on the patio, and plan tomorrow's tasks.

My wife reminded me of how the Mexican beer stores keep their beer on ice! So about an hour before I'm done for the day, I put a couple in the big freezer. Perfect! Makes you wonder how Adam and Eve survived in Iraq's heat, back then! No freezer.

 

The week was long, but not long enough. I sweated up a storm, but the engine bay is a lil bit better than before. I was also able to have the oil pan repaired so I am going with the original versus the chrome oil pan I found online. I still need to clean and paint it, but it'll get done soon enough.

The engine has been rebuilt as has the transmission. Both are back at the mechanic shop ready for install. The engine will be painted Old Ford Blue and the transmission will stay the original steel color. Here are a few photos:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=zovqivs.7ajbfvyg&x=0&h=1&y=vz2qbm&localeid=en_US

 

A LITTLE bit better?? Looking great, gpd. Won't be long now!

 

Nobody 'spit-shines' anymore, but you sure got close. Like Mike said.

 

Thanks Guys! I have spent the week getting nickel and dimed. I had to get the fuel sending unit sent off to get restored due to there are none to be found anywhere and they don't reproduce them. (www.fuelsender.com )

Then of the 2 radiators I had, both were too far gone to re-build, so I had to get a new radiator. (http://www.spectrapremium.com/home.html) Norm, Saludos desde Texas.....Ehh? LOL!

Today I went and dropped off the carb to get re-built. (local: Mr Carburetor) I just hope everything comes together in the end.

Wish me luck!

 

OK, gpd....GOOD LUCK!!