The Cruiser Chronicles

Hook line and sinker, you are hooked on wagons and you sure have a nice one.

 

Holy moly! Two months between updates!. Well school kept me busy and with holiday rush at work I had no time to work on it.

I finally was able to spend some time on it today. Now the rear passenger door opens! Next up to address is the stupid HVAC system on why it only blows out the bottom vent on the transmission hump. Or one of the other small things that need attention.

(I'll eventually get rid of that stupid Nissan side mirror)

 

Check your vacuum lines, sounds like one of them might have slipped off(AC blowing out bottom vents).

 

To pop out that dent... take off the door panel and just try pushing it out with force.. the dent is big enough to where it should pop out.. at least you can get most of it that way. I do a lot of body work and the bigger dents are usually the easier ones.

That is a very clean car.. would be cool if you could find a factory period correct radio to go in there.

Love the lines and the color.. dog dish caps are very cool too! Super nice!

 

The Cruiser is on driver status, I've been getting an average of 12-13mpg in town. But getting gas every few days sucks! I should just bite the bullet and fill it all the way up. Only a 20 gallon tank.

As far as the dent goes, I kinda tried. But its right where the support is. So it'll stay for now.

But since I figured I'd be driving it I took apart the door panels and greased/lubed up all moving parts, and they work pretty darn good for 35 year old power windows!

 

Well, I opted to fix some of the small things. Nothing to crazy but I was able to get the automatic hatch release working. It's kinda cool to have it working again.

Oh and I found a set of keys wired to the frame! I'm guessing they have been there a very long time based on how dirty and tarnished they are. So I left them in place, so now I know if I ever get locked out I'll be good!

Tomorrow I'll try and figure out the HVAC issue.

 

Automatic hatch release? An electric switch? Not familiar with those.

 

Yup, there is a switch in the glove box that controls a solenoid in the liftgate. Kinda cool now that its working.

I finally figured out what is wrong with the HVAC system. The three vacuum lines that go into the firewall are chewed off a couple inches past it. Plus I found a rats nest tucked between the wheel well and the firewall. Now I get to try and fix the vacuum lines.

Is there a kit that fixes these kind of issues? Or am I gunna have to hit the junk yards and clip some vacuum line?

 

Really nice work, and sounds like you're having fun fixing it up. You did great starting with a rust-free low mile car!

I like the radio delete, looks so funny with the power windows and locks. If it was mine, when the time came, I'd hide a new radio in the glove box.

I like the dog-dish poverty caps too. Had those on my 68 Skylark Custom, but added raised-letter Radial T/A's and always got compliments on how cool those looked. Just an idea!

For tires, get on Craigslist! You can find a good set of used cheap most likely. If you have a blowout with those 16-year-old tires and it damages a fender or quarter panel you'll be sick!

Keep the updates coming, neat car!

-Mike

 

I had a feeling a leaking vac line was causing your AC issue. You can get some new line at Advance Brothers or any parts store. Take the old lines with you to be sure you get the proper diameter hose. Its sold by the foot. Keep us posted! Did you take any ?

 

It's gunna be a pain but it shouldn't be to hard to patch them back up. What would you suggest I use to reconnect the lines?

 

What exactly are we looking at here?

 

Its the firewall, the big thing on the right is the blower motor housing. I'm just showing how the rats chewed off the vacuum lines, so thats the three lines that supply the vacuum to the HVAC controls.

 

I'd use barbed hose connectors like the ones in this photo:



This item is in the Fastenal catalog, but you should be able to find these at any good automotive or industrial parts supplier.

They are also available in nylon, which is probably what I would use.

You'll need to know the ID of you vacuum lines; best way is to actually bring a piece with you.

Good luck...

 

Those are exactly what I wanted to suggest but I couldn't remember the name of them and couldn't find them in a search!