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

Cool feature to add!
Is that a Webasto? Looks quite well-made.

 

That ragtop looks great! I'd like to know, is it louder now to drive down the highway? Are you ever concerned it would fly open driving at highway speeds? How does it keep water out? I like the idea of it, but I'd be scared of failure.

I finished up phase 2 of my center console project. I installed some vents and ductwork from my front console to my rear console. The whole write-up is here, if you're interested in the details.
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=320476#post320476

 

I like that. it's clean and makes an already nice wagon even more fun to drive.
As for noise and rain the closest I had to that cloth roof was a VW Beetle and we loved it.

 

I went for a ride in the Wagon today. Fewer than 20 miles in, after shifting to "D" and going close to 55 MPH up a hill I noticed smoke blowing out and the rear-window getting dirty. Long story short, It was a radiator hose that broke a long time ago with a little pipe bridging the two parts of hose. I just re-attached the two and it held for the rest of the day. I added water to the radiator later on since it was low, and a radiator fluid change may be in order soon.

I just watched videos on changing radiator fluid last night, too.

 

In Short: The Mercury is going through an antifreeze change; Water is in the radiator at this time.

A more detailed report: I put a flush system on.



(Not my image.)

I found changing the radiator fluid to be much easier than I previously thought. I got a container, opened the drain-cock and out went of it into a container! Opening the radiator cap then caused it to come out quicker. I put water in the top of the radiator and more came out, gradually becoming cleaner but that was a rather slow process.

Later, After more flushing I stuck the back-flush kit on. That sped things up a lot more! See, with the radiator cap off and the drain on I could have the water hose on pumping water through the whole system with the car on. I'm sure there are some people who may question if that's safe to do, but the car is still running fine - better than before, actually. With this flow of new water coming in while the car runs, it gets the rust out quickly. The (Cold at the tap) water does get warm in this way, but not too hot (to my touch at least) and it left the water coming out almost as clear as it was when it went in, eventually.

Then I checked the radiator excessive-fluid reservoir; It was dirty. I left it cleaner, but still with rusty gunk on the sides of it. Then I put the drain-cock in, some Prestone Radiator Cleaning Fluid in and then the radiator cap and added more water through the flush system, watching it come into the reservoir. I then drove the car for 20+ miles and parked.

Next up in the plan: More driving, then eventually another fluid change to antifreeze. And maybe a new radiator and windshield fluid reservoir, since this one's so dirty.

 

Actually it seems like I am always working on this car. Rarely post here tho... but not such a big deal so not putting it on my progress thread.

Replaced the broken parking brake cable finally after 3 years of ownership.

Anyone who has a Ford 1957 - 1968 with a hand parking brake will appreciate this tidbit of information:
The handle drops an additional inch giving access to the ball end of the cable by depressing the ratchet paw with your finger or a screw driver tip. But... remove the cable pulley at the bottom end first by removing the cotter pin and shaft. After that it's EASY!
Shop manual and internet said Nothing about this for some reason and it took me an hour to figure it out.

 

Guess I could update everyone on my wagons.

02 Passatt: drain tube from sunroof clogged due to pollen (drain tube is too small a diameter). Some Passatts before and after mine, were recalled due to this very problem, but mine was apparently not included in the recall. Water came in flooded floor on passenger side. Transmission computer module is located under passenger seat and got wet. Had to disconnect the battery to get it out of "Park". Once everything dried out, transmission would work but only in "limp" mode. That means 2nd gear is the only forward gear that works. New module would have been less than $2000 but I decided to have repair shop find a used one. Because software often changed during production, car was in the shop for a month and a half till a nationwide search located the right used one. Repair was only $1300.00. Glad it wasn't any more than that because earlier in the year I spent $3000.00 for a new timing belt and to get both the heat and a.c. working when I wanted them to work instead of when the car wanted them to work. Never buying another VW. This one has 90,000 troublesome miles. Can't wait to get the Belvedere wagon on the road to replace it.

67 Belvedere wagon: I have owned the car for about three years now and have never seen it in person. My buddy in Massachusetts pulled the motor two weeks ago. The car only has 50,000 mile on it, but it sat for 17 years. The motor seemed to run well enough but there was an oil pressure problem and the freeze plugs were leaking. The oil pressure problem was due to the front cam bearing having moved out of position. Just my luck, the opening in the block had become ovaled due to that problem. The block was determined to be not worth fixing. A replacement block from a 1988 Chrysler 5th Avenue has been obtained for $200 and the motor will be rebuilt using the 67's heads and most other parts (that aren't being replaced in the normal course of the rebuild). Engine is due back from the rebuilder this week. As a daily driver it will retain its 2 bbl carb (for now), but when completed, it should be a bit more responsive than a stock 67 318. Ordered the complete engine bay kit for the AC from Classic Auto Air and it too is due in this week. A daily driver with manual window cranks and that large a greenhouse, needs working AC. If all goes according to plan, the car will be up and running and delivered to my door, in Virginia, by this time next month. Over the winter, I plan to take it to Maaco for minor body work and paint just to make it presentable as a daily driver. Since it will be parked outside in the weather, I don't want to put a lot of money into the body work and paint. By spring, the VW can go bye bye, if it lasts that long. The Belvedere wagon will share daily driving duties with my Dodge Ram pickup, and the 318 will probably get about the same mileage as the Passatt (and it will be much cheaper to maintain).

 

finally have a driver!

Painted a few weeks ago, and thanks to a fire at the body shop, I no longer have a hood. (the search is still on) The rest of the car made it out 6 hours before the fire started. THANK GOD!
But I got the weatherstrips and glass all installed over the last few days, and drove it to work today. I couldnt be happier.

 

That is a rad looking wagon, even without the hood. I hope you find one soon.

 

A few simple updates-Weathertech vents

 

Weathertech floor mats also

 

Well, I blew it. The drain cock broke off in the radiator yesterday while flushing it, and I ended up buying another radiator. I didn't see on the box that I have to replace the radiator cap (not included with radiator) and thermostat too, now I have to go get those.

 

The Mercury is going through an antifreeze change;
Yes as the mercury goes down antifreeze is needed.
Sorry about the drain cock. This is another of Murphy's Laws you didn't know about.

 

I got the thermostat and radiator cap. I took the metal piece that held the thermostat in, off. I found the gasket was rotted and I bought another, paper-ish one for $1.99. There's supposed to be an "O" ring around the thermostat from the looks of it but that was rotted too. What can I use?