Well, today the winds are pretty strong (60 K ~40 Mph). I decided that I really didn't want to put it on the stands in the wind, So I tackled the door. The window cranks are hard to use, Passenger side vent crank didn't work and a few other little things. I took apart the drivers door and oiled everything. I cleaned all of the dirt off the door so that I can put a bead of silicone around the edges and using plastic to seal the door. I put everything back together, cursed the window cranks and tried, tried again. Finally, all together and everything seems to work like new. I then tackled the passenger door. I removed the handles, arm rest, door handle and took the door apart. It actually had the original paper seal, although it wasn't sealing anything anymore. I oiled the window, the vent, and the handles. I then tackled the vent crank. The mechanism was broken at the back letting the spiral gear wind right out of the mechanism. Luckily, the broken part was at the bottom of the door. It was a cover for the back and held in place with rivets. I drilled out the rivets, tapped out the holes and put bolts in to hold it together. I replaced it and tested it. It works, not great, but it works. I put silicone around the edges of the door, plastic and reassembled the door. The arm rests looked poor, so I took them apart, sanded them and painted them with chrome paint. After the chrome paint, I sprayed them with clear coat. When they dry tomorrow, I will put them back on. All in all, I am pleased with the way things turned out. I learned a lot about how things work and sealed the doors better than they were. Another day, the rear shocks, which was supposed to be today's work.
Alright, I guess the boys might have something after all. This morning it started snowing so, okay, I'll drive my truck to my physio appointment. I used command start to warm it up, and, when I got in, I tried to stick my key into the dash. They may be right.
Today I replaced the shocks in the back of my car. Never having done shocks on a car with coil springs before, there was a learning curve. I jacked up the drivers side a little, loosened the wheel nuts, finished jacking it up. I put jacks stands two placed under the frame rail and removed the tire. I then removed the bolt at the bottom of the shock. Well, that was a mistake. Lesson learned! The axle came down almost touching the ground. I was very glad I was not under it. the coil fell out and I reached it out from under and set it down. At that point, I clearly heard my Dad tell me "When you give that back, I want it to look new." Right, I haven't heard that for 37 years. I wish with all my heart I could hear it in person. Well, always listen to Dad. I sprayed the bolts with WD40, crawled out and started brushing the coil. After I had it looking clean, I used steel wool, then a cloth. I took a can of flat black Rustoleum paint and painted the whole coil twice. There was a large washer under the spring, brush, wool, wash and paint. The mount, brush, wool, wipe and paint. I removed the top shock bolts and cleaned the mounts off. I then jacked up the axle, put it back together. I took some pictures and put the tire back on let it down and did the other side. Same clean brush wipe paint. While under there, I noticed the wire for the fuel sending unit and decided to take it off, clean it off and see if my gas gauge started working properly. Nope. Ah well, I do have a new sending unit coming. Glad to have the shocks done. Another job done. Let see whats next.
Today was fun. I found that my crankcase airbreather was loose and leaking oil, not much, but enough to bother me. The specialist at the auto parts shop sold me the only one they had, a performance one. He recommended that I also replace the PCV valve. I purchased them both and went home to put them on. I replaced the air breather and checked the PCV valve.... New. Right.... full tune up recently. Ah well, add to my parts stock pile. Nice shiny chrome air breather. I then took the leather lace I purchased and laced the steering wheel cover I purchased at Value Village closed. They are all made for much fatter steering wheels, but using some good old fashioned ingenuity, my used leather steering wheel looks great. Another day, another thing completed. I love working on this car. I never thought I would like working on an old car. When I was young I owned junkers because it was all I could afford to drive. Now, I have a great running F150, good running Escape, and a good running Wildcat.
Well, it is technically winter, snow again. I have covered my old girl for the next six days. While she is covered, I am driving my F150 around. I ordered an aftermarket Tire Pressure Monitoring System for the car. I also found, while perusing thrift shops, a new windshield washer monitor, for $1. I had one in one of my older vehicles and found, especially in spring, that it is useful. For a buck, how can you lose? I am slowly dragging the cabin of the car into the 21st century. The tach and gauges, old school. The stereo (installed in home made boxes, not the dash), the TPMS and the, while old, windshield washer monitor system. Under the hood, my LED's to illuminate the engine bay. The drivetrain of my baby, all original, just the way I like it. It even still has a generator, not alternator. I haven't had one of those since my 1969 F250 4x4. Great old truck. With it's 360 Cubic Inch engine, she could haul anything and pass anything.... except the gas station. Loved her gas. The Wildcat, while slightly better on the highway, is really hard on fuel in town. I recently got the "Too expensive to drive everywhere" lecture. I have to agree, reluctantly, but agree. I really love my old girl.
I just checked the 1966 factory manual I purchased. It tells me that I have a generator in my old girl. Maybe they didn't change the different models all over at the same time. The dashboard light still says GEN. I guess I have to go with the manual. I have considered changing it over to an alternator, but I like her original. If the generator does die, I will probably do the change as an alternator would be easier to obtain than a generator.
The dash light might say GEN but like Telriv said you certainly have a alternator. The generator would be almost 3/4 the size of a old style AC compressor and probably black..
Alternator was probably a new term that wasn't in constant use back then, and they just put generator in the manuals because that was what they were used to. Lots of typos in the world. I can see that you have an alternator in your pic at the top of this page.
I kind of like the look of the word GEN on the dash though. The 65 had a complete different dash so i'm thinking Buick liked it too as they used it on a totally re designed dash??
I guess I was wrong. Thank you all for correcting me. The more I know about my girl, the more I can take care of her. I received my Fuel Sending Unit yesterday. I looked around and found there were a number of inexpensive "universal" units that told you how to modify or bend it for it to work. In the end, I paid a lot more to buy a manufactured model that is a copy of the original. No modifications needed. I will put it in this spring when I go up north to visit Ray.
I just purchased a bunch more wire wheels and sanding paper to work on my old girl. I found a attachment for my pressure washer that will swivel side to side. That is going to come in handy for cleaning underneath the car around the frame. I also found out today.... Yahoo, I do not have to drop the fuel tank to replace the fuel sending unit. There is access from the trunk! I love it!
Way to go Chuck! Keep making progress! I put mine up on 4 jack stands when I was cleaning the bottom. I was able to roll around on a creeper under the car. I couldn't even get under it otherwise.
I know the progress I have made, $6000 and hundreds of hours, but on the surface, nothing shows. The car looks the same as when I got it. The difference is, it runs great, has new shocks, tachometer, gauges, everything works, original steering wheel, a new stereo and speakers. This spring I will be painting it. I expect it will take about 3 weeks total to strip the chrome and bumper, sand blast the paint and repaint the car. In the end, she is worth it. I had a guy park beside me in the Walmart parking lot pull up and spend 20 minutes asking about the car. He then looked at the clock and exclaimed he was supposed to pick up his wife at the door 10 minutes ago. I said goodbye and he still spent another 5 minutes asking about the car. I guess he since he was already late, he might as well finish talking. I was surprised, I would have left right away. It is kind of uplifting when other people admire my car. You don't see too many Wildcats in the wild anymore.
I've had mine 8-1/2 years, and it looks about the same on the outside except for adding rally wheels and BFG tires. I have done a lot of cleaning and polishing that does present better. But I have changed the engine and accessories, and transmission. Newer style driveshaft. Rebuilt the front suspension and installed new springs and shocks all the way around. Rebuilt the brakes all the way around. Newer 3 core radiator that looks like original. New radiator hoses and heater hoses. New fuel tank and sending unit. Basically went through safety and dependability stuff. What does show is the detailing when the hood is raised. Also the interior looks better, as I replaced the carpet and redone the front and rear seats. Sorry for the long story, but the point is, you've had you car very little time for the amount of progress you've made! The cool thing, the way we both are doing our cars, we can enjoy them while we are building them! Keep chugging along, and try not to get discouraged. I enjoy reading your progress reports.
I know that I have been working at an accelerated pace. This is because my wife has just retired and I have to do the paint job while I have the budget for it. I love working on the car. I know my limitations though. A mechanic, I am not. We are going to cash in an RRSP to get the paint and drive it up north. I found a large roll of plastic (10' x 200') for 12 dollars so I can plastic off the garage to paint in and protect Mom's things in there. Also to keep dust down. I will sweep and pressure wash the floor first so it is squeaky clean. We are going to purchase a sand blaster to clean off the old paint. There is at least 2 paint jobs there. Get it down to where it is manageable. Once it is painted and the underside cleaned and protected, I need to get it appraised. Right now, the insurance considers it an "Old Car" To get proper vintage insurance, I need the appraisal. Well, time to go, have a great evening.
BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE SAND BLASTER IT CAN & WILL WARP ANY LARGE FLAT PANELS. Then you may as well junk the car because VERY FEW/NOBODY will be able to fix it without replacement panels.
From what I was told by a sand blasting company, (and Telriv above said about the same), I wouldn't go the sandblasting method. Panels can overheat easily and warp. There is a lot of experience needed to do sandblasting without doing damage. Better off with stripper and sanding. Hopefully Ethan or some of these other paint gurus will chime in.
Okay, after some research, sand blasting is out. I guess I am back to my sander and sandpaper. I don't want to go the chemical method as it can be harsh on the environment ans well as the surface of chrome, glass... Heavy sigh. I might have to start down here and work a little at a time as my accident has left me with limited energy for sustained effort. If at first you don't succeed... I assume it would be sand a section, then prime. If I don't really need to go right down to bare metal that would help. My health isn't the best. Time consuming, but.... well worth it in the long run.
