Update: Car is done!! Boys and I will head to Atlanta next weekend to pick her up. Getting excited to get her to her new home. Couple of teasers from my friends at Then and Now Auto Restoration...
Congrats Brad! (Re: Brad has a new toy....) Howdy Brad and V-8 Buick wagon lovers, Congrats on getting your wagon really to come home!! :TU: Looks really, really nice! Cheers, Edouard :beer
They added an in dash Vintage Air HVAC system as the car did not have AC from the factory. They also found a couple of broken exhaust manifold bolts (on each side, of course) which required pulling the heads to extract them. Had all surfaces of the heads cleaned up, manifolds surfaced and detailed the engine. Put in a new battery tray and repaired some battery acid damage to the inner fender/core support area. They also went through the belts/hoses/oil change/tune-up stuff while it was all apart. New battery cable too. I'm thinking I will really like this one... Here's a picture underhood:
Interesting that the alternator was relocated to the driver side with the add on a/c. I bet Fred regrets selling this car.
looking good :TU:. Was the 455 emblem on the front fenders (or should I say wings? :grin: ) added recently? Hard to see in the photo: is there a piece of the weatherstripping for the tailgate window missing (driver's side)? Often these rubber stripping on a clamshell wagon are dry rotted and let water pour into the interior. Almost impossible to find NOS... only heard rumors about KARR reproducing those dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar, but never saw them advertized on the www.
The "455" emblems I am sure were added after the fact but by whom I don't know. I kind of like them anyway, so they will stay. I don't know about the weatherstripping as I have not laid eyes on it yet. I hope not, but I do see what you are talking about. I guess we'll find out! If it is bad, is there any substitute for the proper weatherstrip?
Besides the KARR (hope I remembered it right) I (again) heard about the weatherstrips for cargo doors of an early nineties Chevrolet Astro comes close and should fit with some work. Will try to find more on those reproduction weatherstrips later (only remember a set costs US$499 :ball: )
Some fat raised whites with the dog dishes would look awesome ,nice buff and wax wouldn't hurt either nice car would love to make that my family driver.
Thanks Rob. I did some searching over on Station Wagon Forum and it's the Ford Aerostar Cargo Door weather strips that seem to work. Wixom deleted his pictures, so I can't see what he was posting about. Karr doesn't see to have a website anymore. Wonder if they're still in business?
Dad added the 455 emblems a couple of years ago and at 1 point it have dog dish caps on it, It looked really cool with them on there. Brad let me know when you will be picking the car up and I'll try to get together with you. I still have the spare set of keys for it.
Hey Kenny, We'll be coming down next Saturday the 8th. We're going to try to get out of here real early so we can have supper with Mark and you, if you wish to join us. I did pickup a set, well actually 6, dog dish hubcaps like those that were on it (thank you ebay) and also have bought a set of Rally wheels too. PM me your phone number so I can get a hold of you when we get in town. Thanks!
Can't seem to find the Karrrubber site any more, do have a telephone number and address: 310-322-1993 or 800-955-5277, or 133 Lomita St., El Segundo, CA 90245 (ask for John Calhoun). Couldn't find the thread David (Wixom) made on the SWF while writing my last reply; but yes, it was the Ford and not the Chevrolet David mentioned.
Thanks Rob! Here's the post on SWF: http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4672&highlight=weatherstrip&page=2 See post #12. Is it the sliding door weatherstrip or the rear (at the back) weatherstrip he's talking about? Pictures are gone, so I don't know exactly what he's talking about on the Aerostar. If it is the rear door weatherstrip, does it have to be for the cargo door version? Thanks Rob!
I remember clearly from the time the photos were still on line it was the sliding door (at the passenger side). I asked David in an email a few months ago to repost the photos....but it appears David is not on line too often anymore. The reason I couldn't find that thread at first: used the Chevrolet in the search option.ou:
Great! Thanks Rob. I was hoping it was the side door and not the rear of the van. Now to try and find an Aerostar...
