Monday update....

Had car trouble on Monday that required taking the Sable in for service, so, since I didn't have an appointment, I wore my old clothes so while they were diagnosing the problem with the Mercury, I went upstairs and worked on the Tomato rather than just sitting in the waiting area until they were done.

I policed the work area, emptied all my trash cans, got the Torino back up on the jack stands and the tires removed so I could just jump in on Saturday and continue the reassembly....

So it wasn't a wasted vacation day!!

Brief project update....

Not a lot done to the Torino but I did get the hardware dropped off at the platers and the car turned around and into position for reassembly.....

Now to GIT-R-DUN!

Next time.....

MOVING DAY.......

Well after a two week hiatus, I had a very productive day Saturday in spite of an equipment failure. I got the axles temporarily installed in the rear end, a couple wheels bolted on and the rear of the car set down on the ground....

Then I rolled my engine hoist into position to raise the front of the car off the jack stands so I could roll her out of the blast booth and the friggen seal was blown on the hydraulic cylinder. After a few choice words, I monkeyed around with it and discovered if I raised up the lift arm and pumped the handle, the pressure would come up and hold the arm in position, so then the wheels began to spin for a viable solution.... RATCHET STRAPS! I got three out of my tool box, hung them from the lift chain and placed one around each front bumper bracket and the third around the center of the front crossmember and VIOLA.... the frame is clear from the jack stands!

Then I set about clearing and cleaning the area where I will begin to reassemble the Tomato. Once that was finished, I began pulling the Torino out of the blast booth and out onto the shop floor. Was a bit of a challenge to get the car to cut tightly due to the posi rear end, so I parked her and set a couple jack stands under the front frame in the event the hoist cylinder bled off while I was gone. Don't want to have to pick up the nose off the floor if I don't have to!

I also checked the rear tire clearance and with the 14" tire, looks like the rear end might be just about right when I get the larger 15" meats installed...

I'll have to set my ole LR60-15 Goodyear beside the smaller tire for a better idea. I think too with the nose so high in the air there may be a bit of rear suspension compression going on as well.

While I haven't been over to the dealership for two weeks, I have been doing a little bit at home... I have some hardware and a few parts blasted, polished and ready to drop off at the platers....

I hope they can turn them around pretty quickly to help keep my momentum going!

Quick update for this evening....
With the car down on the jack stands...

I put the larger LR60-15 tire up against the rear wheel and it looks like they're going to fit nicely.

I also have all my new pieces in, so I put together my floor shifter to see how she's gonna look...

I LIKE IT

Until next episode....

ZEBRA 3 OUT