Last update of 2019....

Saturday I went out to look at the facility that will be doing the bodywork on the Torino. Need to go see the booth that will be used to apply the color next time. Right now we are targeting the move to the body shop for next weekend... if everything goes according to plan.

Once back at the dealership, I worked some more on the rear seat pass thru and cut the existing bracing back to make room for the new panel...

and dressed up the exposed surface where the brace overlapped the floor panel.

Next step will be to cut a relief slot into the existing braces to accept the new panel and work out the upper flanges on the pass thru panel to tie into the package tray. For some reason, the package tray drop off isn't symmetrical on either side of the centerline so the upper flanges will be different from site to side.

Gotta love a challenge!

ZEBRA 3 OUT

December 21 update.....

First order of business at the shop today was locating and weighing all the door components so I could tell the bodyshop how much weight to add to the doors to simulate the finished door weight with all the components installed.
Once I was done with that, I began determining the necessary modifications needed to add the brace to allow an unobstructed opening for the rear seat armrest pass thru into the trunk.....

Have the basic panel size and necessary opening cut into a cardboard pattern, so I can now trim the existing braces out of the way, set the rear seat back cushion in place and then see how my new panel will fit and tie everything back together.

Stay tuned....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

December 14 update....

SUCCESS.... the car will be heading off for bodywork and paint the first weekend of the New Year!! One of the principals from Far From Factory called me up out of the blue on Thursday evening about 9pm in response to a Messenger message I had left almost a year ago (he no longer follows facebook so he hadn't gotten a message notification. He accidentally opened the Messenger app and my message popped up.... Divine intervention perhaps???)!! He stopped in on Saturday to look over the car...

and get a copy of the estimate they gave me way back when we first began discussing the project. His shop is open and the car is ready to roll so once the holidays are out of the way, let the fun begin!!!

After he left I began looking at how to modify the package tray bracing to accommodate the rear sear arm rest pass thru. Got a couple ideas the we'll work out as the bodywork progresses.

Finally, the major phase of the build is about to get underway!

DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL

ZEBRA 3 OUT

December 7 update....

Well this weekend, I got all the blast cabinet LED lights positioned....

but the double sided tape provided wasn't tacky enough to stick to the rough surface inside the blast cabinet, so another project delayed awaiting correct materials.

With the Torino ready to be sent off for bodywork and paint once I find the right shop to tackle it, I decided to start working on other areas of the restoration. The rear seat cushions (and both front buckets as well) have already been reupholstered and wrapped up awaiting installation for almost 12 years, so I decided to pull them out of hibernation, unwrap them and set them in the car for a fresh look at my decision a decade later....

LOL, they still fit and I am still happy with my decision on the design. Now to rewrap them and wait just a bit longer for the final install.

The search still continues for a body shop, but there are still many things yet that need addressed before all is said and done.

Until next installment....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

November 30th update........

Well I got the Torino repositioned so it was accessible all the way around so I could show it to prospective bodymen to get estimates on the bodywork and paint as well as engine access so I can get the carb adjusted and the engine timed correctly.

I also pulled apart the sandblast cabinet

to install a new viewing window, left hand glove and new led lights. Three light strips did a decent job illuminating the interior, but decided to add four more to insure there were no dark areas. Will get that all buttoned up next weekend.

Until next time....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

November 24th update.....

Progress! Got the power steering operational and purged and she is now back on the ground and appears to be leak free.

Will run it some more next weekend to confirm everything stays dry, but by and large she is now ready to turn over to someone to handle the bodywork and paint. Hope to find that special craftsman in the days ahead!

Wish me luck.....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

November 09 update....

A bit more progress today.... got the power steering system plumbed up so I could monitor the air in the system. With the engine spitting and sputtering like a Top Fueler, I was able to get a few turns of the wheel in before the engine died, but it seems like the system is now operating correctly.

I will keep it rigged up until I get the engine running like she should and the system purged of all the air in the system. I pulled the plugs and they were fouled out again, so I'll get them cleaned up and see how she runs after that.

NEED TO GET THAT CARB FINE TUNED!!

Until next time...

ZEBRA 3 OUT

October 13th update...

Last weekend I second coated the parts and this weekend, I reassembled the pump....

but I have about 1/32" of end play in the shaft, so I have contacted Lares to verify this is OK and would disappear once the pump is full of fluid and the system bled out and ready to go....  don't want to have to pull it off a third time!!

FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

ZEBRA 3 OUT

September 30th update....

Not much to report since last installment. My new Lares power steering pump arrived and after comparing it to my original....

I cleaned it good and got the first coat of paint on it.

The Super Clean Degreaser wasn't too kind to the paint on the reservoir, so I sand blasted it, the pulley and brackets and reshot them as well.

The replacement tailgate window channel for the wagon arrived as well, so I compared it to my old original to insure it would work...

before painting it and getting it ready to install. Need to get the window glass rubber retainer and two new rollers and then I'll get it painted and installed and put that little project to bed.

Don't touch that dial!....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

September 14th update

My carb guru finally showed up last Thursday to adjust the Holley and set the timing. Everything was going really smoothly.... got the carb adjusted, had great vacuum throughout the rpm ranges and as we set the timing and watching the time advance thru the engine range, suddenly something on the driver side of the engine erupted and began spraying fluid out all over the place. I immediately shut the engine down and quickly realized it was transmission fluid by the color (blue B&M Trick Shift). Seems one of the transmission rubber hoses had popped off the transmission line.

I was concerned that the transmission fluid would wick into the bare sheet metal and make final finishing a real nightmare, so Saturday I reconnect the transmission line and confirm all other connections were tight, wiped off as much of the transmission as I could....

moved the Torino to the top of the ramp...

and then drove her downstairs (the first time on the street under her own power in about a decade!!) to the wash rack.

I applied a heavy application of Super Clean Degreaser and let it soak for about 10 minutes and then hit it again. After soaking for a good half hour, I thoroughly rinsed everything for about 15 minutes to insure I flushed all the remnants of the degreaser everything and then dried her off.

Once dried off, I fired her up and let her run for a bit to get a little heat in her and under the hood to finish drying up the remaining water. After about 10 minutes of idling, I dropped into the driver's seat and returned her to the work area upstairs.

Looks like my worries were unfounded as the metal shows no evidence of the B&M Trick Shift transmission fluid.

With the carb adjusted, I now need to set the time, tighten up the alternator belt and check the rebuild of the power steering pump (I found I had NO POWER ASSIST when I drove the Tomato downstairs and back) before turning her over to the body shop once they have their new facility completed.

Until next time....

ZEBRA 3 OUT