Details 72....

A short frustrating day Saturday.... determined the assembled length from the old fixed column out of the Torino...

got the steering shaft pulled apart

lubed the anti-rattle clips

and reinserted to the approximate length and the entire column reassembled.

Then started trying to install it solo... man what a PITA!!! Index marked the steering box spline and the rag joint coupler...

so next weekend I can get them reassembled. I'll break down the rag joint back to it's individual parts and get the steering box coupler fully pressed onto the splined steering box shaft, the reassemble the rag joint and deadman bracket to the coupler and then reattach the extension shaft to the end of the column, tighten the pinch bolt and then bolt down the column to the interior firewall brackets. Then I'll then install the steering wheel and run the steering assembly thru it's travel to check operation as well as any unwanted points of contact.

Don't touch that dial...........

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 71...

A really productive day.... until I got ahead of myself! Got the firewall pads hung (used zip ties until I'm 100% satisfied before inserting the rubber retainers), the column braces, brake pedal support, accelerator pedal all hung, master cylinder and booster installed and the brake pedal pad and stainless steel trim attached.

I then unwrapped the steering column and the rag joint extension assembly and as I was trying to install the extension onto the steering shaft, I forgo...t to loosen and retract the pinch bolt in the extension clamp and inadvertently collapsed the steering shaft! GRRRR.... so I proceeded to disassemble the steering column so I could access the steering shaft and get it extended back to the necessary length.

Hopefully next weekend I can get the shaft extended, the column reassembled and the column and steering wheel installed back in the Tomato so it appears to be a car on the inside once more!

Stay tuned..............

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 70....

Well today I helped Jim install a new motor on one of the compressors then unwrapped the bulkhead connector. Will need to shoot one more coat on the backside to seal the previous coats along the cut line. (Note to future self: Mask part to hard edge so you can trim new rubber along that edge and not peel off the new layer of rubber with the tape!)

Brushed the locking hood release to clean it up a bit (I had the ignition switch rekeyed to match this key so one key will operate both locks)....

then traced out the firewall pads onto the new material...

and got them cut to shape.

Need to get some larger diameter gasket punches so I can make the larger circular cutouts as well as the corners on some of the larger opening. Dry fit them and they look like they are going to work nicely!!

Until next time....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 69...

More sandblasting on the hood today...

second coated bulkhead connector...

and tried out the new shears...

NICE EASY CUT! Will outline the old firewall pads on the new material next weekend and get them cut out then wrap up the blasting on the hood.

Stay tuned....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 68...

A bit more progress... the carb rebuild kit nor my new sheers have arrived yet so I needed to find additional tasks to do.

The NOS parking brake release arrived last week, so the first order of business was to get that installed....

and wrapped to protect it until installation.

Next up was to trim away the excess Gorilla glue from the bulkhead connector seal...

and fill any remaining cracks with RTV...

before spraying it with the first coat of Plasti Dip.

From there, Jim helped me put the hood up on the stand in the blast booth and then I masked off the seams between the underhood bracing and the exterior sheetmetal (to keep as much sand as possible out of the the bracing)...

and then proceeded to sandblast it.

the blasting also revealed the factory grease pencil marks....

I know the 9D is paint code (Polar White) but not sure about the 789??

At first I was trying to get everything, but then I realized the factory red oxide primer was on pretty good and tough to get off so I decided to leave it and just knock of the body color. The remaining red oxide should offer a pretty good base for the new primer and finish coat to adhere to.

Once finished with the underside, Jim helped me flip it over so I can knock off the top side paint next weekend.

But before I could leave, I noticed I almost had a flat tire on my driver, so we pulled it in and Jim broke it down and removed the culprit.... a very small piece of metal had just barely penetrated the tire in one of the tread grooves. Amazing how something so tiny could have stood up and pushed it's way thru the tread!

Until next episode............

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 67...

Well, another low productivity weekend... fueled the Fairlane and she would start and idle as before but still bog and die on acceleration. Popped the top off the carb (did you know you could start and run the engine with the top of the Autolite/Motorcraft 2 barrel carb off??) and have determined the issue is with the power valve, so I'll get a kit on order and then she should be good as new!!

On the Tomato, removed the earlier installed bracing and cut a piece of insulation to fit up against the cowl area and got it installed...

and then laid out my new firewall pad material and the old pad and template...

so I can get the new firewall pad cut and installed next weekend. Need to get my shears cleaned up and sharpened really well this week so they will cut the pad easily. A buddy with an upholstery shop said to bring them by and he would see what he could do for them.

I also installed the refurbished perimeter wiring retainer, the pedal pad and NOS stainless steel trim to the parking brake assembly...

The NOS brake release handle is due to arrive on Monday so I'll get that installed and the assembly greased up next weekend and ready to be rehung in the car.

Hope to also get the firewall pad cut and installed next weekend as well and perhaps have the Fairlane back up to normal!

Stay tuned to find out.....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 66....

Well got the new fuel pump installed on the Fairlane and she started up, ran for a minute then, just my luck, stumbled and died.... out of gas! Next weekend I'll get a can of gas and drop a line into the container and give her a drink of fresh gas and see how she runs.

Tomato wise, I got the parking brake assembly reassembled (minus the cables), masked off and reshot the foot pedal area. Give her a good coat of white lithium grease and it'll be ready to go back into the car.

My insulation also arrived last week so I need to get my heavy shears sharpened up so I can start recutting the necessary firewall pads.

Until next time....

ZEBRA 3 OUT