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
11/24/19
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
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
11/9/19
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
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
10/13/19
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
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
9/30/19
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
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
9/15/19
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
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
8/13/19
August 2019 Update.....
Been a couple weeks since I posted an update. Progress on the Tomato has been put on hold until my carb guru shows up to tweak the Holley, so I have been addressing some issues on my '64 Fairlane 500 Ranch Wagon.
I have however accomplished a couple small tasks on the Torino. I trimmed out my package shelf template and test fit it in the car...
as well as comparing it to the original panel. Fit nicely in the car and matched the original piece pretty well. Will now get a piece of tempered hardboard and have the new panel cut out at work on our computerized router.
I also dropped off the FlowMasters at the powder coaters and had them ceramic coated...
Also repositioned the Torino so I can tack weld the small flanges onto the core support for transmission cooler line clearance.
Until next time...…..
ZEBRA 3 OUT
I have however accomplished a couple small tasks on the Torino. I trimmed out my package shelf template and test fit it in the car...
as well as comparing it to the original panel. Fit nicely in the car and matched the original piece pretty well. Will now get a piece of tempered hardboard and have the new panel cut out at work on our computerized router.
I also dropped off the FlowMasters at the powder coaters and had them ceramic coated...
Also repositioned the Torino so I can tack weld the small flanges onto the core support for transmission cooler line clearance.
Until next time...…..
ZEBRA 3 OUT
7/14/19
TEST DRIVE!!!
Well, some good results this weekend! First up, I reconnected the battery, removed the carb cover and fired her up to get heat into the engine and to also check one last time for any leaks...
While she was running, I had to get a shot low and behind to see how things were going in the exhaust...
Once the engine got hot, the thermostat did open up and everything began circulating and she kept everything in, so I then checked the transmission fluid and oil to insure they were where they need to be, had 20+ psi oil pressure at idle and 40+ when rev'ed so I felt pretty confident she was ready to roll. Shut her off and let her sit for about 10 minutes to see if I might have a heat soak issue getting her to refire hot (I'd guess it was almost 100 degrees upstairs since it was 90+ outside and sunny).
The moment of truth arrived and I crossed my fingers...…
She lit right off without issue, dropped her into gear was able to hold her in place holding the brake and bringing up the rpm's, so I let my foot off the brake and she began moving under her own power after 8 or 9 years! Tried the brake again as she rolled backwards and they clamped down good. Once I was back as far as she could go, I put her in drive and again foot braked her against the engine and the brakes held until the rpm's got to the point the rear brakes started to get overdriven and the rear tires began to turn over, but the front brakes held her in place so I'm confident I'll be able to safely drive her down the ramp to load onto the rollback to take her for her ride to the bodyshop!
All in all a good day, but I did discover I had a power steering issue that I need to figure out (no assist) in the days ahead.
The fun never stops!
Until next installment....
ZEBRA 3 OUT
While she was running, I had to get a shot low and behind to see how things were going in the exhaust...
Once the engine got hot, the thermostat did open up and everything began circulating and she kept everything in, so I then checked the transmission fluid and oil to insure they were where they need to be, had 20+ psi oil pressure at idle and 40+ when rev'ed so I felt pretty confident she was ready to roll. Shut her off and let her sit for about 10 minutes to see if I might have a heat soak issue getting her to refire hot (I'd guess it was almost 100 degrees upstairs since it was 90+ outside and sunny).
The moment of truth arrived and I crossed my fingers...…
She lit right off without issue, dropped her into gear was able to hold her in place holding the brake and bringing up the rpm's, so I let my foot off the brake and she began moving under her own power after 8 or 9 years! Tried the brake again as she rolled backwards and they clamped down good. Once I was back as far as she could go, I put her in drive and again foot braked her against the engine and the brakes held until the rpm's got to the point the rear brakes started to get overdriven and the rear tires began to turn over, but the front brakes held her in place so I'm confident I'll be able to safely drive her down the ramp to load onto the rollback to take her for her ride to the bodyshop!
All in all a good day, but I did discover I had a power steering issue that I need to figure out (no assist) in the days ahead.
The fun never stops!
Until next installment....
ZEBRA 3 OUT
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