Waiting for the next round

I felt so dissapointed in the bad paintjob that I totally lost my interest in blogging, nearly lost my interest over the project Destiny as well. As soon as the bodies were carried out from the battlefield I returned to the garage. Little by little the the parts started to go in again. The new gas tank was installed with a bead of sealer.

The brake master cylinder was restored, new brake tubing was bent and installed and all the wheel cylinders were replaced with new ones. I just wonder if the new ones (made in China) will last as long as the originals which still were there in the rear. At least I think they were originals. I did not bother to buy a new master cylinder. Instead, I ground the rust off, polished it and sprayed some clear over it. Here are a couple of pics before and after.

 

After the brake tubing was done, I dismantled the the rest of the braking system, cleaned, greased and repleced the wheel cylinders with the new ones ( made in China ). I wonder if they will last as long as the previous which I think might have been the originals. I put the brakes back together, poured some fluid in, and with a help from my wife (experienced with "pressure-bottom technique" ) pressing the pedal bleeded the brakes and tuned them. Sorry, no pics but she looks great. The parking brake handle was cleaned and painted and installed.

The fuel lined had been replaced earlier, by the Swede obviously, so I reused them with new flexible hoses and clamps.

I had fixed the heater two years ago when I prepared Destiny for the first driving season. During that summer it dripped every once in a while. The examination showed that it had a puncture, so I replaced the core with new aluminium type, painted the shell and put it back in.

Then I installed the front valance and the rest of the front metal parts, headlights, parking lamps, bumber brackets and front bumper, horns and engine bay wiring. It appeared that I have two pieces of right hand side front parking lamps. I had not noticed that earlier and will have to order new for left hand side.

Seems like the the guy who restored this car back in the US had a donor car with a working right hand lamp.

When all this was done I installed door latch mechanism and striker plates, then was the time to install wiper motor and arms. As soon as this was done I cleaned, fixed and installed the under-dash wiring, light switch, wiper switch, ignition switch and the meter panel. (Should I have known that there is a cheap bezel available, I would have replaced it.). Then the shifter for the transmission and the car is ready to be started.

The oil pressure sending unit appeared dead and a new one will have to be ordered. The neutral safety switch did not work either. So order to save time, not the money (you propably find it easier for get one from NPD for less than $30) I drilled out the two rivets, cleaned it and piled back together with small screws and nuts. Works fine now.

Then I cleaned the tail lights, installed and tested them, installed the steering wheel and cranked the engine, drove the car out of the garage and back in. Works fine, exept for the oil pressure warning light.
What a feeling, what a feeeeeliiiiing !

What next ? Yes ! I deinstalled the tail lights, drilled out the tail light panel and welded in the new one.

 

Now Destiny was ready for the Round #2 at the paintshop. I delivered her back a week ago and have spent the last days cleaning the garage for her return. I'll be back as soon as that happens.