1966 Wildcat 2 door Sport Coupe

Well, today the winds are pretty strong (60 K ~40 Mph). I decided that I really didn't want to put it on the stands in the wind, So I tackled the door. The window cranks are hard to use, Passenger side vent crank didn't work and a few other little things. I took apart the drivers door and oiled everything. I cleaned all of the dirt off the door so that I can put a bead of silicone around the edges and using plastic to seal the door. I put everything back together, cursed the window cranks and tried, tried again. Finally, all together and everything seems to work like new. :) I then tackled the passenger door. I removed the handles, arm rest, door handle and took the door apart. It actually had the original paper seal, although it wasn't sealing anything anymore. I oiled the window, the vent, and the handles. I then tackled the vent crank. The mechanism was broken at the back letting the spiral gear wind right our of the mechanism. Luckily, the broken part was at the bottom of the door. It was a cover for the back and held in place with rivets. I drilled out the rivets, tapped out the holes and put bolts in to hold it together. I replaced it and tested it. It works, not great, but it works. I put silicone around the edges, plastic and reassembled the door. The arm rests looked poor, so I took them apart, sanded them and painted them with chrome paint. After the chrome paint, I sprayed them with clear coat. When they dry tomorrow, I will put them back on. All in all, I am pleased with the way things turned out. I learned a lot about how things work and sealed the doors better than they were. Another day, the rear shocks, which was supposed to be today's work.
 
Alright, I guess the boys might have something after all. This morning it started snowing so, okay, I'll drive my truck to my physio appointment. I used command start to warm it up, and, when I got in, I tried to stick my key into the dash. 😲 They may be right.
 
Today I replaced the shocks in the back of my car. Never having done shocks on a car with coil springs before, there was a learning curve. I jacked up the drivers side a little, loosened the wheel nuts, finished jacking it up. I put jacks stands two placed under the frame rail and removed the tire. I then removed the bolt at the bottom of the shock. Well, that was a mistake. Lesson learned! The axle came down almost touching the ground. I was very glad I was not under it. the coil fell out and I reached it out from under and set it down. At that point, I clearly heard my Dad tell me "When you give that back, I want it to look new." Right, I haven't heard that for 37 years. I wish with all my heart I could hear it in person. Well, always listen to Dad. I sprayed the bolts with WD40, crawled out and started brushing the coil. After I had it looking clean, I used steel wool, then a cloth. I took a can of flat black Rustoleum paint and painted the whole coil twice. There was a large washer under the spring, brush, wool, wash and paint. The mount, brush, wool, wipe and paint. I removed the top shock bolts and cleaned the mounts off. I then jacked up the axle, put it back together. I took some pictures and put the tire back on let it down and did the other side. Same clean brush wipe paint. While under there, I noticed the wire for the fuel sending unit and decided to take it off, clean it off and see if my gas gauge started working properly. Nope. Ah well, I do have a new sending unit coming. Glad to have the shocks done. Another job done. Let see whats next.

shock.jpgShock Right.jpg
 
Um Chuck those spacers attached to the springs are a last ditch support for a worn out sagging spring. Now that you know how to do it it's time to replace them. There is generally an orientation for the bottom or top of the spring end. Check the service manual for its location. Sometimes there is also a rubber spacer at the top of the spring to keep it quiet.
 
I know they are a last resort. For now, they have to do. No money left. I also have to purchase the rubber bumpers for the top of the spring as mine are a little (slight under exaggeration) worn out. I do what I can afford, as I can afford it. The joys of being retired and on a limited budget. I got the lecture about the cost of daily diving the car. Things have certainly changed since we were young. Used to be you would take the car to save gas. Now I take the F150 to save gas. Right now there are taxes to pay and vehicle registration (3 x 85 + tax). When my wife tells me I can replace the springs, I will order them on Rockauto. My last major purchase is on the way, a fuel sending unit. With exchange, taxes and duty, it comes out to around $150 Canadian. I have prioritize my purchases as money is in short supply. Not knowing if I am going to run out of gas is my next priority. I have been taking a photo of the odometer when I fuel up and calculating 8 MPG in town to know when I should be filling up again.
 
I hear you. I miss my job. I loved my job. OT was Double Time. Saw my boss only 3 times a year. Now, between my Pension and Disability, less than half of my take home pay. I knew fixing up my car was going to be expensive. At least the car was free.:giggle:. Now I am about $6500 into repairs and still have more to go. Slowly from here.
 
Chuck Bridges said:
I hear you. I miss my job. I loved my job. OT was Double Time. Saw my boss only 3 times a year. Now, between my Pension and Disability, less than half of my take home pay. I knew fixing up my car was going to be expensive. At least the car was free.:giggle:. Now I am about $6500 into repairs and still have more to go. Slowly from here.
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Hi Chuck
How are you؟
Why is rusting under the car ؟
If you can, paint the chassis and other parts
 
I am doing well, thank you. Had to put the cover on my car, snow this weekend. :( The work is coming all in good time. As I work on it, I restore it. I will paint the chassis this summer, as I can afford it. As I said before, retirement income sucks.
 
Chuck Bridges said:
I am doing well, thank you. Had to put the cover on my car, snow this weekend. :( The work is coming all in good time. As I work on it, I restore it. I will paint the chassis this summer, as I can afford it. As I said before, retirement income sucks.
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I wish you good luck
The chassis is rusty due to mud and rain
General Motors recommended that wash under the car at least once a year or 6 month
 
I wash under the car regularly, as I have my own pressure washer. I put her up on ramps and go for it. Unfortunately, Ray didn't do that and it sat on the grass for 12 years. It is going to take time to reverse the rust, as I am poor (we have no money for food..... just kidding). But the budget is tight. My boys are going to pick me up a set of rear shock for my birthday in May. When I replace them, I will use my drill and a wire brush, then paint with rustoleum, flat black. all in good time. In the mean time, pick up one can of paint at a time.🤗
 
Chuck Bridges said:
I wash under the car regularly, as I have my own pressure washer. I put her up on ramps and go for it. Unfortunately, Ray didn't do that and it sat on the grass for 12 years. It is going to take time to reverse the rust, as I am poor (we have no money for food..... just kidding). But the budget is tight. My boys are going to pick me up a set of rear shock for my birthday in May. When I replace them, I will use my drill and a wire brush, then paint with rustoleum, flat black. all in good time. In the mean time, pick up one can of paint at a time.🤗
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OK
Happy Birthday Chuck -I hope your special day will bring you lots of happiness, love, and fun.
May the joy that you have spread in the past come back to you on this day
 
Today was fun. I found that my crankcase airbreather was loose and leaking oil, not much, but enough to bother me. The specialist at the auto parts shop sold me the only one they had, a performance one. He recommended that I also replace the PCV valve. I purchased them both and went home to put them on. I replaced the air breather and checked the PCV valve.... New. Right.... full tune up recently. Ah well, add to my parts stock pile. Nice shiny chrome air breather. I then took the leather lace I purchased and laced the steering wheel cover I purchased at Value Village closed. They are all made for much fatter steering wheels, but using some good old fashioned ingenuity, my used leather steering wheel looks great. Another day, another thing completed. I love working on this car. I never thought I would like working on an old car. When I was young I owned junkers because it was all I could afford to drive. Now, I have a great running F150, good running Escape, and a good running Wildcat.
 
The next 6 days are to be cold and snowy. Today, the winds are gusting around 110 KPH (68 MPH). Walking around the off leash park, the wind kept picking up gravel and I felt like I was being sandblasted. Not very fun at all, but, you adopt a dog, you walk the dog. After I came home, I drove down to the bank and did the Condo Association deposit. After I came home, I got my son to help cover the car up. I am not going to drive it in the poor weather so cover her it is. I found a few bubbles in the paint I had missed last year. I will have to sand that area and verify there are no holes in the body. If there are, it is back to the body work again. The work I did last summer is holding up nicely. For someone who hasn't done any bodywork since 1983, that's impressive. A lot of wire wheel buffing and replacing metal, then a thin coat of bondo.

I drove past an older gentleman driving a newer 4 door Buick. I was at a red light and he was turning left in front of me. He kept looking at my car as he made the turn and smiled at me. I smiled back. I get that a lot lately.

It is so nice to be able to open the vent windows to get fresh air. I miss having vent windows in my newer vehicles now that I have had them again. Ah well, if wishes were ponies... My car is getting better all the time, the more I do. I guess everyone who has caught the classic car bug feels this way.

I ordered a aftermarket Tire Pressure Monitoring System for the car. The tires are older, so I just want to keep an eye on them. It was only $40 so, that I can afford.

Well, bed time for Chucky. I hope everyone has a good evening.
 
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I purchased a rear view mirror camera for my car today. On sale from $89.99 to to $36.01. I felt that it was a good investment since I like backing into parking spots. I haven't driven a car, except my Wildcat, for years. I was trained to back in by 30 years of working in the telecommunications industry. That way, when you pull out, you are not backing out into traffic. Now I just have to wait for some good weather to install it. It just fits over the existing mirror. I wouldn't do anything to permanently change my car. Even my stereo and speakers could be removed in about 30 minutes leaving nothing behind.
 
I purchased a wire wheel for my drill "As seen on TV". It will make short work of the rust and dirt on the bottom of the car. I think I will jack it up first, wash as much as I can with one side raised, let it dry and then go to town with the wheel. Then wash it again, dry, and I purchased some rubberized rust inhibiting undercoating for the car. Two cans, to start with. A new project for my car.
 
I just purchased a bunch more wire wheels and sanding paper to work on my old girl. I found a attachment for my pressure washer that will swivel side to side. That is going to come in handy for cleaning underneath the car around the frame. I also found out today.... Yahoo, I do not have to drop the fuel tank to replace the fuel sending unit. There is access from the trunk! I love it!
 
I found a dual action electric sander today. I will pick it up tomorrow. It's on sale, 50 down from 120. I cannot pass this up. Add in some sanding disks and I'm up to 70. I am borrowing my son's VISA and will pay him back on Friday. I will also need some primer. I am going to do a section, such as the hood, then prime it. Do a fender, prime it. This is going to take some time but, what else do I have to do right now. Almost everything I like to do in Lethbridge is closed. Restaurants are take-out only. Thrift shops, closed. The weather is improving, so, sand sand sand away! Also remove chrome.
 
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